Australian Strander

[barra]

Jim. I too use the strander in the right hand. I am actually left handed but due to a childhood accident my left thumb will not fit in the strander. I don't have a problem using the strander right handed as you describe.

Barra

[OutBackP]

Thanks Jim some very good advice from someone who has used the thumb strander for some time.

As they say "there's more than one way to skin a rabbit". I can see your point with cutting an oval and not a circle, but in R. Edwards defence he does metion both way's. His reasoning being that with an oval you get left with a odd shape in the middle. Like you said you can trim this piece as you go.

I must say though that Ron Edwards was a very respected man in his leather skills and bush skills. He was also the president for the Australian plaiters and whipmakers assocation. So I really don't think he would write advice in one of his books just to sell it. I think it's just a case of what you know.

For one I'll be following your advice and Ron Edwards and probably come up with a different technique that works for me.

Thanks

Tony

[jimsaddler]

Dear Outback

sorry for the quip about selling Books. In the Trade we get quips all the time that we are doing it wrong because we saw to way to do it properly in a Book.

This has been a set back to communications between those who know and those that want to learn. The Tradesman promptly says to himself, "why waste time sharing knowledge" and shuts up. In my early days I knew most of the Plaiters, Saddlers & Harness Makers, of the time and there were very few. They shared with me a lot of Knowledge because I listened and practised what they taught me and went back for more. Now I am able to share that Knowledge as a result. Unfortunately a lot of Books are written on the Trades and a lot of them did not get facts right as they were outside looking in. This what has upset me at times and the reason for the quip.

Now for a bit more on Stranding Aussie style.

In actual fact the R M Strander is not the absolute best. Your Right hand Thumbnail as a Guide and a Sharp worn down Clickers Knife held between the Rt Thumb and index Finger are.

All the old Whippy's used this method and it was faster ( but rough on the Skin).

R M developed the Strander to save sore Thumbs, it is an exact copy of the action of Thumb Stranding . I saw the Stranders using it in 5 Percy St in the early 70's for Commercial Stranding of Roo Skin but with a handle welded on for easier Hold

So try my methd and you'll see the logic of the Trade.

Kindest Regards. Jim

[daviD A Morris]

I've been using one of those RM Williams stranders most of my life, have know a lot of other people who've used them for a long time and this is the first I've every heard of putting it on the left thumb!

BTW Dean Williams sells a very nice strander, a bit more complicated but heaps more versatile than the RM strander. I got one a couple of years ago. It was only about $100 and that included a complete set of instructions on making a kangaroo hide stock whip. This strander is realy good for doing tapered strands and also caters better for variations in thickness of the the hide and you can also take it off of the strand at any point and putt it back on without threading all the way out tto the end of the strand. Up till then I spent most of my life using the thumbnail method when ever I wanted tapered strands or mutliple strand cut together at one-time.

if any one is interested I'll get a photo of Dean Williams's whip cutter's strander onto here.

regards

dam

Edited March 29, 2008 by daviD A Morris

[CharlieR]

I've been using one of those RM Williams stranders most of my life, have know a lot of other people who've used them for a long time and this is the first I've every heard of putting it on the left thumb!BTW Dean Williams sells a very nice strander, a bit more complicated but heaps more versatile than the RM strander. I got one a couple of years ago. It was only about $100 and that included a complete set of instructions on making a kangaroo hide stock whip. This strander is realy good for doing tapered strands and also caters better for variations in thickness of the the hide and you can also take it off of the strand at any point and putt it back on without threading all the way out tto the end of the strand. Up till then I spent most of my life using the thumbnail method when ever I wanted tapered strands or mutliple strand cut together at one-time.if any one is interested I'll get a photo of Dean Williams's whip cutter's strander onto here.regardsdam

Yes,, would be interested in seeing a pic of this.

[Gremlin]

Well, I must be one of the few that use the aussie strander on my thumb. To be honest, I use it both ways depending on what I am making the lace out of. Neither way is wrong. You do it in any way that works for you.

As for skiving the lace down, I use a very small hobby wood plane with the lace fed thru the bottom and drawn upwards with the flesh side towards the blade. Fast and very easy.

[okiwen]

I would really like to see the Williams strander also. Everytime I need to cut a strap of any kind I lament the use of a strap guage. It doesn't make sense to me to have all that drag way to the outside of your support. Specially when I need to cut a billet or something like it. I think the handle should be hooked to the blade portion not the guide portion.

[OutBackP]

Well I just received the Aussie strander today, haven't really used it properly yet. Was a little disappointed with the quality but it worked surprisingly well. Will give it a proper testing this week.

Jim I can see why you say you use it on your right index finger, not only is the hole almost to small for my thumb it just feels more comfortable on my right. I guess that's why I'm here. If you can't learn first hand it's better to get advice from lots of people.

Would be a nice to have a few pictures of people using them.

David I to would like to see your strander.

Gremlin glad to see someone backing up Ron Edwards!

Has any one tried using a safety razor blade split in half? I briefly tried with a old one from my razor, didn't seem to go well. Not sure if its to flexible or just not sharp enough.

Tony

[HorsehairBraider]

I would really like to see the Williams strander also. Everytime I need to cut a strap of any kind I lament the use of a strap guage. It doesn't make sense to me to have all that drag way to the outside of your support. Specially when I need to cut a billet or something like it. I think the handle should be hooked to the blade portion not the guide portion.

Hmmm. That does make sense, but when you use the tool you always end up wanting to put pressure on the blade (for a more consistent width). I wonder if your system would work? Is there any way to test it?

[okiwen]

Hmmm. That does make sense, but when you use the tool you always end up wanting to put pressure on the blade (for a more consistent width). I wonder if your system would work? Is there any way to test it?

I know it will work. I see it in my head, clearly. I just am not a manufacturer. I am an idea man.

I also know that I hate strap guages...alot. I will lay a steel ruler down and cut by hand to avoid that frustration.