Your favourite tools

[William Bloke]

2 hours ago, Handstitched said:

I never gave it much thought until I read the post, I just use them.  So  I went to look at all my tools, and while all of  my  tools are my favorite especially the vintage tools ( including me...ha !! ) , it took a while to narrow it down. 

So what are my favorite tools? I would be lost without them or annoyed if I lost them . 

Well, here they are: L > R 

1. my carving knife, its an  angled blade , adjustable. 2. my B701 beveler, I pretty much use it all the time on just about everything .  3. My fave modeling tool , I use the narrow end mostly. 4. My folding  knife, with blades that are easy to change .  I have tried round knives, but my hands are  small and this knife suits me  fine .( its also good for scoring Pork rind   )  I sometimes sharpen the blades to extend the life of the blade. 5. My beveler. It has 5 interchangable blades, stored inside the handle, but  # 3 is used mostly, I have others but this is the ' main one' . 6. Last but not least, my  rubber maul /mallet, with leather ..." embelishments" .  I found it in the toy section of a discount shop, never weighed it, but its about 6 oz  I'm guessing , but its just perfect for me . Its been repaired   a few times, but I would be totally lost without it, and I have never found another one since . 

 I have a larger one ( about 9 oz)  that I use for 3D stamps etc. 

Its not the tools that count, its the end result  

HS 

 

Nice.

The rubber hammer with leather on the faces is a really good idea, I might have to give that a go.

 

I love the idea of Someone in a shop saying "Well, it's made if rubber, it must be a toy"

[William Bloke]

20 hours ago, jcuk said:

Yes it is one of those repair or remake.

Just read your first post again sorry about your tools being stolen, bet some of them you could not replace like for like.

In better times like to go to antique fairs sometimes you can pick up some old tools( won't use the term vintage with nice patina )

Was lucky enough while on holiday in France last year Normandy, guess where i took my family for lovely a day out they loved it (not) 

Oh don't worry. It was 15? Years ago that they were stolen, people were amazingly kind back then, but I'm well set up now.

As much as I just like old stuff. One practical reason I like old tools (and Blanchard to be fair.) Is that the more elegant handles just fit in my hand better. At least that's what I tell herself when she hears my phone make that eBay alert sound.

Though it sounds like a fun outing, I think if I took my family to Vergez Blanchard, they'd react even worse than when I tried to drag them around the whisky distilleries of Islay!

[Spyros]

52 minutes ago, William Bloke said:

Seeing as I've found myself in the workshop on the weekend...

Here's my clam and a picture of a scruffy old git using it.

These things are pretty much standard in the UK (The clams, not scruffy old guys, though you'll see a lot of us too.) They are made of laminated beech and spring closed to hold the work. You can increase the pressure if you want by pressing down with your right leg. What's nice about them is there's nothing on the outside to catch loops of thread and there's a big area inside to hold large pieces, which is useful when making briefcases and such.

It might just be that I'm so used to it, but I don't find it uncomfortable to work like this, I can easily do a full day sewing and it's my fingers, not my back that give up first.

Some folk like to tie their clam to the bench and or add a foot stirrup to close them tighter, but I've never felt the need. I like their versatility as they are.

 

You look like you know what you're doing and that's a very nice shop, something very authentic about it 

I'm not sure I can see myself using that giant clam for leatherworking (I need to try I guess), but I'd definitely hang it on my wall right next to my Fijian rib opener (and use either of them as a weapon if needs be )

 

Edited June 27, 2020 by Spyros

[William Bloke]

12 minutes ago, Spyros said:

You look like you know what you're doing and that's a very nice shop, something very authentic about it 

I'm not sure I can see myself using that giant clam for leatherworking (I need to try I guess), but I'd definitely hang it on my wall right next to my Fijian rib opener (and use either of them as a weapon if needs be )

 

I can assure you that the longer I spend in this earth, the more certain I become that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

Frankly I'm a little offended that I started a a favourite tool thread and you didn't immediately reply with you Fijian Rib Opener!

[Spyros]

I know, sorry, it's only because I havent found a use for it in leather working

it really for a couple of steps before leather working, like killing crocodiles LOL

[Handstitched]

@William Bloke I picked up a saddlers clamp like that at an auction some years ago the other side of Northam (WA) . I only paid about $40 for it. I don't think  the other people knew what it was, which was good for me  .  I gave it some love &  a clean up . The  simple little strap in the middle is handy on certain items.  They are quite handy for when I'm sewing larger items, and like you said, threads don't get tangled . 

I replace the pieces of leather on my mallet when they get a bit worn. Its just the perfect weight and size for me. 

HS

[Spyros]

Ok new candidate for favourite tool just arrived

Just a quick test, two pieces of 1.5mm veg tan glued together

Yup, we're gonna get along juuuuuust fine

The diamond chisels I was using before have this pointy edge that makes it very easy to place them exactly where you want on your leather, the KS blades have a flat edge instead which makes it a bit more challenging to stay on your line, as you can see in the second photo. 

But that's pretty much the only disadvantage I found, everything else about them is just about perfect.  

Edited June 29, 2020 by Spyros

[battlemunky]

I've got the Sinabroks which are very similar to the KS Blade Punch. I love mine. I had them about a week when I drove them into my granite...juuuust barely. Luckily I was able to fix them but my soul cried a tiny bit, not gonna lie. They are great tools and I imagine the KS won't make your hands stink of brass like the Sinabroks do. Enjoy them

[Spyros]

No granite will ever come near those babies LOL

Only soft things.  I just finished making a case for them, pig skin lined with pig skin

[Hardrada]

10 hours ago, Spyros said:

Ok new candidate for favourite tool just arrived

Just a quick test, two pieces of 1.5mm veg tan glued together

Yup, we're gonna get along juuuuuust fine

The diamond chisels I was using before have this pointy edge that makes it very easy to place them exactly where you want on your leather, the KS blades have a flat edge instead which makes it a bit more challenging to stay on your line, as you can see in the second photo. 

But that's pretty much the only disadvantage I found, everything else about them is just about perfect.  

When did you place your order? Did you ever get a dispatched confirmation with a way bill?