YinTx

This. I have just finished restoring a very old VB head knife, and it took me over 5 hours on a diamond plate and a finishing stone to get an edge on it. The hardest steel I think I have ever sharpened. And cuts like nothing else I have. Did a bunch of cutting and skiving with it just to try it out, and have yet to even strop it. Just fantastic. Very thin blade too, perfectly tapered from the center to the edge, and very light. I wouldn't recommend a newer blade over it. YinTx

By George, I believe we have a winner. Never found Bluenose, but found rug hooking - seems like this would do the trick! YinTx

As well she should have. I like the look. Nicely done! YinTx

I was cogitating on this topic just the other day. Here's my take, for what it's worth. I've received tons of advice in my career. I've learned to _always_ listen. Even if it is crap advice and I know it. Why? Because usually after a bit of time, there will be something that I will come away with that is invaluable to me. Even now, outside of my career, I seek advice, even if that person doesn't know it. For example, I watched a youtube video of someone making yet another knife sheath, I liked the pattern, I liked the tooling pattern, I didn't particularly care for his style of tooling, but it was nice enough. No, I don't want my work to look like theirs. However, I saw a simple and ingenious way to attach a Sam Browne stud (maybe everyone else has seen it and done it, but I haven't, and I REALLY needed that technique for a customer's sheath that I am working on!). Invaluable bit of info that will make my work so much better. So, Yes on "see some examples." But no, I don't always think I want my work to look like the example, but I will look for what is useful for me. And kudos to them for being so gracious for sharing, despite those who might belittle them for not being the best in the world while they do it. Because there are a lot of haters out there that cause folks to not share. Also the best way to learn is to teach. That means, some of the teachers are only just beginning to learn. I'm all for letting that process progress. Just my $0.02, don't know why I felt obligated to donate it this go round, but there it is. And I've never given advice on how to do my wreckorative cuts! But if you want to know how _not_ to do them, perhaps I could make a video.... YinTx

Awesome. Makes my first attempt at a collar look pretty sorry. They reside in an appropriate place at the bottom of a bin. I will study yours some before I try it again! YinTx

Nice looking leather bits. Suppose you could give them a lot of forward cant and it'd still look pretty cool. YinTx

Are you sure you want to see this? Cuz once you have seen it, you can't unsee it. And then the obsession sets in.. and more things go in the bin that everyone else seems to think are just fine... just askin... YinTx

Yeppers, another fantastic piece! Awesome to see your work again. Weeeellllll..... I cut the strap about 6 months ago, and have been pondering it ever since... sketched a pattern for a guitar strap a few moons ago... also still pondering it and haven't cut the leather yet... so maybe a few years? When I finish one, I'll have a definitive answer for ya! I came across my tooled belt a year ago, and it looks entirely hand tooled, I think. And it is pretty well detailed also. Makes me wonder who did it! I don't think I could duplicate it if I had to. YinTx

Seriously, that white is a dye? Where did you get it? The whole piece came out awesome, as well! YinTx

Plus the 4 chicago rivet/screws indicate that this has been designed to withstand a great deal of stress. I'd forgo the weakening feature of added stitches, and just go with the rivets. As long as they aren't "decorative" cap rivets, but solid or threaded rivets, they will be quite strong. YinTx

I picked up an old (was old 25 years ago when purchased in France) head knife the previous owner claims is a Blanchard with no markings. I have cleaned it up, and despite the expected surface pitting, it cleaned up nice. I have spent the last 2 HOURS honing it on a diamond plate, it is hard metal. I have just begin to pull up a burr. This is one of those instances where mechanical assistance would have been nice. This is opposed to almost all the other new blades I have that shed steel on the diamond plate no problem. I have a feeling it is going to be a great knife that holds its edge really well. Now I just have to be able to justify keeping it with all the other knives I've been collecting. Sadly, I may have to put er up for sale. YinTx

I have seen a few on Ebay also, and just couldn't figure out what the heck they were for. I'm going with chainstitching until I learn otherwise! YinTx

Thanks for the reply. Since I've had the issue as well, I look forward to hearing what you use as a final solution. YinTx

We have a number of experts here on sharpening that may pipe up, or you could find them in the sharpening section. @Art I believe does this kind of work, and may be able to provide some clarity. Your angle could have a lot to do with it, you might consider a microbevel as well, which would allow a steeper angle to keep the edge from rolling. Also, what is underneath your leather as you cut? This can have a dramatic effect on the life of your edge - example if you are cutting with granite under your leather, (not saying you are, just example), don't expect to get too far without dulling your blade. Also, what kind of leather are you cutting? As I understand it, some of the newer less expensive leathers have a kind of clay mixture worked into them (to make the surface look pretty) that can dull a blade fast. YinTx

@MrLentz, have you tried any of these things? Any of them working for you? YinTx

This! Always kinda baffled me, only figured if the tool was so rough that the beeswax filled in the rough... might help. Or maybe glue and wax don't get along so well.. I could see that helping. Hadn't thought of the glycerine idea... might try it sometime. YinTx

Great to see you back at it. 9 months is a spell, you didn't miss a beat! Awesome work. YinTx

I recall a story of a guy that ran an advertisement in the classifieds section of the newspaper: "This is your last chance! Send $25 to P.O. Box ###!!" and apparently made thousands. YinTx

If you use a different photo hosting service, your images may be lost on this site in the future, which has happened to many older posts. Everything else is looking good, nice job on the hidden stitch! YinTx

It is nice! How did you get the coloring so tidy around the letters? YinTx

'Tis spectacular. Look forward to seeing it finished! YinTx

Same issue for me. The longer I let the glue cure (as in, DAYS), the less of a problem I have. Still, when I am stitching, the needles grab glue, the thread grabs glue, it's a mess. Have to put it on pretty thin. Hitting it with a heat gun before putting the pieces together helps... some. YinTx

Ouch. Our only fault is not following suit with the world, and producing the same sellable stuff that's on the shelf. I can't make myself do it, so that's a fault. Results in fewer sales. YinTx

Your "Unknown" dies look like grommet setters. YinTx

Video isn't working, their facebook page link doesn't work, and their website says they've closed their store in Cody? But, I did find the youtube version which I had seen before. At the time, I realized it negated spending $$$ on the ez edger.... YinTx