ContactCement
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Who's making quality mauls these days?
ContactCement replied to SouthernCross's topic in Leather Tools
This website has reasonable prices. http://www.wrising.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7 I personally chose to purchase the 2 lb rawhide maul with defect and the 1 lb hammer style poly mallet-white. I am very satisfied and happy with both products shipped to me. I purchased my 2 items for the price of a single "name brand" or popular celebrity maul. The poly hammer was on sale over the holidays. -
I'm crafting my own professional burnishing tool. The heavy scrap leather shown is for show and what I might attempt to use for a stacked leather handle. I however I don't know what kind of grab bag scrap leather it is and have never made a stacked leather handle. I recently made a heavy leather smoother. I still need to choose a handle material either wood or stacked leather or plastic. I purchased and recycled a 1" thick scrap stainless steel disc 2 1/2" diameter that weighs 1 lb 6 oz. I don't own a metal lathe. No metal lathe was used for my project. The scrap stainless steel disc was already machined to size and had machining marks left when it was cut to length. It took 4 hours using wet dry sandpaper, water and my granite surface plate to flatten it. I drilled and tapped for a bolt hole exactly on center. The tiny little gap near the threads is from using a counter sink to remove the burr. I cut the head off a straight bolt then put it into my drill press on low speed to file the radius and polish the edge. A buffing wheel on the bench grinder was used for the final almost mirror finish using Red Rouge. Your opinion counts should I make this into a maul and smoother combination tool? Would I make another one of these? Yes it was time consuming, inexpensive and fun.
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I made a heavy leather smoother using a thick stainless steel disc that weigh 1 lb 6 oz. No metal lathe used the stainless steel disc was cut to size and had rough machining marks. I used wet dry sandpaper and granite surface plate to flatten it. The stainless steel was tough to drill and file tap. Yes it plugs a hand file easily use cheap ones. I cut the head off a bolt and put it into the drill press to sand and polish the edge. Basically I've never made a stacked leather handle before. Before learning about veg tan leather I purchased a few bags tough dyed leather cut offs purchased from a hobby store with 40% coupons. I would like to know if this other grab bag leather can be used for a stacked handle. Also what type of adhesives are best for stacked leather?
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Is one better than the other? Do they really flatten wrinkles or stretch marks and help with stamping crispness? https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-pro-leather-burnisher https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/glass-burnisher
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Black Craftool Poly Maul durability?
ContactCement replied to ContactCement's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
I picked up the $274.99 splitter on sale and six stamps at $2.99 each. They said it doesn't go on sale that low very often. So I ignored other items that go on sale more frequently. The Tippman is very impressive and well built however I personally don't need anything that heavy duty right now. I would describe it as strong and space saving. As for a poly mallet and rawhide maul I stumbled onto this online store. http://www.wrising.com/ I got a 1 lb mallet on sale and 2 lb rawhide maul for wood working as some of my chisels are very expensive. The general rule is the cutting tool must be sharper than material being cut. The tool hardness will vary. When it comes to wood handled chisels the rawhide should prevent mush rooming of the handles. Plus the rawhide has a nice texture for a powerful strike. -
Black Craftool Poly Maul durability?
ContactCement replied to ContactCement's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
I fully agree that the holiday sale and Saturday super sale was pretty good. Our car was at the shop so we had a free dealer loaner car. So we finally visited the local Tandy store 54 miles away. I came back with a rather expensive item (not saying) and a few stamps. They also explained why a couple craft store stamps in a kit bent easily. The Z indicates Zinc. The Lesson. Stamps with a Z on them are Cash In The Trash. -
I don't remember the leather supplier but they have a sample variety pack can be purchased dirt cheap. See touch and feel the leathers if you have that option.
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Help! Too Many Machines, Too Many Opinions!
ContactCement replied to cutikatsam's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
Bring sample fabric or leather with you for a demonstration. To prove the machine will indeed meet your needs. Small bobbins and needles turned me off delaying any industrial sewing machine purchase unless I were to learn upholstery repair. I almost rushed into buying the wrong machine and glad I didn't.- 8 replies
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Help! Too Many Machines, Too Many Opinions!
ContactCement replied to cutikatsam's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
The Tipp man boss machine is the mechanical machine I will purchase someday for thicker projects. A few sewing machine dealers are jerks and charge too much for a re-painted obsolete sewing machines put together from junk yard parts. You get what you pay for. When the special parts you need has been unavailable or the last 90 years they will charge whatever they like. Then you can trade it in and they may give you if your lucky less than scrap metal price per pound for your machine.- 8 replies
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I read somewhere that yellow waxes may alter colored stitching thread. I just use the non colored almost clear solid wax stick. Some oils may go rancid or rot the thread. Thinner lip balm would most likely make a nasty mess. If your making something nice, protect your time, money & effort invested in the project.
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Easier than pie. Just get an inexpensive wallpaper steamer with a tank. Just get some scrap wood planed well enough to make a rectangular box that seals tight. Wood screws torx or square drive screws make it easier to screw it down tight enough to seal better. Put hinges and latches on the ends so you can easily put something inside to block off the un-used area if the whole length isn't being used. The rest is simply a few plumbing parts or hose adapters. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wagner-715-Wallpaper-Steamer-0282036/301891395
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There Are Some Good Tandy People Out There!
ContactCement replied to Sheilajeanne's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
The recent holiday sale is much better than the normal retail prices. The nearest location for me is 74 miles one way. Not so great when leasing a car. So its mail order for me. I also learn from books, video and some trial and error no convenient classes near home. They closed the store in my city several years ago. Long before I began considered trying leather craft as a hobby. I'm currently not good enough at leather craft to open a store locally. -
Just tossing ideas and don't know it will plug severely or even work. A variable speed bench grinder slowed way down. Use a fine diamond tip wheel dresser and a fine grinding wheel. Dress the wheel to the shape you want and give it a spin on some scrap. Otherwise set up a drill press with a recessed hole cut into some scrap for the sanding drum and make a fence for it.
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Black Craftool Poly Maul durability?
ContactCement replied to ContactCement's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
Leather craft does seem expensive. Anyhow I ordered the black poly maul on sale this Christmas for $24.99 It looked okay on you tube even if it had a few small indentations in it. I'll take my time and rotate it on the up stroke like a wood carving maul and it should make the surface wear evenly. My experiments with plastics and narrow blunt metal rods shows repeated strikes in the exact same place produces a nice neat dent. -
I think that a rawhide wrap is a good idea. I'm going to get some iron wood to add some weight to my next maul. I may drill a hole for 1 1/2" diamater plastic rod & cut a disc that can be glued into a hole.
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The narrow diameter stamps are like a blunt chisel on a wpod maul or mallet. Use a forstner bit and drill a hole into the wood maul for a large plastic disc epoxy it then turn to shape it
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I need to fix two things now that I can make a good looking saddle stitch by hand. I need an inexpensive yet quality mallet or maul. https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-poly-maul/craftool-poly-maul VS https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-pro-flat-head-poly-maul/craftool-pro-flat-head-poly-maul I also need better stamps preferably genuine hardened steel that Do No Easily Bend before leaving a crisp imprint in pre moistened veg tan leather. This light weight http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-oz-plastic-tip-hammer/p-00938298000P?sid=IDx01192011x202447059&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1tHPma7-1wIVUCWBCh2O1QaCEAQYAiABEgJXCPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLm0-Zuu_tcCFZd-fgods_AJvg plastic craftsman mallet was used and the stamps bent. No the hobby store craft tool stamp sets I have do not stick to a magnet. When a basket weave stamp broke off it looked very porous like broken ceramic. That 7 pc set cost an arm and leg even with a 40% coupon.
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Difference between Craftools and "more expensive" tools
ContactCement replied to Sal's topic in Leather Tools
The 7 pc creative set found in hobby stores bent easily when using moistened veg tan leather. I also noticed that a magnet does not stick to my set. Cash in the trash. The extreme prices and poor quality may drive me to never stamp leather ever again. -
Basically how durable is this Black Craftool Poly Maul ? Some photos of any chunks missing and indentations in the surface would be great. I'm not made of money even if they go on sale. Heck I'm drinking milk a slight hint of sour odor with chocolate added right now so I don't waste the money paid for it. I know everyone has a celebrity "name brand" that cost too much money. To be quite honest asking these modern prices is down right wicked and evil. Is a leather craft hobby. Tools shouldn't be as expensive as a hospital bill, prescription drugs or a house payment. The cold hard fact is people were tooling leather long before plastics and rubbers were even invented. What were they effectively using back then? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tandy-Leather-Craftool-Poly-Maul-3302-00/146107497?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=5405&adid=22222222227115627678&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=233311779350&wl4=pla-386176901475&wl5=9015608&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113940046&wl11=online&wl12=146107497&wl13=&veh=sem
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Basically how durable is this Black Craftool Poly Maul ? Some photos of any chunks missing and indentations in the surface would be great. I'm not made of money even if they go on sale. Heck I'm drinking milk a slight hint of sour odor with chocolate added right now so I don't waste the money paid for it. I know everyone has a celebrity "name brand" that cost too much money. To be quite honest asking these modern prices is down right wicked and evil. Is a leather craft hobby. Tools shouldn't be as expensive as a hospital bill, prescription drugs or a house payment. The cold hard fact is people were tooling leather long before plastics and rubbers were even invented. What were they using back then? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tandy-Leather-Craftool-Poly-Maul-3302-00/146107497?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=5405&adid=22222222227115627678&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=233311779350&wl4=pla-386176901475&wl5=9015608&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113940046&wl11=online&wl12=146107497&wl13=&veh=sem