Tracym Report post Posted March 25, 2012 I've been reading about making the kangaroo leather dog leads. Sometimes it seems beveled lace is needed to make a nice lead. But I've also seen it said that after rolling, it doesn't make much difference. Opinions? Is there anywhere to buy lace that is already beveled? I just want to make a few leads, don't really want to buy expensive tools. If beveling already cut lace - do I need to buy thicker lace, then it'll end up around 1/8" once beveled? Sorry for all the questions, it seems quite a task to get started. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KnotHead Report post Posted March 26, 2012 It does make a difference. Anyone, who has picked up both beveled and not beveled will tell you that there is a difference. Especially in the way it feels in the hand. B... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roo4u Report post Posted March 26, 2012 there is a big difference...especially with the commercially cut lace. commercially cut lace is much harder than hand cut lace and the edges do not roll smooth. so when the lead gets pulled through your hand the edges are very hard and the lead feels rough. with the hand cut lace you can roll them out fairly well so that they feel smoother than they are, but the commercial lace is sprayed with a finish so that it cuts smoothly through the machinery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 26, 2012 Hmm. Well, I don't think my skills (non-existant) are up to cutting my own lace at this point, so I'll just have to do the best I can I guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sovran81 Report post Posted March 27, 2012 It does make a difference. I have never seen roo lace pre-beveled , but I have run across ads for latigo lace pre-beveled. You can find vids to make a cheap beveler out of a block of wood on you tube. the 2 that come to mind are Abraided and Bernie46. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 27, 2012 Thanks. I did look at that hand-made bevelor video. The question I had was though - if I wanted to end up with 1/8" lace, would I need to buy larger lace and then bevel it? Or can one be so precise that the width of the lace doesn't change? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted March 27, 2012 With rawhide I don't bevel enough to actually change the width of the string. You just want to knock the corner off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KnotHead Report post Posted March 27, 2012 Precision like you speak of is a skill only mastered by actually doing it. If you buy 1/4 inch lace you'll have enough room to bevel. B... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
entiendo Report post Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) Knothead is being modest, he sells beautiful hand cut lace, you should PM him. I braid with Kangaroo and I don't change the width of the string with beveling either. Edited March 27, 2012 by entiendo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 27, 2012 OK Knothead, I will ask - do you have a website? Where do you sell your lace? If I'm going to make something, I would like to do a reasonably good job if possible... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Knotnutz Report post Posted March 27, 2012 I've been reading about making the kangaroo leather dog leads. Sometimes it seems beveled lace is needed to make a nice lead. But I've also seen it said that after rolling, it doesn't make much difference. Opinions? Is there anywhere to buy lace that is already beveled? I just want to make a few leads, don't really want to buy expensive tools. If beveling already cut lace - do I need to buy thicker lace, then it'll end up around 1/8" once beveled? Sorry for all the questions, it seems quite a task to get started. Hi Tracy I've been away from the forum for a long time, and I think it is karma that yours is the first post I see upon my return. I've been braiding leashes now for close to 10 years, and the last time I took the time to count (2009), I was up over 500 individual leashes and collars, with more than 21,000 braided inches. I'm probably double or even triple that now. As for beveling making a difference, the majority of those who say it doesn't make a difference are usually those who can't, won't or don't know how. Nobody that I know sells pre-beveled lace in an any quantity - maybe a yard or two at most. Degree of bevel is a personal thing, as is the amount taken off. I personally like no edge at all, when I can do it, as I find that the less edge, the smoother the braid is after rolling, and the tighter it is as well. Beveling (when done right) does not affect the width of the lace, only the thickness at the edge. Your leashes might be thinner than those of someone who does not bevel, but if your braiding is tight and consistent, you will have a much more attractive product. If you are braiding for yourself, there is nothing more satisfying than making a beautiful product. If you are thinking of braiding for sales, be advised that MOST braiders (there are some exceptions) who make show leashes are notoriously unhelpful to newbies, and the market is flooded with all kinds of leashes that range from amazingly beautiful pieces of artwork to absolute crap that is not suitable to take a dog out at midnight when nobody will see you. Good luck! Beth Lucky Kanga leashes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KnotHead Report post Posted March 27, 2012 OK Knothead, I will ask - do you have a website? Where do you sell your lace? If I'm going to make something, I would like to do a reasonably good job if possible... Check your Private Messages Tracy. B... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 27, 2012 Thank you Beth. I'm not looking to sell them, at least that isn't my plan. I just want to make a few for myself and perhaps give a couple to some good friends. But if I go to the bother of making something, I would like to try to make it beautiful. I have seen a variety of leashes out there. I could certainly buy one - but - I loved to braid as a youngster. And I love leather. So it would just be so satisfying to make my own. Sounds like I need to learn to bevel. OK, I can probably give it a try. Will it work ok to bevel lace that I purchase? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Knotnutz Report post Posted March 27, 2012 Thank you Beth. I'm not looking to sell them, at least that isn't my plan. I just want to make a few for myself and perhaps give a couple to some good friends. But if I go to the bother of making something, I would like to try to make it beautiful. I have seen a variety of leashes out there. I could certainly buy one - but - I loved to braid as a youngster. And I love leather. So it would just be so satisfying to make my own. Sounds like I need to learn to bevel. OK, I can probably give it a try. Will it work ok to bevel lace that I purchase? The least expensive beveler that I know of is available through Y-Knot lace. I bought mine a few years back, and considering how many miles of string has been pulled through it, it has done me well. I messed up a lot at first, but now pretty much have it down to a science, with minimal waste, and seldom wrecking a string. Beth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) A friend helped me make a beveler similar to one in the video. So I just need to order some blades, and make a guide for it, and I'll give beveling a try. Thanks everyone for the help. Does anyone know what that piece of metal Bernie46 is using for a guide is? Edited March 29, 2012 by Tracym Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sovran81 Report post Posted March 29, 2012 It is a piece of brass. He used brass because it was a piece he had laying around and wont leave possible stains the way steel would. I used aluminum on my beveler. Both are soft metals so they are easy to hand machine (cut with a coping saw and file). I have done away with the little finger because using it limits you to the thickness you can bevel. Instead I set the depth of the cut with the guide then lay an old credit card over the leather to keep it pressed down in front of the blade. doing this allows me run almost any thickness of leather through the beveler. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted March 29, 2012 A million uses for expired credit cards )) Great idea, thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
