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TwinOaks

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Posts posted by TwinOaks


  1. Sure thing...although I think I may be remembering parts of several threads. This one has most of the information:

    http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=43296&hl=stropping#entry269804

    And just to clarify, this was talking mostly about ceramic blades and the reasons to strop them...which also apply to steel. The comparison between the ceramic and steel is also talking about standard blades, not the blades from the SK3.


  2. The main reason head knives get dull is not because of planned obsolescence. It's because it's cutting through a chemically corrosive material - leather. That's also why most knives only need a good stropping.

    Take the time to read the thread on the swivel knife blades - steel vs. ceramic. Shtoink did a very good job explaining his findings.

    If you think that the commercial blades are expensive, please consider the time and money that went into R&D for the final product.


  3. yes, there needs to be a second stitch line right about where the camo stamp is.

    And, you can add a hammer thong by punching a hole close to where the top piece meets the back. The hole needs to be just big enough to pull two layers of the thong string through with pliers...then make a loop and tie a knot in the ends. Feed the loop through from outside to in. Obviously, there will be some length adjustments, and that should done before cutting the final length.


  4. No problems. But there have been ...'miners'....before. Given that the very first post was a request for someone's design assistance, it raised a few flags to me.

    Several of us have discussed new ways to do things on the open forum only to have knock offs show up in the box-marts a few weeks later. As a small business owner, I'm sure you can understand some of the hesitance.

    Now that you've offered why you were naming figures that to some of us seem pretty low, based on expected market exposure, and stated a willingness to work with the designer(s), I think there will be a bit more interest.

    If you are not familiar with this particular forum set up, we have a messaging system called "private messages" or "PM's". In the upper right hand corner of your screen, at the top of the forum page, you should see your name and a small down arrow. Clicking on the down arrow will activate a menu that will allow you to select your 'messages'. There should also be a small icon that looks like an envelope just to the left of your name. If there is a number by that envelope, it indicates that you have new private messages. Simply clicking on the envelope will take you to the new messages.

    Due to the nature of the internet, I propose that members interested in contacting you do so via the PM system so that business arrangements can be handled in a more private manner. This will allow you to converse with them in a one-on-one basis, eliminate non-serious offers, and share contact information in a manner that is far less likely to be harvested by internet bots.


  5. Thank you.

    I have some questions about your offer to buy designs:

    Are you wanting someone to make/supply them at wholesale prices, or....

    Are you offering a one time payment for the design, or are you offering the payment for the design + a percentage (which makes the request much more interesting)? And are you asking for exclusivity on the design? If the pattern is submitted and accepted, are you requiring the copyright to the design as well? If a design is submitted and NOT accepted, will you give up all claims to the design?

    I ask because for something that you're probably going to retail somewhere between the two competitor's prices ($25-$40), the design fee of $100-$150 seems somewhat low.....we, leather artisans, can design and sell just a few and make as much or more as your design fee.

    Given the cost of materials and the effort/labor that would go into straps similar to those your profit margin would be rather large, and it seems like you're low balling the designer on the fee.....especially since you are asking for not only the design, but a template and construction details. It appears that there's quite a few people that are viewing this the same way I am, because though over 50 people have looked at it, there's only two participants in the conversation so far.


  6. Agreed. Most leather shops that are serious about staying in business will end up with a minimum of three machines....a heavy stitcher, a light/medium stitcher and a patcher...or perhaps a post machine.

    The initial expense of additional machines is quickly recovered in time saved from switching one machine back and forth and having to readjust the tensions.

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