Wetting Strings And Conditioning Finished Items

[Sovran81]

How much difference in cost is there between Packer grade 1 - which I think is the whipmaking grade drum stuffed, and their regular craft lace? I haven't figured out if the craft lace is drum stuffed or not, but I'm guessing not. I don't know anyone that offers the colors in drum stuffed (if the above is correct) - do you? I also am not sure what you mean by color or lube stuffed?

Drum stuffing is basically "in a vat" whether it is dye or lube. Packer was $116 per meter last I checked. They drum stuff both dye and lube. I say lube because I dont recall if it was fat or lard. It feels smoother than other (dry)roo and the strands slide into place with little additional braiding soap if any.

[Tracym]

This is what my supplier told me in an email regarding his lace vs the lace I have been buying:

"They (the factories) both tan the hides differently...they stretch and dry

tan their hides where the one my leather comes from tan and soak and use

a hydraulic plate to compress the fibre bundles inside the hide which

makes it more even and stronger. There are a myriad of differences

between the leathers without going into all of the details."

One big difference I noticed between the two laces, was the smell. My new lace has that wonderful leather smell!

And he has it in lots of colors. Some colors are a bit thicker than others, but all seem to be supple and consistant in quality, and so far I have been really pleased.

Curious what factories etc. we are talking about?

[BIS Leads]

TracyM, I do not know for sure where my lace cutter buys his skins, but I'm guessing it might be Packer. My USA supplier is Springfield. I am not trying to bash them, they have been very helpful as I have gotten started in this adventure, and most of what I've bought from them has been good. However, some spools are definately not up to my standards - large variations in thicknesses, with areas that are so hard and stiff they won't braid at all. So I tried some from someone who sells via Etsy, called Leatheroo, and his lace has been really nice so far altho it costs 2x as much.

I emailed Packer regarding their precut lace, and this was their reply:

Thankyou for your enquiry.

Lacing is cut from K-Craft.

Their site says K-Craft is veg-tanned, 1st class, 0.8 - 1mm thick.

Springfield's comes from Birdsall, and their site says this about the kangaroo: These skins are vegetable tanned, drum dyed through. Approx 0.7/1.0mm in thickness.

So now I am more confused, as they both seem to be saying the same thing!

Any of you experts really know and can explain the differences?

[Tracym]

Thanks. Yes, I think Springfield is a great company, but I don't really like working with the Birdsall lace either. Barb at Y-Knot lace has quite nice lace - I think at least some of it is probably from Packer, but I'm not positive. I wonder if a few colors (bright pink for ex. may be from Birdsall). I'm wondering if it's all from Amazing Lace, who I've been told may get lace from multiple tanneries. Packer lace is much nicer than Birdsall imo, And I thought I read on Packers site that they also sell drum stuffed lace, in a few basic colors. Very interesting. I don't know where Leatheroo gets lace - are you saying he hand cuts it?

[curlyjo]

I get all my hides from Hardtke in El Paso, Tx. and they've been the best price for drum stuffed Packer hides. Had 1 problem, sent a note to Hardtke and got a call dirrectly from Graham Packer from Australia. Talked with him for quite a while and sent the hide back to Aus. and he sent me a new hide without waiting for the first to arrive there. When he got the hide and checked it he said it was something to do with the pickling process on that particular hide. Outstanding service from the other side of the world. I've never personally had to grease or lube any strings, just cut them at 5-6/32, stretch with my hands, split down to 2/32 for button string or leave alone for Bosal braiding, size, bevel and go to work. Brad

[Peter T]

Packer leather sure is great to work with and they are big supporters of us plaiters and whipmakers here in Australia. They are great people too. Being only a bit over half an hour from their tannery would make it pretty easy for me to sort any issues out (never had any though), but it sure is nice to hear how they look after their overseas customers as well.

I've never really used pre-cut lace. The advice I got early on was to learn to cut my own so that's what I did. The quality of the lace I cut from Packer hides is very high and could quite easily be plaited without greasing. I always do though as that is my preference. I would always encourage people to cut their own lace, but I also know full well the constraints of budgets etc.

Ivory soap keeps getting mentioned as something people use. Might be an Aussie thing but I don't know exactly what it is. Is it a brand of soap? Or a type of soap?

Pete

[Sovran81]

Peter, Ivory is a brand. it is supposed to be pure soap, but whether it has changed formulas over the years is sometimes up for debate. I have also heard that Fels naptha soap bars are pure soap but havent tried any due to availability in my area.

[Tracym]

Out of interest, I looked for Leatheroo on Etsy, but he didn't have anything for sale. I should probably learn to cut my own lace, but not quite yet. I am very curious re. the Packer pre-cut lace that is the whipmakers grade that I saw on their website. Wasn't offered in colors though.

[Peter T]

Thanks Sovran81. I'll keep my eye out for something similar to ivory soap.

Traceym, I wish I could give you more feedback on the Packer pre-cut lace, but I've never used it, only their full hides. I've never been disappointed with their leather though.

Pete