Weldwood Gel?

I just put 2" white masking tape on the back of the ruler ;)

Be very careful cutting with aluminum rulers.
They are softer than the steel blade and the knife bites into them.
Once the knife is up on the ruler and there aint no stopping it.
Not even your fingers.

When I learned this…
I went back down to my project and the little bit of my finger was still there…

Steel rulers and triangles rule :)

I don't remember the brand of ruling pen I have.
I tossed the box and put it in my compass set (remember those?).
The pen was a going away gift when I got canned from my first job.
IIRC, it costed about a third of my week's salary at that time.
No one else use it :)
 
The cost of good supplies sometimes is outweighed by the satisfaction in use. Other times its just something to look at and wonder.

One of my art professors, cant remember which one. :o
 
I need to double check, but I believe my ruler is stainless. You bring up a good point though.

What kind of knife were you using? I use a variety of knives, but at this point about 95% of my cutting is done with a head knife. I've gotten it wickedly sharp and, frankly, it's a bit scary to use. Because of this I find that all of my movements are deliberate and cautious. It will fairly easily cut 9oz leather on a single pass where my box cutter, snap off blade and folding knives need two or more passes. Tipped back so that the handle is nearly touching the leather, it will cut very tight radii too. The others leave ugly jagged turns that need sanding.
 
I use the large snap off blade Olfa for just about everything.


Lots of folks reach for the X-Acto with a #11 blade for the fine work.
I've found the the larger knife is better than the X-Acto on anything heavier than paper.
You're using large muscle groups instead of the small fiddly finger muscles.
When cutting paper I'll just as soon reach for a single edged razor blade.

In the studio we snap off the blades on the Olfas as soon as they start to drag.
Do the same for the leather cutting Olfa.

The little knife in the photo isn't too good, the blade rattles in the handle making it difficult to do fine work.

Hope that helps some.
 
I have a pair of old Stanley retractable utilities, I'd warrant over 20 years old. I sharpen them constantly and can make that double sided blade last months. A saddler I can see needing the head knife, but as a simple sheath maker that Stanley is plenty enough knife for me. Its good enough for Sandy, its more than enough for me.

I do like that bigger Olfa knife though! I used to have a similar snap off utility, very handy when a sharpener is not around.

PS, I used to sharpen our graphic artists Xacto knives back when I was a tee shirt printer, the funny part started when they were talking education, only one of them had an art centered degree, the others were a little careful what they said around us printers after that. :p
 
Have you guys tried a head knife though? I know some people try them and don't like em, but mine was about as much as a good rotary (Olfa) handle and blades. I have wanted to try a rotary.

I guess I can understand sticking with what you know works though. I do it too.
 
Never tried a head knife.
I don't do enough to warrant the cost when the Olfa works as it is.

We had 3 -1 gallon metal cans full of snapped off blades in the studio.
Had to toss them when we switched floors.
Always wanted a canister welded bowie made from them :)
 
Ebbtide said:
Never tried a head knife.
I don't do enough to warrant the cost when the Olfa works as it is.

We had 3 -1 gallon metal cans full of snapped off blades in the studio.
Had to toss them when we switched floors.
Always wanted a canister welded bowie made from them :)
Click to expand...

That's an idea. I wonder if those blades are aeb-l. Everyone says that razors are made from the alloy, but I'm not sure which razors exactly. 3 gallons? That would take me some time!

Only thing I don't like about the head knife is that it does seem to cut the Olfa mat more aggressively than the other knives, but I expected that. Let me know if you ever want to try mine. :)
 
Strigamort said:
Have you guys tried a head knife though? I know some people try them and don't like em, but mine was about as much as a good rotary (Olfa) handle and blades. I have wanted to try a rotary.

I guess I can understand sticking with what you know works though. I do it too.
Click to expand...

I tried one of those rotary blades way back and hated it. Its good for fabric but awful for leather for my uses.

Never really had the urge to try the head knife, the good old Stanley has never failed me yet and when I finally figured out how to sharpen them properly it got even better. I usually buy a pack of 10 every few years, its a good thing.

I've got a drawer of knives and such I bought and/or inherited for leather working, but keep going back to my favorite Stanley. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Now if I was ever given a head knife, I'd try it out, but the time to learn another technique in cutting leather............ nah. I've got other plans. I spent a lot of time and money getting that degree and I've finally decided I am going to make the most of it, struggling where I am is not that goal.
 
To each his own….I'm completely sold on round/head knives, but my ownership might be "excessive":rolleyes:

Paul
 
I'm not prepared to argue that one is better than another, but I am glad that I stumbled on a, what seems to be, good and inexpensive knife. I won't go back that's for sure.

I was really hoping that you'd post a pic of your collection Paul. Absolutely outstanding selection. I imagine I'll have something like that one day. :)
 
Man talk about drift. Started out talking about sticking leather together and now we're at the polar opposite of separating leather. Cool deal I love it! I use both round knives. Paul's kind and the Olfa rotary tool. The rotary knife excels at cutting lighter leathers like chap leather. I can cut the fringe on a pair of chinks, armitas or charmitas in about ten minutes. About the only time I use it on veggie tan is if I'm cutting out a belt blank and then I am against a straight edge. I use a head knife for all sheath work.
 
Rotary knife… the one with the blade that rolls like a wheel?
My limited use with one of those is on material. It worked fine for that.
I didn't use it agains a straight edge, more like along it…

I should look up a video on head/round knife use...
 
Since we're (back) on head and round knives I thought I'd share this picture that Horsewright sent me.

dHyJHUu.jpg


Hope you don't mind Dave. :)

Also wanted to share this old bottle of dye that I found in my father in laws old leather work stuff.

iGmKaYZ.jpg


Sorry it's sideways, my camera is stupid, I just thought the name was cool. ;)
 
Yep that's the knife. They are handy. I've got a drawer of xacto knives and Stanley utility knives and that's pretty much where they stay. Now you're cowboyin' up and have the cuffs I'll be glad to talk you through a pair of leggings if you havn't made em before. You cut the fringe on a pair of chinks with a round knife or with a pair of shears and it'll take ya several hours. Literally ten minutes with that roller knife and a straight edge.
 
No problem buddy but they ain't finished yet. That's olive wood on top, dyed and stabilized box elder next, (that's the wife's, purple is her favorite color), rosewood next and then ironwood with some mesquite laminated on top, kinda an experiment.
 
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The figure in that purple one is simply stunning!

The dye bottle is a hoot. :)
 
Beautiful knives Horsewright.

IDK about the leggings.
In my location, they'd take me for one of the Village People :D
 
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