kalliergo

Hi, folks. Well, I just couldn't get the hang of the Hansen, *and* I've been making cases and sheaths and doing virtually no braiding, so... I have the string cutter listed on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=160301496044 In case anyone here is interested. Thanks! -Doug

Dave, have you contacted Margaret Spencer, in the UK? http://www.margaret-spencer.co.uk/contact.html -Doug

Thanks, again, everyone! I'll keep practicing, try the little lace cutter on scraps, spring for some kangaroo to see if that works better... I don't have Gail's book, entiendo, but I'll get it. Her work is just stunning. She's a long drive north of here, but not *that* far. I've been thinking about trying to take a few lessons from her. Seems like it would be hard to find a better-qualified teacher. -Doug

That's some story, Ronny. It seems to prove that the string cutter *can* be used properly, if I eventually learn the skills. I hope it doesn't take me 15 years, though; I'm already getting just a little creaky. Maybe I need to track you down, or that guy in Elko, and beg or pay for a demo... -Doug

Thanks, Mike. I try hard, but I've been cutting my circles freehand (after scribing with a compass, of course), so they certainly aren't perfect. Maybe I should get a circle cutter to make that faster, easier and cleaner. -Doug

Very nice, indeed. And I'm sure it was a real pain to do while sitting in the car. Some of our local rich folks would probably pay a lot to have that done to their Porsches and Maseratis. If ya get here before all their money disappears.

Thanks, Tracy. I'll keep working on it. BTW, Hershey isn't so far from the Nebraska Panhandle and Sandhills, where I roamed for much of the 90's (work stuff). I love the High Plains. Sensible, sincere, and *tough* people live there. -Doug

Thanks, rawhider. I've been practicing mostly with some cowhide splits, about 5 oz or so. This stuff wouldn't produce good lace for finished products (rough and suede-y on both sides), but it's pretty consistent thickness, not too stretchy, etc. Also, of course, it doesn't cause me *too* much pain as I mess it all up. I think my near-term goals will likely be braided in Roo, and I'm willing to sacrifice some to my ham-handed self-education process, if that's what's required to learn how to cut lace well. I'm a pretty good sharpener, and I'm lucky to have a Tormek, so keeping a razor edge on the the Hansen's blades is pretty easy. Maybe I just have to keep practicing...

First, I need to say that I continue to be blown away by the generosity and expertise of this online community. I just wander around, reading and marveling... As I said when I introduced myself, I've bought a Hansen string cutter, because I knew that (although it's not an inexpensive tool) I wouldn't be able to afford enough pre-cut lace to really teach myself about braiding. I've had a chance to play with the Hansen a bit, now, and it seems like a solid, simple, sensible way to cut strings and straps. However, I haven't gotten anywhere close to being able to do that well, or even acceptably, yet. I'm having trouble developing the technique and "feel" needed to get even lace. I either need to get a lot better or find projects that use wavy, irregular, unpredictable-width strings. So, are there any experts with the Hansen around here? I think I could use guidance and/or instruction. -Doug

Thanks, everyone! This site was, clearly, a great find. rdb: I've done a number of carpentry/architectural woodwork projects over the years that included braided and woven rope elements -- fancy railings, storage "nets," stuff like that. Also, lots of woodsy-outdoorsy things with knotted and braided rope and paracord. The level of craftsmanship I've seen in fine leather braiding will be a big step up for me, but... challenge is good, right? Tom: I have begun tracking down and collecting the Grant books. Pretty amazing that they were the first thorough treatments of the subject and are still the best available references 40 and 50 years later. You're right about the drawings, but I'm figuring them out slowly. As someone said in a post I read around here, sometimes, a pattern that has been utterly confusing will suddenly make perfect sense. If that's a trend, I may be OK Now, if someone will just teach me to be an expert with my Hansen string cutter in three easy lessons... -Doug

Greetings. I've recently registered here, after wandering around the site and forum and deciding that there's a wealth of information here, and good people hanging out. I'm already learning a lot. I'm new to leatherwork. I've done all sorts of handcrafts, for decades now, but I've hardly ever made or repaired leather goods. I've been fascinated with the craft for a long time, though, and I've decided to try it before I get too old to hold the tools ;^) I've done some braiding and knot work in association with earlier projects, and I've been amazed by some of the leather and rawhide braiding I've seen recently, including some of Gail Hought's work (just on her Web site) and some of the fine pieces shown by members here. Consequently, I've decided to start by learning the fundamentals of braiding leather and rawhide. I could tell, right away, that I wouldn't be able to maintain (or afford) an adequate variety of strings/thongs/lacing, so I've just purchased a Hansen string cutter, and I'm starting to figure out how to use it. It seems to be a very nice tool (and Darrell Jones, who sold it to me, has been *great* to deal with), but it's clear that I'm going to have to put in a fair amount of practice time before I can produce consistent results. So, that's my short story. Thanks for the super site and the interesting and valuable forum. -Doug