MikeG

I don't know if this will help, but there's a nice thread on basketweave lacing under the sewing forum here.

From a newbie: I really like "clean" work and yours is beyootiful! I had to search out your other seats; they are also works of art. To me a lot of carving can get pretty busy looking and even though I can be green with envy over the talent it takes, it's not always my favorite. Your work strikes a great balance with "white space," not having to use every bit of the leather with your designs. WOW! I guess the bottom line is beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you should continue doing some of each. MAN, this forum has me drooling!

Hervey Garret Smith's "Marlinspike Sailor" has the best drawing and most understandable instructions I've ever seen for a running Turk's Head knot. This site has a reprint of the instructions: http://www.mikelucasyachting.co.uk/article...c_rope_work.htm

That needs to be in an upcoming movie! Just can't decide if she'll be the villain or the heroine. Either way - WOW!

Thank you, Ken. I have a couple of those lace cutters and until now thought I had been suckered into buying a cheap gimmick that didn't work. I'll read through your tutorial a few times and give it another try. -- Mike

Beaverslayer, could you explain the method you use to draw your lace? I've played about a little with various cutters and have had such limited success that I would be extremely hesitant to invest in a hide (although I know it would be much more economical). Thanks for your thoughts and hints. -- Mike

How about the reverse? I got into leather only because there was an estate sale and I figured I could get the Boy Scouts and my kids interested in a craft. Neither the woman nor I had a clue to what the stuff was worth; I was the only one who expressed any interest & so I got it. You guessed it, the Scouts didn't care, my kids weren't interested, and so everything remained in boxes until it got in my way & I either had to do something with it or get rid of it. About that time, the first and only leathercraft show was held in Rome, Ga. I met tons of folks & took a couple of workshops. Since then I've piddled around with it as a hobby. I haven't done any leatherwork for about 6 months now due to other "important" things, and the fact there is no one in my area to hang with. This site is great, almost like a family reunion where you're all related but don't know anybody. Because of you guys I'm getting really itchy to start back doing some leatherwork, just looking for the right project. I alternately feel guilty and blessed for how I got most of my tools & supplies. I know the only way I can make it up is to put this stuff to work & make beautiful things. This thread has also gotten me thinking. I know there are established leather schools -- I think maybe I might look into willing this stuff to one of them, and so to pass it on. By the way, if you avoid e-bay and check the yard sales and local sites, you might run across a deal -- here's one today for $100: http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/467761536.html

They're gorgeous - wish I could do that kind of work! The only way I can see for you to improve is to make more!

Have you thought about making your own from a piece of metal pipe ground to an edge? If you need to make a bunch of them, it would be worthwhile. A plumbing shop might even put a file to the pipe while spinning it in a cutting machine to get the main shape for you very inexpensively. They could thread the other end for a cap to hammer on. Then you could do the final sharpening. I, too, cringe at the price of the leather punches. Good luck!

Thanks - I've been doing that with a Dremel cutoff tool, but perhaps I've just been a little too cautious about cutting too much off. I guess you also recommend using the mallet & anvil.

I've set rivets & snaps with the ol' mallet & anvil, but I have been looking for a better way (I tend to either not get them tight enough or I bend them). I also don't like the way the finished top of the snaps I install show the mark from the stem, deforming the nice round head. I asked a fellow from Tandy, and he told me this was normal, and had no solution to prevent that. Does anyone have any experience with the Standard setter or the Tandy model? Or is the mallet in fact the best way & I should forget the cost of a machine? My thoughts so far: Standard is expensive Tandy is expensive and you have to buy a different head for everything There is another machine called American Tag; don't know if it's a good tool or junk. http://cgi.ebay.com/SETTER-TOOL-GROMMET-EY...1QQcmdZViewItem Thanks for your comments.

I just wet the back of my wet/dry sandpaper & stick it to a pane of glass. Works great! I also use WD-40 on the wet/dry paper instead of water (don't know why, I just like it). I only use the sandpaper on tools that need the edge trued up (and my fishing knives). Once my good blades are sharp, I only strop them & hardly ever need to use the sandpaper.