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[blackhammer]

What do you guys consider your absolute, must have tools for braiding? Besides your hands of course. Specifically, what brands of knives, lace cutters and rounders do you use. Pictures would be cool.

[roo4u]

the essentials are a way to cut lace, bevel lace, and split lace....some can do that with only a knife. also some type of fid.

well i use a lace cutter from davidmorgan.com, works ok and was 25.00, it is wooden. i use a beveler from yknot lace works good and a homemade splitter from plans someone posted on the forum here a couple of years ago. if i could afford it i would like to get a lace cutter from the guy at hamleys, leatherpownder posted pics of the one he bought and i like the look of it. i do use a rounder, which i made....it is oak. i used 2 pieces of 2x2 oak and clamped them together and drilled holes along the centerline fine sanded them put a hinge on one end and a latch on the other so i can open it...works excellent to polish and smooth my braids.

[lilpep]

roo4u

could you post a pic or a link that shows the lace cutter from Hamleys? much appreciated

[rcsaddles]

If you look back in this braiding forum, you will find a post about cutting lace. Bevan posted a you tube video of the resizer/beveler that he makes. I have one and love the thing. Once he posted the video and I saw the correct way to use it, beveling lace is so easy with it. I have the Aussie Lace Cutter, which I have used to cut all my rawhide and even most of my leather lace. I was able to upgrade to a Dene Williams Lace Cutter and a Splitter. They are great. I think you can also find pictures of them on this forum. If not, let me know and I will post a couple of pictures.

I have a fid that is made from a pitchfork tine. It was given to me by Mary Fields who is in the Bruce Grant books. I also have some that are made out of 1/8 inch square stock metal. They are heated and shaped the way I want which makes them more useable. I have some of the square stock ones available for $5.00 plus shipping if interested.

Keep asking questions because you also make us think about things.

[Bevan]

What do you guys consider your absolute, must have tools for braiding? Besides your hands of course. Specifically, what brands of knives, lace cutters and rounders do you use. Pictures would be cool.

Well a good pair of specks and a 150 watt light helps me heaps !!!

I use a Dean willams strand cutter /splitter ,, just the beez neez !! I use that in combo with my own lace resizer / beveler

I dont know what you guys do for a work station but i use my old saddle and put that on my plaiting horse ,,,

Cheers for now

I will try and down load some pice soon

Cheers

Bevan

Edited May 26, 2011 by Bevan

[Leatherpownder]

In my opinion it would depend on how much work you plan on doing. If you are just getting into braiding a combination tool like the Lacemaster, Wayne Judski,or another tool that has the straight cut, bevel, and splitter in one would be the best and least expensive. The tool Bevan produces looks like a fine tool for the price but you would still need a splitter. If you plan on doing more then a string cutter from Hansen (also has splitter) or Tim George at Hamleys coupled with an Osborne splitter would be in order. Hope this helps. Bret.

[roo4u]

here is the link to the post were i saw the pics of the lace cutter from the guy at hamleys http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=30688

[blackhammer]

Thanks for the replies. My current tools are an old boker stockman with the sheepsfoot and spey blades zero bevelled and polished and a fid made from, strange as it may sound, A PITCH FORK TINE! I use an aussie strander in a vice to size and I bevel by hand using the boker. Man that thing is sharp. I do however have plans to consign a strander/beveller/splitter by a local machinist. Almost hate to give up the pocket knife approach though. Hah!

[Bevan]

Thanks for the replies. My current tools are an old boker stockman with the sheepsfoot and spey blades zero bevelled and polished and a fid made from, strange as it may sound, A PITCH FORK TINE! I use an aussie strander in a vice to size and I bevel by hand using the boker. Man that thing is sharp. I do however have plans to consign a strander/beveller/splitter by a local machinist. Almost hate to give up the pocket knife approach though. Hah!

LOL

Never give up the pocket knife mate ,,,

[blackhammer]

There is a picture in Ron Hunt;s Whipmaking book that shows a fella cutting strands over a rail with a pocket knife. That image has kinda stuck in my head as how it should be done. Then I look at some of the work on this site and reckon that there's gotta be a better way. Anyone have any experience with the argentine type guides? Kind of a round piece with a hole in the center and a slot through the side bisecting the hole that you slip a knife blade through. Looks like you just start the strand, pull and there you go.

[roo4u]

if you look back thru the braiding topics a bit you will find one that alan bell posted were he shows using an argentine style cutter guide, made from a piece of nylon cutting board, and a sharp knife...youll have to look back a bit think it was a couple of years ago...

[Leatherpownder]

There is a picture in Ron Hunt;s Whipmaking book that shows a fella cutting strands over a rail with a pocket knife. That image has kinda stuck in my head as how it should be done. Then I look at some of the work on this site and reckon that there's gotta be a better way. Anyone have any experience with the argentine type guides? Kind of a round piece with a hole in the center and a slot through the side bisecting the hole that you slip a knife blade through. Looks like you just start the strand, pull and there you go.

Use one a lot. I tried it and it doesn't work with roo only rawhide. That's a good cutter but you are limited to very thin rawhide (roo, horse, or goat). Made of cow horn they last longer but plastic works also.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Leatherpownder