What Is This Tool Called, And Where Do I Find It?

[CustomDoug]

Just heard back from them...

35 euro for each cork handle

~75 euro each for the edging and wax-melting attachments

+ freight.

Ouch, so the Mando tips are $95 each! I think 3 would be a minimum really. So there's $300 of it. The Campbell-Bosworth stuff suddenly seems a lot smarter. But btw, the Janik units have a ton of external element tips that can be used with them.. here's some http://www.patrickfa...aphy/wpage5.htm the #23 Flat and the T20 knife edge might be usable for leather?

Edited November 23, 2012 by CustomDoug

[Andrew Chee]

Sorry for taking so long to follow up on this. I did get this unit about a week ago but I just haven't had time to test it out yet. I've included some pictures of it. There is a standard paddle tip, an edge creaser tip (I think it's 2mm but they come in different widths), and two rounded edging tips (3mm and 5mm). I haven't really played with it too much but I tried testing it out on edging a single piece of 6oz latigo. The edge I got was using sandpaper, bees wax, and heat. Not bad but I should probably learn the correct way to use this tool so I can get even better results. Anyways, pictures are attached.

Andrew

[CustomDoug]

Sorry for taking so long to follow up on this. I did get this unit about a week ago but I just haven't had time to test it out yet. I've included some pictures of it. There is a standard paddle tip, an edge creaser tip (I think it's 2mm but they come in different widths), and two rounded edging tips (3mm and 5mm). I haven't really played with it too much but I tried testing it out on edging a single piece of 6oz latigo. The edge I got was using sandpaper, bees wax, and heat. Not bad but I should probably learn the correct way to use this tool so I can get even better results. Anyways, pictures are attached.

Andrew

Yea Andrew that edge looks pretty darn good from what I can tell.. and that looks like veg tan leather, these are supposedly good with the chrome. Have you tried making a crease line parallel to the edge of a leather piece yet? I think the flat "paddle" tip is meant to slick the edges particularly using dyes,waxes and paints (from what I can decipher). I may have to order one of these units. Does that silver metallic shaft below yellow plastic get too hot to touch? I assume so, but it's thicker too than most soldering irons I've used.

Edited November 25, 2012 by CustomDoug

[Andrew Chee]

The leather is some kind of Latino so it's probably some combination chrome/veg tan. Not really sure exactly. I haven't really tried the crease line yet but paddle works fairly well. It basically helps melt the wax into the edge. I sand and re-wax between coats and can get a fairly smooth finish. If someone knows the absolute correct way to use this tools, please let me know. As for the shaft part, I don't know. I don't really want to find out if it gets too hot so I just don't touch it.

Andrew

[conceptdiba]

I've received my machine too and will post my impressions tomorrow. CustomDoug, the shaft does indeed get very hot. The setting goes from 1 to 10, and even on setting 3 the shaft is very hot.

[Andrew Chee]

Also, I found that you don't really need to go above heat setting 3. 10 is way too hot.

Andrew

[conceptdiba]

Okay, my impressions on the tool so far.

I purchased the unit, and two attachments.

The first attachment is used to mark a line down the edge of the leather. My plan was to have this line run between the stitching and the edge for a nice finishing touch. The second attachment is used to melt wax onto the edge of the leather for a good edge. I don't have the two brass attachment's Andrew Chee posted in his 3rd picture a few posts up.

My experience with the first attachment honestly has been okay. It's quite difficult to do corners well due to the length of the tool's handle, and I'm finding the line to be a bit too heavy/wide for my liking when doing fine leather goods. Please take that all with a grain of salt, as I still have to 1) hone my skills with this attachment and 2) try fiddling with the heat settings to see what is ideal for this attachment. So far, I've found this tool useful when I do a folded edge, like on a card slot, and opt to do a decorative line with this attachment rather than stitches.

My experience with the second attachment has been excellent. I'm currently waiting on burnishable edge paint/wax samples from Campbell-Randall, but in the meantime I've been using some black edge-paint I received from LCI a while back. I typically work with very thin leathers of multiple layers (Ie wallet inner, card slots, then outer, each individual layer being very thin). I'll use glue to get the layers to stack and align, then sand the edge using a lower grit sandpaper like 200 grit. At this point I apply a layer of edge paint using a very small flathead screwdriver (this works very well to prevent excess wax from sticking to something like a wool dauber or q-tip and going over the edge of the leather). After applying the paint, I run the attachment on heat setting 3 up and down. Then I do a quick sanding to remove excess edge paint (I believe once I find the right edge paint/wax this won't be as much of a problem) before applying another coat and repeating with the attachment. Another coat is added as necessary until there are no discernible 'layers' when looking at the edge; just uniformly smooth edge is visible. I finish off by rubbing the edge with beeswax or similar and burnishing by hand with a small piece of crocus cloth to give it a nice shine and finish.

I still need a bit of practice with this tool, but here's the kind of edge I got on a combination of about 5 mixed layers of chrome and veg-tanned leather using the above method. In reality, I'd probably skive all the layers down so the edge wouldn't be so bulky, but I think it demonstrates this tool's effectiveness.

Overall, I'm very happy with this tool. The edge attachment is exactly what I've been looking for at a fraction of the price of other available tools. I'll post an update once I've tried out the different edge paints from Campbell-Randall.

[bernardojr]

hi there!

where can i buy the edge paint/wax?

thank you!

[raysouth]

This is an interesting use of tools that are common in my shop. Never considered using pyrography for sealing edges but easy to see how could be done.

There are many pyrography burners available, and very reasonable handpieces/tips that will do the same thing. I also have a digital temp. control solder station that I did not get to use much and have packed away, that would also perfom well in this area.

You could go to any of the pyrography sites and view the different machine or simply do a search for pyrography tools. The basic pyrography pens, which are very inexpensive, would also work but care would have to be used as they would not be temperature controlled.

Take a look at the basic tools and tips as offered at Walnut Hollow, to give you some idea of the tools available. There are controllers made for the basic pens as well, but no idea who is making them today.

Will have to try this myself, as it seems to do a very nice job on edging.

God Bless.

Ray

[conceptdiba]

hi there!

where can i buy the edge paint/wax?

thank you!

I have a sample from LCI in black that works very well. I also received samples of the Italian edge paints from Campbell-Randall, but compared to the LCI, I find they take way more coats to get the edge I like, and are much lower in viscosity than the LCI edge ink.