Randy Cornelius

Even after I got my Artisen I found that the bobbin were about the same and I still wind the bobbins with the Boss winder on a drill motor. Just seems to work better.

Mine came with a bobbin winder that you chuck in a drill motor. YOu just slip the empty bobbin on the end, put thread through one of the little holes in the bobbin and start winding with the drill. RC

To take a step up from the kit knives, Tandy makes an adjustable swivel knife that is not too bad for the price, that along with a ceramic blade is a lot better than what comes with the kit. I think the AS brand are highly overrated for the price but some like them a lot. I would suggest going to one of the shows and trying them out. When you spend that kind of money take them for a test drive on some leather. Barry King makes a nice knife for the money,check his wep site but I think around 50.00 my son uses one of his knives. Henley makes a good quality knife for around 80.00 Chuck Smith makes a good knife but we are talking high end. 100.00+ I just bought a couple new knives from one of our members here, Paul Zalesak, I an very impressed. his blade stays sharp the longest of any knife I have ever had. Let me tell you I have had more swivel knives than anyone should. He will not tell you what the blade is made of but you will strop his knife about 1/2 the amount of anyone else's. It is higher end as far as price but it is worth every penny. I am not connected with him in any way just a satisfied customer. They come in a lot of perty colors also. I think that all good carving starts with a quality knife along with practice. I tell my students if they want to spend some money start with a good carving knife. Buying and using a knife is very personal, what some like , others do not. Don't buy one just becasue one of us tell you to. Go try them out for yourself. Randy

One just sold on ebay for 30.00, I just bought one off Amazon for 50.00 there are still several more listed on Amazon.com Randy

Christmas Story for people having a bad day: When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?' And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree. ..

When a woman wears a leather dress, a man's heart beats quicker, his throat gets dry, he goes weak at the knees, and he begins to think irrationally. Wanta know why? Because she smells like a new pickup truck!!!!

I would suggest taking a saddle making class from Bill Gomer you can call him at 785-442-3048. He is located at Highland, Ks. That is about 30 miles west of St. Joseph, Mo. in Northeast Kansas. About an hour or less from KCI airport.

The one thing that Tandy Stores has going for it is that the hobbiest can walk in and try out the tools and see what they do before they buy and not have to spend a small fortune to do it. Otherwise that person has to spend the money to go to a show and look at the big name tool makers tools. Those of us know what they cost. What I don't like is going to a class and having an instuctor tell you that you have to buy so in so's tool in order to do what he is demonstrating. When in reality there is most likely a Tandy tool that would do the same job for a whole lot less. It seems that everyone is pushing everyone elses products at the shows, which is fine but the instrutors should tell the students other ways to do the same thing with a less expensive tool. The expensive tool will maybe save you a little time or make it look nicer in one pass. Example: I took a class on covering a swell and horn of a saddle. The instuctor told us we had to us a specific tool to trim the horn. I knew from experence that it could be done just as well with a round knife and a #5 Tandy edger. But he said we had to buy this 125.00 hand made tool to do it. I think that holds some back when they feel they have to buy these expensive tools to make them better, EXPERIANCE AND PRACTICE MAKES YOU BETTER not some fancy tool. Yes, I buy the fancy tools but that is a diease and an infliction that comes with years of experiance. LOL They should have AA for Leatherworkers! LOL Randy

I have sold the first knife and have the second one left which is the 5/8 barrel with a 1/2 blade. Anyone interested make me an offer. Will list on ebay on monday. Randy

Bruce, I like what you have done. I will be posting a simular post in the next couple months. I built a new building 2 years ago hoping I would have a new shop soon after but it all takes money to finish. Anyway we put up the ceiling on thanksgiving day being both boys were home to help. Will go up next week and get insulation and wall board. Made them work for dinner! What I have been tossing up and down is what to do about hardware storage. I seem to have collected a lot of hardware, buckles, rings, dees, snaps and saddle hardware. Seems everytime I order I order more tha needed and then seem to never have the right thing for the next job. Now I have it hanging everywhere so I can see what I have got. I have thought about peg board and those little storage bins and several other ideas but maybe someone can tell me some neat storage way that I have not thought about. I will post pictures when the shop is complete it is 20 X 30 with a bathroom and everything. It is slowly coming together. Randy

I have 2 nice Henley swivel knives for sale. Both are same as new and are in excelent condition. I will offer them here before I list them on ebay. The first knife is a 1/2 X 2" barrel with course knurling, it has a large adjustable yoke with a 1/4" thin angle blade. Comes with allen wrench to take out blade and adjust the yoke height. The second knife is a 5/8 X 2" barrel with course knurling, it has a large adjustable yoke with 1/2 inch straight blade. Comes with allen wrench to take out blade and adjust the yoke height. I only used this knife a couple times and decided I did not like the large blade so it is same as new. I want $70.00 US dollars for each knife and I will include free shipping to the lower 48 states.

I had a piece that I was working on to take to a show. I was using RTC had a couple drops fall on the piece as I was applying and those drops stained the piece and would not come out. Ruined the piece for the show, throwed the bottle of RTC in the trash. I even called them to ask what I should do and they had no remedy. It was just like 2 water marks on the leather where the drops of RTC landed. And besides I am getting kinda hooked on the smell of the neat lac!

After learning that Tandy discontinued Neat Lac I called around to try and find some. The Oklahoma city store has a good supply left in quarts and pints. I bought 2 quarts thought that would last me a good long time. Just thought I would pas it on to anyone who just don't like to change like me. I get used to something and I don't want to try something new. I have tried the Bee Natural stuff with mixed results. Randy

I would also try Sheridan Leather Outfiters. Don't have the phone number handy but I think Vandy lerks around here. Randy

Am I the only one who does not know what a "ds" is? You have to know what it is before you can make a case for it.

Like Tac, I have been carrying a gun professionally for 27 years and to tell you the truth I have carried some really bad holsters that my department made me carry. Don Hume, Gould & Goodrich, Bianchi and Safariland make a good holster but some of the ones sold under the Galls name are _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank). The main problem with the Police duty gear is that it is not built to last. The major manufactures started introducing man made materials like Kydex, Safari-Laminate, Synthetic Duraskin Simulated Leather and other Synthetic materials in the police line several years ago and it will not hold up to day to day use and look good. They count on that as that makes for repeat sales. I started making my own duty belt and the belt that goes under it (under belt) and the belt keepers several years ago and the Sheriff seen it and now I make them for all the deputies in my department and some of the other area police departments. It used to be that I had to order a new duty belt every other year and the under belt only lasted several months. The one I am currantly wearing I made 5 years ago and it's still going strong. Sure it cuts down on repeat business but they keep coming back for more. I do not mess with the duty holster for the duty issued firearms because of the legal aspect and the fact we have went to the tacktical lights on the handguns which takes takes holster making to a whole nother level. I may have gotten off topic but the point I am tying to make is that I have carried a lot of other peoples holsters over the years and I know what works and what doesn't. That helps in the design of a new holster when someone comes through your door asking for something off the wall. You don't want to make something that will get someone hurt or not function when they really need the weapon... I have rambled on too long for a Sunday morning. Randy

I have met and talked to him at the shows and he truely is a gentleman and a gifted craftsman. Randy

Wow!, never had that problem, You must have gotten a bad batch of snaps. I have had some that were a little tight at first but loosened up after a couple times. But never had to beat them to get them to snap. I don't know what to tell you other than send them back to where you got them. I always order mine from Weaver never had a problem. The tandy ones always seem to work just fine also. Randy

Konomos Distributing KCMo 816-483-9388 no web site

I made the belt out of some scrap split leather. I ordered some leather from W&C and had it split down to 5 oz and had them send me the piece they split off. I cut this 4" wide and over lap the ends 2" each way and skive the ends out to a feather edge. Then glue them down with dual 88. It makes a difference which way the belt goes on as the place where the flap comes around needs to be so the blade does not catch the end which is not healthy. I rub in the rouge and I now have a power strop for all my cutting knifes. I even sharpen the wifes kitchen knives on this. I am out of town right now but will try to post a picture if anyone wants. Randy

I will try this again, Here is a photo of the rub sticks that my son Riley makes, several of the members here have them and I will let them tell you if they are any good. I have a couple that he has made for me and they are one of my favorite tools, especially since my son made it for his dad! They are made out of Osage Orange or Hedge as some may know the tree by. He sells them for 25.00 and that includes shipping. I am not sure the attachment is working but will keep trying.

I tried to copy a previous post about the rub sticks that my son Riley makes, not sure if the picture will come through but I will go back to the orginal post and post a reply to see if the picture comes. Here is a picture of the wooden folders or rub sticks that my son Riley makes. If interested give me a PM I think he sells them for 20-25.00. He says there is about 2-3 hours work in each one. Attached thumbnail(s) Reduced 85% 640 x 480 (72.38K)

As always, very nice work. Randy

When looking for a good round knife on ebay I would suggest looking at the older CS Osborne knives. I have several of the older ones that work well for me. I have paid as high as 300.00 for a custom made round knife made out of colbolt steel but it just did not work for me. And I was glad when I sold it and got my money out of it. Look for a CSO with a star on one side. I have a couple of these and they seem to have the best steel in them. But I have a couple other without the star that are good also. I have never paid over 40.00 or so for one of the older CSO knives. Don't be afraid if the blade looks tarnished or slightly rusty. It will not hurt the preformance I have one that is pitted and looks bad but is still a good cutter. As far as sharpening one, there are as many ways to sharpen a knife as there are those that use one. I strop my knifes to keep them sharp. I have made a leather belt for my 4 X 36 belt sander that I have rouse on that works great to polish and edge fast. If you get one bought and need help with getting an edge put on it. I would be glad to help you out. I have done so for a couple others. Just PM me. Randy

I just got a big package of cataloges and samples of leather from Show Tan leather and American Saddlery. Wondering if anyone has used their leather or their saddles and tack. Randy