Members Spence Posted September 22, 2010 Members Report Posted September 22, 2010 The dining room table is plenty big enough to handle cutting lace from a roo hide. I've even done it over a 2x6" saw horse. Like roo4u says, it's the best way to know what you're getting. Having said that, I also agree that y-knotlace has the best pre-cut lace on this side of the pond. Both price and quality. Chrome tan is a pet peeve of mine. The process destroys the cell walls of the leather, thereby making them "soft as a baby's behind." That's where you'd get the stretch (and ultimately, the breakage) from. Plus, if you look up the MSDS sheet on Chromium Salts, it gets scary. Beveling is something you're most likely going to have to learn and live with if you're concerned with the bottom line. With practice and plenty of soap, it will become easy. Quote Spence Mendoza, TX, USA
Members Spinner Posted September 22, 2010 Author Members Report Posted September 22, 2010 Thanks for the info folks, at least now I have some idea of what questions to ask the suppliers. This lace will be going on my most requested items, motorcycle side covers and tank bibs. I don't have a lace cutter yet but am working on it (want to get a good one) and I'll need to read up more on the process of cutting, stretching and beveling my own lace....likely need to buy all those tools for that as well. Currently I use superior lace and pre-stretch it as I pull pretty good on the side covers when lacing the top/side seams. It comes out decent enough but I've read that to be in the "next level" group of quality, Roo is the way to go. Just need to find a place that can supply ready to work with roo lace until I figure out the making my own process. What good tools are recommended for the cutting/beveling/making of lace from a hide? Quote Chris Three Mutts Customs Leather - http://www.threemuttscustoms.com
Members roo4u Posted September 22, 2010 Members Report Posted September 22, 2010 for cutting i use a little wooden cutter sold by davidmorgan.com. he is a whipmaker and braider and these little cutters are what they use in their production. only 12.00. prior to that i used a lacemaker from tandy. my splitter is homemade from a design that someone posted on the forum a year or two ago. for beveling i just bought the beveler from yknot lace...70.00 and easy to use works well. Quote TRACY MONSTER FARM SPECIALTIES-custom tack for dog, horse and human
Members Spinner Posted September 23, 2010 Author Members Report Posted September 23, 2010 for cutting i use a little wooden cutter sold by davidmorgan.com. he is a whipmaker and braider and these little cutters are what they use in their production. only 12.00. prior to that i used a lacemaker from tandy. my splitter is homemade from a design that someone posted on the forum a year or two ago. for beveling i just bought the beveler from yknot lace...70.00 and easy to use works well. Thanks Roo, I'll check those out. In the meantime I have some coming from SLC to mess around with. Quote Chris Three Mutts Customs Leather - http://www.threemuttscustoms.com
Members Bevan Posted September 23, 2010 Members Report Posted September 23, 2010 Thanks for the info folks, at least now I have some idea of what questions to ask the suppliers. This lace will be going on my most requested items, motorcycle side covers and tank bibs. I don't have a lace cutter yet but am working on it (want to get a good one) and I'll need to read up more on the process of cutting, stretching and beveling my own lace....likely need to buy all those tools for that as well. Currently I use superior lace and pre-stretch it as I pull pretty good on the side covers when lacing the top/side seams. It comes out decent enough but I've read that to be in the "next level" group of quality, Roo is the way to go. Just need to find a place that can supply ready to work with roo lace until I figure out the making my own process. What good tools are recommended for the cutting/beveling/making of lace from a hide? Gday Spinner I have been reading your post with interest on how people cut or buy their lace !! I make &sell a beveller / resizer tool and i use a RMW strand cutter and splitter, First I cut a 25mm strip all the way around the hide untill i get to the center and have a piece left that is about 6 inch in dia. I then stretch this 1 inch strip by wrapping it around a hook screwed into a post ! " well i picked the arch way inside my house " then i pull the leather around the hook and pass the leather from my right hand to my left , keeping plenty of pressure as i go then after that you will notice that the leather is not all one size it will veary a bit here and there so this is were my little machine comes into it , i set the back gauge up so I can cut lace at 6mm, 1/4 inch this will give me about 50 odd feet or there abouts , I can get 2 more pieces of lace at 6mm wide from the same strip that i cut at 25mm. Now i am left with an uneven strip of leather because of the stretch so now i will adjust the resizer so i can cut some 3mm or 2.5 mm lace. With the 6inch circlesi use a tandy lace cutter and cut them as wide as i can then stretch and resize . I hope this helps Cheers Bevan ps here is my website if ya want to have a captain cook www.bwrwhips.com Quote
Members Spence Posted September 23, 2010 Members Report Posted September 23, 2010 Great info, Bevan!! I also use the RMW for my strands. I use Dene Williams' skivver so often that I made a belt holster for it. I use it whether it's needed or not. It's great for store-bought lace because it evens out the splices somewhat. I've even used it on 1-1/2" 8 oz straps. For beveling, I'm still using the old box cutter with the single edged blade and lots of soap. No doubt there's other, more comfortable and maybe easier tools to use, but that's what I've ended up with in my lace prep pouch. Quote Spence Mendoza, TX, USA
Members 8thsinner Posted September 23, 2010 Members Report Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) I didn't know about Yknotlace before, As when I ordered I used Spring field leather. Has anyone got a direct comparison of colour for colour from each company? If so, tell me and everyone else here what your opinions of it are please. Bevan, can I also ask you, what size of skin are you cutting from on average to get your lace. And just so I am clear, roughly you are getting 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 3mm/1/8" - 50 yards Losing about 4mm in stretch... And roughly 10-12 feet in 3mm from the end circle? Edited September 23, 2010 by 8thsinner Quote Doing the right thing is bleeding for the cause. Website Facebook
Members Bevan Posted September 24, 2010 Members Report Posted September 24, 2010 (edited) Gday Spence I also have a Dean Williams strand cutter , it was a bit diffrent to use than my old RMW one , but i tell ya what ,, it is the beez neez now mate ,, and i must agree the skivver is just awesome ,,, if people want a very good tool to do the job and dont want a $ 300 bill this is the one for you !!!! I have some pics of the Dean Williams strand cutter and splitter , I will post soon but first i need the little lady to resize them , Spence I wouldnt mind having a few chats with you mate ,,,,,, i use my skivver all the time too but dont have a holster for it ,,,, but that is a bloody good idea pm me if ya want !!! 8th I will cut a hide that is . 6 dm this weekend only if the Saints loose ,, if they win i will be on the piss with the boys ", so me no cut lace ,,, but I will take notice of what lengths and widths I cut from the next hide i do , When i do a whip i dont take much notice of the lenghts of lace i get , but i will cut the hide for a Bosal and i will tell you to the cm if you want !! I buy my hide for about $90 a dm or there abouts so i would have to agree with roo4u it does pay to cut ya own ,, plus ya know what ya getting and can cut what ya want I suppose i am lucky ,,, i have never bought or wanted lace untill i made my own ,,, now i make all plus more than i want or need Dont get me wrong but i dont know what bought stuff is like !!!! But by what i have heard ya all have probs getting the good stuff !!!! I know we all cant get the good stuff if we are buy-n from the shops but i know we can all have the good stuff if we make our own !! I have 80lt drums of off cut lace that the leather stores would sell as lace, but i wouldnt , so it all depends on what ya want and what ya can afford Edited September 24, 2010 by Bevan Quote
Members roo4u Posted September 24, 2010 Members Report Posted September 24, 2010 the biggest difference in the precut vs hides that i have seen is the precut has some kind of finish on it that makes it alot harder. leashes i see made from precut i can always tell cuz the braids are not as tight and the knots dont lay as well. i have not seen any of the lace from yknot so maybe theirs is better? all i know is it pays to do it yourself if you possibly can. Quote TRACY MONSTER FARM SPECIALTIES-custom tack for dog, horse and human
Members 8thsinner Posted September 24, 2010 Members Report Posted September 24, 2010 Thanks bevan, I hope they lose...sorry. I was trying to work out the math on cutting your own, and came up with this roughly $90 for your own hide. (bevan) 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 6mm/1/4" - 50 yards 3mm/1/8" - 50 yards 3mm - 10m 150 yards at 6mm from yknot $91 for 54 yards - $253 + $41 for 54 yards = $294 250% mark up on lace And it's not even stretched or split to the same thickness from the cheapest place I know off, i'll not even go into tandys UK prices at £2.50 per metre... So basically in two hides you can buy a strander and splitter.... I think the stuff I am after is $120 - Drum stuffed - Red species - 8sq' Because I want to do quite fine work, I would be likely cutting a maximum 5mm but more likely 4mm on average which should get me 250 yards or so by your size calculations but the larger hide probably adds 20-30 yards more at least I had no idea the mark up was quite that high so there is no way I am going to be using pre-bought again. I also had no idea you got quite so much out of a hide, I thought most roo skins were quite small in the output. ROO4u I also suspect most people using prebought aren't splitting or beveling the lace which adds to the effect you are talking about, like my last whip there, I didn't even split it, I was too concerned with damaging it with my hand made splitter, but I have been splitting all the left overs this week and hopefully I can have something made up soon. I have designers block though, I have all these ideas for it but nothing is fitting me at the moment. Quote Doing the right thing is bleeding for the cause. Website Facebook
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