Lace maker tool

[Grihm]

Hi.

I have been working with the standard Tandyleather lace tool.

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-lace-maker

I am not very satisfied since i feel it´s not very sturdy and i have problems making both thicker or thinner lace than from 2.5 mm thickness. 

Some time age, i saw a tool made fully in metal. It looked more like a round pen sort of. That tool also seemed to be able to create round lace and not only flat.

 

My question is, do anyone have a tip on where to purchase another better tool?

I need it preferably to be possible to bring with me on my travels. It would be superb if it could make both flat and round lace, and of course, easy to replace or sharpen the blades in it.

[KMJares]

I use the Australian strander from Tandy. I'm just a recreational worker but this tool both feels great in my hands and switching out blades are easy. I cant speak on round lace though.

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/australian-strander

[Grihm]

3 hours ago, KMJares said:

I use the Australian strander from Tandy. I'm just a recreational worker but this tool both feels great in my hands and switching out blades are easy. I cant speak on round lace though.

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/australian-strander

Interesting product. I can see a use for it for my basketplans, but if it would be possible to make 50 meter rolls of lace is another thing. I appreciate the tip =)

[McCordSG]

On 8/22/2018 at 2:54 PM, Grihm said:

Interesting product. I can see a use for it for my basketplans, but if it would be possible to make 50 meter rolls of lace is another thing. I appreciate the tip =)

This style could make that much as it easily follows the outer contours of the hide.

Tandy does carry a pen style lace maker that you have mentioned only made of plastic. It works great for mid weight leather. The softer or thinner leathers it really struggles with. I also think it wastes a lot of leather as you need to cut a square (4"-6"), cut a quarter sized hole in the center, pull the lace and then discard the corners that you cannot then use.  

Each tool has its pros and cons.  I have all three and use each quite a bit, though the "pen style the least". 

Hope this helps. 

[Grihm]

I have that plastic tool and it´s the only one i have sadly. It feels a bit off when i am at Viking markets etc tho...so hoping to get a replacement. Thank you =)

[Steve75]

I started out with the lace maker, and recently acquired the Australian Strander.  Of the two I prefer the Australian Strander.  I feel like I have more control over the cutter as I cut the lace.  The more I use the strander the better I get at controlling it and getting the results I want.  The only other strand/lace cutter I know of is the Osborne No 1000 Lace Cutter https://osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=439.  

[Grihm]

37 minutes ago, Steve75 said:

I started out with the lace maker, and recently acquired the Australian Strander.  Of the two I prefer the Australian Strander.  I feel like I have more control over the cutter as I cut the lace.  The more I use the strander the better I get at controlling it and getting the results I want.  The only other strand/lace cutter I know of is the Osborne No 1000 Lace Cutter https://osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=439.  

The Australian Strander. Can you control the thickness of the lace and does it take a lot of thicknesses or preferably only one or two?
The plasticy one i have is basically only useful on the biggest size with my Veg tanned leather. I would love to be able to make more sizes than just the one.

[Mark842]

I guess it depends on the type of leather. I have the Tandy handheld cutter, the Australian Strander and some gizmo lace cutter I bought at the Sheridan trade show for about $300. Unfortunately that was wasted money. For me the tandy cutter is the best tool. I cut chrome oil tanned hides to lace, 1 whole hide per week. The only problem I ever had with the Tandy lace cutter is the leather would eventually cut through the plastic making your lace wider and wider till eventually it would cut through all the way cutting the tool in half. I have since remedied that issue but lining the inside of the lace cutter with aluminum from a pop can. problem solved. I buy high carbon steel blades as they last about 20 times longer than the crap blades Tandy sells for them.

I cut my leather hide into 1 foot squares. Cut a hole in the center and start cutting lace. I can cut a full 45 sqft 6-7oz hide to lace in about 3 hours using the Tandy cutter. The Aussie Strander is a waste of time with oil tanned leather and the 300 dollar gizmo cuts at about a 1/4 the speed of the tandy cutter. I guess I'm just a cheap date.

[Grihm]

1 minute ago, Mark842 said:

I guess it depends on the type of leather. I have the Tandy handheld cutter, the Australian Strander and some gizmo lace cutter I bought at the Sheridan trade show for about $300. Unfortunately that was wasted money. For me the tandy cutter is the best tool. I cut chrome oil tanned hides to lace, 1 whole hide per week. The only problem I ever had with the Tandy lace cutter is the leather would eventually cut through the plastic making your lace wider and wider till eventually it would cut through all the way cutting the tool in half. I have since remedied that issue but lining the inside of the lace cutter with aluminum from a pop can. problem solved. I buy high carbon steel blades as they last about 20 times longer than the crap blades Tandy sells for them.

I cut my leather hide into 1 foot squares. Cut a hole in the center and start cutting lace. I can cut a full 45 sqft 6-7oz hide to lace in about 3 hours using the Tandy cutter. The Aussie Strander is a waste of time with oil tanned leather and the 300 dollar gizmo cuts at about a 1/4 the speed of the tandy cutter. I guess I'm just a cheap date.

Kudos for the info!
Il be trying out the Strander one i feel. If it´s not what i hope for, il probably go for the old antique one that makes rounded lace, but they too are quite expensive. Oh well... trial and error i suppose. Also, may be different with my veg tanned leather so i´l be sure to take note on it.

[Mark842]

2 minutes ago, Grihm said:

Kudos for the info!
Il be trying out the Strander one i feel. If it´s not what i hope for, il probably go for the old antique one that makes rounded lace, but they too are quite expensive. Oh well... trial and error i suppose. Also, may be different with my veg tanned leather so i´l be sure to take note on it.

With veg tan being stiffer I can see a strander working OK on it but I still wouldn't want to cut any kind of high volume with it. That and you are restricted in length of the lace to the length of the hide. With the Tandy lace cutter I can get about a 30 foot length of lace out a 1 foot square. I curious about this antique lace cutter you're talking about that makes round lace. never heard of such a beast.