Can You Help Me With Some Tools?

[DoubleC]

That mystery tool IS a tack/staple remover....just a well worn one. For the types of things you're currently working on, it probably won't see much use. Other than that, keep it around, there's no such thing as too many tools.

Well I needed one for some upholstery I want to do, and ended up 3 regular ones, so this one is headed for the shadow box display. Thanks Mike. I need to tell Syl now. Cheryl

No that's not it. You can't see the separations from the other side, and the side they are on that blade end bevels upward. I tried AGAIN by holding it but my hand slipped. Anyway this is the other side and if you look really closely at the top you can see the squared off little indentions.

It's a worn out tack and staple remover I need sleep kinda bad.

[Sylvia]

Well I needed one for some upholstery I want to do, and ended up 3 regular ones, so this one is headed for the shadow box display. Thanks Mike. I need to tell Syl now. Cheryl

It's a worn out tack and staple remover I need sleep kinda bad.

Well, eat and get to bed, woman!

[WinterBear]

Glad the fid is working out for you. Just be careful, if you get too enthusiastic, it gives you enough of a grip you can overtighten and pucker your leather, pop the lace, or overstretch the holes (if you ask me how I know this, I'll tell you--experience! Usually followed by a lot of swearing).

If you really want to get into knots, I suggest the Braiding subforum here, and also looking up the user "Knothead" here on this site. He does fantastic knots, and he and other people have some great tutorials and tips here on Leatherworker, and on Knot Heads World Wide (http://khww.net/news.php).

Most knots are completely above my head for now. All I can manage right now is the 3-lead turksheads, with 4, 5, or 7 bights, and crown knots. I haven't figured out the "long" turksheads, or any of the 4 or 5 bight knots yet, let alone a pineapple knot. Most braids are still beyond me as well, I can do various 3 and 4 strand braids, but that's about it so far.

[DoubleC]

Well, eat and get to bed, woman!

I did woman, LOL. dog just got me up

[DoubleC]

Glad the fid is working out for you. Just be careful, if you get too enthusiastic, it gives you enough of a grip you can overtighten and pucker your leather, pop the lace, or overstretch the holes (if you ask me how I know this, I'll tell you--experience! Usually followed by a lot of swearing).

If you really want to get into knots, I suggest the Braiding subforum here, and also looking up the user "Knothead" here on this site. He does fantastic knots, and he and other people have some great tutorials and tips here on Leatherworker, and on Knot Heads World Wide (http://khww.net/news.php).

Most knots are completely above my head for now. All I can manage right now is the 3-lead turksheads, with 4, 5, or 7 bights, and crown knots. I haven't figured out the "long" turksheads, or any of the 4 or 5 bight knots yet, let alone a pineapple knot. Most braids are still beyond me as well, I can do various 3 and 4 strand braids, but that's about it so far.

I hear all that, especially the swearing part, LOL. I saw a video on the turk head at youtube and it look simple enough...but after whatever I ended up with on this curb leather, I first realized I was trying to do a round knot on a square holder and the turks head is NOT as easy as it looks anyway, LOL. I had first looked at that video because i want to do bosels with this rawhide I bought so I did learn the 4 strand round easy enough but doing a turks head on the end, PLUS trying to work with these small strands of wirey rawhide whipping around, that I'm wetting a little at a time to braid, then letting dry to keep the tension and diameter right, while my dog is trying to eat it, well I think I saw some truckers blush when they heard me, LOL.

I did macreme' 'back in the day' and could do it watching TV, etc. But I'm not a 'visual' learner. Plus I have other things I really need to be doing but the round braiding I picked up and could probably do watching tv. if i had some place set up for it but I don't have room to do my other things either. But that gave me an idea, instead of a turks head, i could put a dyed round braid on the curb strap and then i could forget one thing, LOL. If I can keep my dog from eating it while i do it, LOL.

[WinterBear]

I'll have to look around, I should have a couple of instruction sheets on turksheads, maybe one of them will explain a step a little bit better and you'll get the hang of it? And maybe try a latigo lace or a bit of paracord first, until you get the weave down? It took me quite a few attempts, but can make 3lead5bight turkshead practically in my sleep after making a series of them as a demo for Boy Scouts.

[DoubleC]

I'll have to look around, I should have a couple of instruction sheets on turksheads, maybe one of them will explain a step a little bit better and you'll get the hang of it? And maybe try a latigo lace or a bit of paracord first, until you get the weave down? It took me quite a few attempts, but can make 3lead5bight turkshead practically in my sleep after making a series of them as a demo for Boy Scouts.

Thanks WinterBear. But a friend of mine found a great book for me online called "How to make cowboy horse gear' that's about nothing but rawhide. I was too tired to work the other day and read the first chapter on different ways of making rawhide, got to the second and it was about!!!!! Turk's head knots, LOL. He has a bridle he made in here early on that is just gorgeous made all of rawhide. But of course the book was first published in 1956, LOL. I scanned a picture for you. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in knots, braiding, or horse tack. It was very inexpensive.

The idea of using something easier on the hands and to work with than rawhide is excellent, LOL. Cheryl

[WinterBear]

Best thing about paracord is that it can be unknotted if you made a mistake. That and the dogs aren't much interested in it. Cats, on the other hand. They tend to not care so much for the rawhide (the "ew, ick" face when a cat grabs a wet rawhide string is hilarious), but I can't work with a piece of paracord without stopping to remove a passing hairball. They come out of the woodwork to pounce, even cats I've never seen before!

I'll add that book to my wishlist, thanks!

[DoubleC]

Best thing about paracord is that it can be unknotted if you made a mistake. That and the dogs aren't much interested in it. Cats, on the other hand. They tend to not care so much for the rawhide (the "ew, ick" face when a cat grabs a wet rawhide string is hilarious), but I can't work with a piece of paracord without stopping to remove a passing hairball. They come out of the woodwork to pounce, even cats I've never seen before!

I'll add that book to my wishlist, thanks!

A friend of mine found it online since she knew I'd bought a whole cow's worth of rawhide. And I bought it in a split second.....then she wrote me back and found one used, the ORIGINAL from 1956. I'll see if I still have the url.

Animals just crack me up. To say my dog is bored would be such an understatement. I'm either working or sleeping, neither of which she seems to find very interesting. Today I put my rythym beads on 'show off' and had to get a set out of what I call my 'barn bag,' insulated and square with a zipper, big enough for m y 2-litre diet colas, and numerous things I'm taking back and forth to the barn. We haven't been able to go because my driver found out Thursday he had a brain tumor, and CALLED me to let me know he couldn't take me to the barn Friday. Like i really cared after that news. ANYWAY, while i was scanning the rythym beads in here she was quite busy in there. When I took the set that needs to go to the barn back to the bag, the dog had put one of her bones in the bag. More than one of us missing some fresh air and exercise

Anyway the book is about nothing but rawhide braiding and knots. Which you could do with any material of course.

The one I got:

My link

The one I shoulda, LOL:

My link

Cheryl

[bootsmt]

The picture you call no.1 is used for rubbing finishing wax into the leather soles, heels and edges on shoes and boots. It is heated to the point it will melt the wax and you rub it over and over until the wax is no longer a liquid and is is now in the leather. You would then buff it with you finishing wheels. If you want to know more about the tools anf their purpose there is a book you can buy that has the information. The author last name is Solomon and the book is called Leather Tools from the 1700"s to 1950 ? Can't remember the exact name right now. Glue must be catching up with me. You can find it at your finders or at Hale and Company 805-680-8002. Can't tell what the other tool is because the picture is out of focus. Frank

No that's not it. You can't see the separations from the other side, and the side they are on that blade end bevels upward. I tried AGAIN by holding it but my hand slipped. Anyway this is the other side and if you look really closely at the top you can see the squared off little indentions.

Edited February 21, 2012 by bootsmt