vander Report post Posted March 9, 2009 Does anyone have a picture of their string cutters that they could possibly post... I dont have the money to buy and expensive one and am looking for an idea to make one from. thanks vander Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 9, 2009 search is your friend http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...de+sting+cutter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorsehairBraider Report post Posted March 9, 2009 You can buy a lace maker from Tandy for $9.99... and an Australian Strander for $24.99... Here's a link. You don't need to be rich to get a lace cutter. As for making your own, Bruce Grant's book shows a guy cutting lace with a knife and using his thumb for a guide. That's pretty low-cost, and I've actually done that. It works fine, just sharpen the heck out of the knife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 9, 2009 As for making your own, Bruce Grant's book shows a guy cutting lace with a knife and using his thumb for a guide. That's pretty low-cost, and I've actually done that. It works fine, just sharpen the heck out of the knife. And watch your thumb blade alignment closely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorsehairBraider Report post Posted March 10, 2009 And watch your thumb blade alignment closely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vander Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Ok so I have a friend who had an old StriptEase cutter and I have cut about ten ft of 1/8 wide lace from a circle of rawhide that was about 14.5in in diameter. my question now is how do I straighten it out, just wet it and stretch it lightly or what? thanks in advance vander. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Here is what I use. Cost me $50 to have it made. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CharlieR Report post Posted March 10, 2009 rgerbitz--did you happen to have a mchine drawing made of your cutter? Charlie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Sorry Charlie, The first model was one I made of wood. I took that to the machine shop and with a few modifications I had what you see there. If you would like some dimensions I could fix you up with something. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lippy Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Rgerbitz, This may be a stupid question, but why the diagonal cut in the large rod? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Rgerbitz,This may be a stupid question, but why the diagonal cut in the large rod? To bevel the edge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) rgerbitz--did you happen to have a mchine drawing made of your cutter?Charlie What is the diameter of the cutter and how is the blade attached to it? What kind of blade do you use? Edited March 10, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CharlieR Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Sorry Charlie,The first model was one I made of wood. I took that to the machine shop and with a few modifications I had what you see there. If you would like some dimensions I could fix you up with something. Rob Rob--some basic dimensions would be great. By the way, what kind of splitter is that in the picutre? Charlie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Charlie, The Diameter = 1.5 inches and the length = 5 inches. The angled cut is at 45 degrees. I am going to have another one made some day and when I do I will add another 3 inches on and put another angle at 30 degrees. It would also be nice if there were some kind of finger on the collar so that there wasn't so much surface area against the string when cutting. Old timer, I have been using the small utility knife blades, they are about an inch or so long. I use a black marker and put a mark along the cutting edge that wears off as I go. Easier to tell which part of the blade has been used, when the mark is all gone I throw that blade away. Hope this helps, Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Charlie,The Diameter = 1.5 inches and the length = 5 inches. The angled cut is at 45 degrees. I am going to have another one made some day and when I do I will add another 3 inches on and put another angle at 30 degrees. It would also be nice if there were some kind of finger on the collar so that there wasn't so much surface area against the string when cutting. Old timer, I have been using the small utility knife blades, they are about an inch or so long. I use a black marker and put a mark along the cutting edge that wears off as I go. Easier to tell which part of the blade has been used, when the mark is all gone I throw that blade away. Hope this helps, Rob One more question: Is there a indentation for the blade between the cylindrical pieces or is the blade just squeezed between the parts ? Thank´s ! / Knut Edited March 11, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 11, 2009 It is just squeezed in there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 16, 2009 It is just squeezed in there. Thread hijack, Rob, I just clicked on you website link. Tampico IL, I grew up in East Moline and my Mom is from Walnut. Small world isn't it? I've been in SoCal for the last 30 years though. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 16, 2009 I was born and raised in Walnut, who's your mom, maybe I know her. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 16, 2009 I was born and raised in Walnut, who's your mom, maybe I know her.Rob Wow now that is a small world. My Mom is Mary Lou Odel her parents were Mike and Fern. So if you know any Odel's or Wallaces from Walnut I am likely related to them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Real small world. It's not very often you find anyone who knows where the hell Walnut Il. is. Let alone someone who is a distant relation. My great grandmother is Anna Odel. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Bell Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Wow, that is funny that you two are cousins somehow and you are both into rawhide braiding and found each other on this forum!!! LOL how COOL is that!! I wonder if I have any lost relatives on here??!!!?? Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Yes, It certainly surprise me. I talked to my mom last night and she didn't recognize the name Anna but she did recognize the last name Gerbitz. She said they were related to us somehow or another. Oh and she reminded me that my cousin Don Wallace is or was a teacher / coach at Tampico HS. Wow, this still sort of trips me out. Who would have thunk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easy Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Does anyone have a picture of their string cutters that they could possibly post... I dont have the money to buy and expensive one and am looking for an idea to make one from. thanks vander this is a very simple one , but it works great - and it cost me nothing , only a little work Grtz Easy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Alan, Could you post a few pics of your plastic guide you showed me? Maybe some of it being used and how you use it to bevel your string? By the way where did you get the plastic disk to make it from? I did manage to get a fairly small string with my cheap lace maker last night by cutting down a larger string (about 3/16 down to say 1/8 or 3/32). Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Bell Report post Posted March 18, 2009 Here is a couple of pictures basically it is a disk cut from a kitchen cutting board. In he center there is an "A" shaped hole and on one side there is a slot cut into that goes just past the apex of the "A". Vaya Con Dios, Alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites