Cutting Curves?

[Klara]

What exactly is the advantage of Etsy if I'm looking for a cheap mass-produced knife? Guy buys them from China, has them shipped to U.S., puts them on Etsy and then sells one to me in Europe - at double (or more) the price plus shipping...

[zuludog]

Etsy gives a wider choice or range of items, and you see the amount you must pay including any shipping cost; the delivery time, and the convenience of ordering in your own currency

I did some calculations and found that when you add up the ex factory cost plus currency conversion and exchange rate variations, shipping, import duty, VAT, international postal handling surcharge, the cost from Etsy was hardly any different to ordering/importing an item yourself

Plus the shipping companies and  customs will be used to dealing with the suppliers so the delivery time from Etsy may well be quicker 

No, I don't understand how international trade & finance works, but then, that's not my job. It's not just trade with China or other Far East companies either

You can see that one of my hobbies is making model planes, the plastic kits. There is a specialist American made paint brush cleaner called Masters Brush Cleaning Soap. A 3 ounce (approx 75g) pot from USA was slightly cheaper than a 1 ounce (approx 25g) pot from a UK supplier, both including shipping. Delivery time was quoted as 2 to 3 weeks, but I got it - the 3 oz from USA - in 10 days

Edited September 10, 2021 by zuludog

[MtlBiker]

16 hours ago, Hardrada said:

This, maybe?

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/marking-accessories/32536-flexible-curves

 

Before I had the round knife, I got this for curves:

https://windfiredesigns.com/Tools/CircleTool/index.html

 

Yes, that's the one. I got mine from Abbey England. Rocky Mountain Leather has the Vergez Blanchard for $99: some might prefer the VB since it's not bevelled. I saw that RM has their own brand round knives now too, but I don't know where they're made, so I can't recommend them... yet.

That Lee Valley flexible curve looks like it'll work well.  I actually had one, oh maybe 30 years ago, but have no idea where it's disappeared to.  I'm going to order one of those.  Thank you.  (Funny, I usually use a VPN, and with it active the Lee Valley site was blocked for me.  Turning off the VPN allowed me to access it.  Guess they don't want anyone who is not in Canada to access.)  Do you think you could cut against that flexible curve?  Or would you use it only to trace the curve onto your material?

 This is the kind of curve I would do most often...  Using Bezier curves in a drawing program allows me to fine tune the size and shape exactly how I want.  But of course the resulting paper template cannot be used to cut against.

 

 

[fredk]

Don't pay too much for the flexi curvy thingy. Its nothing more than a piece of rubberised plastic with wire inside it. A piece of heavy duty electrical cable does the same job

Not used on leather work but on other things I have a set of French curves which are of more use

[Klara]

4 hours ago, zuludog said:

Etsy gives a wider choice or range of items, and you see the amount you must pay including any shipping cost; the delivery time, and the convenience of ordering in your own currency

....

Guess what: Aliexpress does exactly the same, or Ebay, or Amazon. But only when I buy from Amazon directly can I be sure that the seller is in the EU. On the other platforms I need to check (except Aliexpress, its sellers are in China), and especially with Etsy and leather tools items are often enough in the US. or U.K.. So there's always a risk of items being processed by customs. Shipments from China are so small, worth so little and so extremely frequent that none of my orders so far has cost me anything extra.

I do know how international trade works because it has been part of my job every now and then for decades...

3 hours ago, fredk said:

...

Not used on leather work but on other things I have a set of French curves which are of more use

 

I bought them for leatherwork: to get an elegant taper on my sighthound collars...

[Hardrada]

10 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

That Lee Valley flexible curve looks like it'll work well.  I actually had one, oh maybe 30 years ago, but have no idea where it's disappeared to.  I'm going to order one of those.  Thank you.  (Funny, I usually use a VPN, and with it active the Lee Valley site was blocked for me.  Turning off the VPN allowed me to access it.  Guess they don't want anyone who is not in Canada to access.)  Do you think you could cut against that flexible curve?  Or would you use it only to trace the curve onto your material?

 This is the kind of curve I would do most often...  Using Bezier curves in a drawing program allows me to fine tune the size and shape exactly how I want.  But of course the resulting paper template cannot be used to cut against.

 

 

You know, I was just at Staples picking up a DHL parcel and got one of those flexible curves. Staedler brand. Since it's made of plastic, I'd rather not use it for cutting, unless I'm extremely careful. Leather knives being super sharp, those plastic tools would be easy to knick and be ruined.

 

Goodsjapan.com can ship the real deal, Japanese-made, top quality skiving knives via DHL and you'll get them within the week. Don't waste your money on crap from the mainland. I've bought lots of tools from goodsjapan.com and never had an issue with them. They might not look as spiffy as others but they're solid, durable, and perform flawlessly, and that's what really matters.

[MtlBiker]

I just received my knife order from George Barnsley in the UK...

The mailman brought the package in and was bleeding like crazy.  One of the points of the round knife had pierced the box and was sticking out a good 1/2".  When he grabbed the box from his truck the blade sliced his palm open.  We helped him clean it up and bandage it, but I'm pretty sure he needs stitches.  But with the hospital emergency rooms being overloaded (with many turning away patients) due to the Covid surge, who wants to go there?

The round knife had just been wrapped with brown kraft paper without anything at all to protect the blade, and then put into the cardboard box.  Without any padding to keep the contents from banging around in the box.  Shame on Barnsley for not packing more safely.  And other than the injury, the point of the knife was bent at an angle and it's going to need work to get it back in shape.

I also ordered an "Extension Clicker Handle" and blades, and the handle too seems to be bent.  I can't insert a blade (not from either end when I unscrew it).  Looks like the front "jaws" are bent far too closely together so that even the thin blade doesn't fit.  I'm sure I can fix that, but gee, you'd think they would have enough experience to pack these sharp tools more safely.

[jcuk]

Have to agree the way they have wrapped that knife up is totally irresponsible and dangerous hope the Postman is ok. Is the blade damaged, looks like it is in the pic as for the clicker knife i have one i have to undo completely to slide the blades in work a treat though.

 

JCUK

 

 

 

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, MtlBiker said:

I just received my knife order from George Barnsley in the UK...

The mailman brought the package in and was bleeding like crazy.  One of the points of the round knife had pierced the box and was sticking out a good 1/2".  When he grabbed the box from his truck the blade sliced his palm open.  We helped him clean it up and bandage it, but I'm pretty sure he needs stitches.  But with the hospital emergency rooms being overloaded (with many turning away patients) due to the Covid surge, who wants to go there?

The round knife had just been wrapped with brown kraft paper without anything at all to protect the blade, and then put into the cardboard box.  Without any padding to keep the contents from banging around in the box.  Shame on Barnsley for not packing more safely.  And other than the injury, the point of the knife was bent at an angle and it's going to need work to get it back in shape.

I also ordered an "Extension Clicker Handle" and blades, and the handle too seems to be bent.  I can't insert a blade (not from either end when I unscrew it).  Looks like the front "jaws" are bent far too closely together so that even the thin blade doesn't fit.  I'm sure I can fix that, but gee, you'd think they would have enough experience to pack these sharp tools more safely.

that's crazy !! what is wrong with people nowadays?

[Sheilajeanne]

On 9/8/2021 at 10:32 AM, Northmount said:

My Tandy Round Knife doesn't keep a sharp edge.  Has to be stropped every few inches.

Yep, the Stohlman round knife is made from very cheap steel and will not hold an edge!

When I purchased a used round knife the seller was smart enough to make a sheathe for it out of cardboard and duct tape. Wow, sorry that happened! 

Edited September 17, 2021 by Sheilajeanne