What is wrong with me!

[UKRay]

RAY, YES YOU DO HAVE SOME VERY UNIQUE MACHINES AND TOOLS.....

(hopefully one of these years i will get to see them in person)

Just jump on that plane cousin - you can stay as long as you like!

The tool collecting bug is a real problem though. After reading this thread I have been through all the drawers, boxes and hiding places in the workshop and have pulled out a whole raft of tools I have never used but feel sure they will be useful someday... I have even got a weird machine that I can't work out what it it is for - but I love it regardless and can't bring myself to put it back on eBay.

I had no idea the problem was this serious! LOL

[Rayban]

I believe that a lot of peeps think that a better swivel knife will make them a better swivel knifer...a better round knife will make them a better cutter, etc......that's like saying better Sheridan stamping tools will make them better Sheridan carvers.....nonsense, right? I think so.....

Better tools and more of them is not a short-cut to fine leather work.....takes practice, and lots of it.

[superchute]

Your right in some way there Rsyban the tool duse not make you better. But with a better tool that cuts better or smother the job is much ezer to do. Rember only perfect practice makes us closer to perfact. I can tell you that some of the better blades make cutting better thay will get and keep a edge longer.

Most of all make shere you have fun. We only go round once.

I think all goes back to being a kid and we all want more toys.

Russ

[pabloz]

I believe that a lot of peeps think that a better swivel knife will make them a better swivel knifer...a better round knife will make them a better cutter, etc......that's like saying better Sheridan stamping tools will make them better Sheridan carvers.....nonsense, right? I think so.....

Better tools and more of them is not a short-cut to fine leather work.....takes practice, and lots of it.

There is no substitute for pratice, but it must be practice with the intent to improve. If someone does the same thing over and over again in the same way without trying to improve they will stay at the same level indefinitely. With that being said and having invested innumerable hours studying the work of many of the "GREATS" such as Jim Resley, Billy Wootres, Brad Martin, Al Gould, Don Butler, Chan Geer, Pete Gorrell, Jimmy Jackson, Peter Main, Keith Seidel, and I could go on and on, but one thing that always floats to the surface is their total committment to providing the highest quality work they can deliver. They also combine their exceptional talent with the best tools they can find to achieving this goal. My dad had two sayings on this topic: "the best of tools in the worst of hands can't do what the worst of tools in the best of hands CAN" and "the difference between a professional and an amateur is all in the details."

There is definetly much that can be said on this topic, but what I can say in all confidence is that having the RIGHT tool for the job makes the work an absolute JOY and having the best tools you can afford also contribute to your pride of ownership and builds confidence in one's ability to deliver a quality product and/or service.

I whole heartedly encourage the pusuit of excellence in all one does and having quality tools makes this most worthy endeavor all the more FUN.

I think a great example of this is the unsupassed quality of this site that Johanna et.al. have put together we all enjoy.

Pabloz

[Rawhide]

I believe that a lot of peeps think that a better swivel knife will make them a better swivel knifer...a better round knife will make them a better cutter, etc......that's like saying better Sheridan stamping tools will make them better Sheridan carvers.....nonsense, right? I think so.....

Better tools and more of them is not a short-cut to fine leather work.....takes practice, and lots of it.

I agree here Rayban. However, the quality of tool does make the impressions look better, deeper, etc... with stamping tools, and swivel knives, while they won't make you a better user, they do alleviate a lot of the cramping, they turn easier, etc... As an analogy, you can build a house with a hammer and nails, but you can also build it with a nail gun and compressor. Some choose the hammer and nails, some choose the nail gun, but the invention of the nail gun has revolutionized home building.

So while practice is needed (lots of practice), higher quality tools do aid in making the job easier.

[Rayban]

I agree here Rayban. However, the quality of tool does make the impressions look better, deeper, etc... with stamping tools, and swivel knives, while they won't make you a better user, they do alleviate a lot of the cramping, they turn easier, etc... As an analogy, you can build a house with a hammer and nails, but you can also build it with a nail gun and compressor. Some choose the hammer and nails, some choose the nail gun, but the invention of the nail gun has revolutionized home building.

So while practice is needed (lots of practice), higher quality tools do aid in making the job easier.

Well that's cool...so let me know when they come out with a basket weave gun and compressor, I'll be all over that one!!

[Rawhide]

Well that's cool...so let me know when they come out with a basket weave gun and compressor, I'll be all over that one!!

Ha ha ha. I'm sure everyone would. They did however come up with a little compressor and a beveler. I forget the name of it but I think Bruce Johnson had one. It would oscillate in and out and you could drag it along an edge and quickly bevel it.

[UKRay]

Its all very well having lots of great tools but storing them can be a problem. How do you guys suggest we store a bunch of tools so they are easily accessible?

[Luke Hatley]

RAY.... over a period of "a lot of years" the drawers in my two desk" were getting kinda full

maby too full. then i thought about leather strips attached on the wall with tools

position between screws...naw... then Peg Board, that was it.

This is the best way to place tools. there are a lot of different hangers for attaching the tools to

the peg board and the tools are in sight.

[UKRay]

From a practical perspective I would completely agree with you, Luke. But IMHO that peg board stuff is aesthetically deficient. Sure, the fittings are very efficient but they just don't do it for me. Personally, I'd rather see most of my tools put away out of sight and tidy in drawers than on the wall but that is just MHO! I actually shelled out for a mechanics roll along tool chest a while back and haven't regretted it yet - but the trouble is I now need another one... LOL

Will it ever end? Will we ever have enough toys?