Using life-eye needles with 'roo lace

[Dan Hammons]

Does any one else have trouble getting the life eye needles to catch hold of roo lace ? Driving me crazier than i was .Thanks Dan

[pepin1948]

Yes, not just to grip, but to stay in. I find it's because roo lace is stretchier, and pulls out much easier.

[braider]

Greetings... I use life eye needles a lot, but, I'm not very familiar with roo. You could either go to a smaller needle or try screwing two ends into the needle at once. Or, I bend an inch or so back and point the double end - same difference as using two ends. Maybe use a different kind of leather for the second point. ...Dave

Edited August 24, 2006 by braider

[Johanna]

I always cut it with a knife into a triangular shape and screw it in. I've never had a problem with 'roo- in fact I like it almost as well as goat. It seems the cowhide lacing has more fibers that grip, so you need a longer ---->>>> point on the lace for a lifeeye with smooth leather lacing like roo or goat.

Speaking of lifeyes, my favorite lacing needle, sharpen them and your lacing will go much quicker. I will strop mine every now and then, because they do pick up anything gummy like cement or glue while working.

Johanna

[Dan Hammons]

Hi all , I have found something that works also. I cut the end like Johanna does and then wet the lace just alittle (mouth) and then rolled it with my fingers tight. The compression did the trick.Well it worked every time for me anyway.Thanks all for the advice Dan

[The Major]

Another thing to consider when using roo or goat lace is its stretch. Most of the better roo/goat laces out there need to be stretched before use. Or if they are stretched they are stretched too much.

Especially if you cut it yourself.

You stretch it until there is about 2 inches of stretch in the piece. Now lubricate the lace with white saddle soap or parrafin wax and braid away. When those start to dry out, it will draw your braid nice and tight. This helps reduce the risk of a break from over stretch.

[Gregory B. Moody]

My question is why you are wanting to use the Lifeeye needle ?

I have seen lots of people who had problems getting them to work well for them...

Have you tried the hook and eye ?

That change of direction through the eye takes the torque... so the two prongs don't have to do any work except keep the end down out of the way... Greg

[Johanna]

I do not like hook & eye needles because they tear up my hands, especially when lacing anything more complicated than a checkbook. They bend and break, and cannot stand the force (or the pliers) when buckstitching or going through several layers of leather. They are dull, and don't sharpen well, so they have to be aimed at the holes dead-on.

I was taught never to let go of the needle (to prevent twists in the lace) and a pronged needle is great for beginners because it is flat, and easy to keep in the same direction. After a few hundred miles of lacing or stitching, most new leatherworkers graduate to a life eye needle because they are longer, more efficient, and will not come undone at inopportune moments. Tandy includes the pronged needles in their kits because they are cheaper, not because they are a better needle.

That is nothing more than my experience and opinion, and that doesn't mean another leather worker wouldn't be happier with a pronged needle- I just happen to hate them because they hurt my hands, especially if it is a project requiring some strength to get the needle through the layers. Everyone should try both kinds, and decide what works best for them. There is no "right" or "wrong" in leathercraft, as long as the finished work functions properly and looks like it is supposed to.

Johanna

[Gregory B. Moody]

Johanna,

Ok , lets back up... Do you have a fid and use it ? There should be a proper hole before you stick the needle in... it is only made to steer the lace where it needs to go...and if you have a good hole I have even used a lacquer dipped end of the lace for some things...( but I digress....) I have seen hook and eye needles last 10 years... not the two pronged... not suggesting them for anything since the physics of that turn through the hole are what make the hook and eye good design.

If you are using pliers to pull the lace through you have not constructed your hole properly... and that will make lacing unpleasant with any needle...

"I was taught never to let go of the needle" .... But I can show you the proper way... you only just now asked... LOL

The trick is that when you go through on normal double cordovan you only hold onto the needle until you get it far enough to loop back towards you ... then you place the needle between your first and second fingers pointed towards where it will be going next... and you use your first finger and thumb to pull the lace on through the hole.. I can do an entire billfold without ever having to straighten the lace... and it is not hard...

Yall are the ones complaining about the needles which require the threads inside them to hold... you put them together with the lace in compression and then it is likely to let go when the force put on it is in the stretching mode... That is taken care of by the hook and eye needle... the two pronged needles ( which lack the hole ) are junk... LOL

Everyone should try my method first because it is likely to work just fine and save the cost of other tools... and sore hands....LOL ... Greg

[The Major]

The trick is that when you go through on normal double cordovan you only hold onto the needle until you get it far enough to loop back towards you ... then you place the needle between your first and second fingers pointed towards where it will be going next... and you use your first finger and thumb to pull the lace on through the hole.. I can do an entire billfold without ever having to straighten the lace... and it is not hard...

Everyone should try my method first because it is likely to work just fine and save the cost of other tools... and sore hands....LOL ... Greg

I was beginning to think I was the only one lacing this way. It sure does make short work of it. This way everything is right there, no need to search for the needle and make sure its straight. Lacing seems to go much quicker this way too.

Its funny, I actually had someone tell me once this method wont work. LOL Half hour later I was explaining it to them.