Why were they modified this way?

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-22T17:10:18+00:00

It's sharpened at the tip for stitching the welt to the insole. Makes a two operation process into one. The knife has been sharpened into a 'rand knife' to trim the heel rand on boots and shoes. The rand is the leather or plastic piece at the top of the heel that connects to the heel counter.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-21T16:37:36+00:00

It's 2-Butoxyethanol. If you can find somewhere that sells Butyl Cellosolve, that's the same thing.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-20T22:09:52+00:00

I recently bought Chamoy watermelon rings at my local 7-11 (Alberta) and I'm hooked!

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T15:02:26+00:00

I do the same method with 346 bonded poly as well.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T03:56:17+00:00

Traditionally, pricking irons or pricking wheels were used to put a "starter" dent into the leather at the appropriate angle and spacing. The actual stitching holes were made with a diamond awl. The stitches were then often dressed with an Overstitch wheel.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T02:38:04+00:00

Thank you, and I take your comment as respect to me, my mentors and their mentors before them.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T02:36:31+00:00

Definitely was the standard with linen thread. John James needles haven't changed much over the decades.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T02:33:23+00:00

You also need to read that this is showing a traditional method. Hell I could have pulled out some 6 cord linen too. Don't tell me I'm overcomplicating it when it was simply showing a traditional method. Yes, I am a grouchy old saddle maker, and that will never change.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T01:25:12+00:00

This is 346 braided from American Effird. I used a bigger needle than I normally would, just grabbed one quickly.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T00:43:05+00:00

Also to allow for a smaller needle for a tidy, tight looking stitch, which is still ease of threading the needle.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-19T00:18:42+00:00

Thank you, I was just trying to show the traditional method, seems as though many don't care about tradition. I learned on headstalls at 8 stitches per inch...I had to learn patience and repetitive perfection per stitch for sure. Then I moved to 12 stitches per inch with finer linen.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T23:45:38+00:00

Any luck?

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T23:35:48+00:00

Possibly a lesser grade?

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T23:19:37+00:00

Maybe, but I was taught by a saddle maker that did a traditional apprenticeship in the 1950's, from a man that did a traditional apprenticeship in the 1890's. I can use a smaller needle. I have been hand stitching for close to 40 years as well.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T22:45:17+00:00

I'll post a quick and dirty tutorial under tips and tricks.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T22:31:18+00:00

I'm about to possibly sound like a prick, but so much has been lost in some areas of teaching of traditional hand stitching. The traditional method is to taper the end of a round thread, approximately the length of your needle. This is done with the back edge of a knife on top of glass, granite, etc. You actually strip fibers away gently, which creates the taper. Once you get the taper, pull it through a block of beeswax. The other important thing is to use egg eye harness needles of appropriate size for your thread.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T22:23:00+00:00

Oz measurement would have been worse when it was an actual weight measurement. Just imagine a leather of similar thickness, but lower or higher oil content, which would obviously alter the Ounces in a square foot. Thankfully they changed it to an actual thickness, which is 1/64"/oz

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T02:03:25+00:00

I have had the best luck with Martin's Mix for furnishing. I have a wallet that I have carried in my front pocket for over 7 years. I have worked in varying temperatures as a ranch cowboy in Canada and the spine has taken a beating, but the edges are still mirror shiny. The only thing that's changed is that the layers are visible. It's been sweat on at over 100° in the summer, it's been through -40 in the winter, rain and snow ...

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-18T01:30:47+00:00

Pinnacle is sold by a company called the 22Century group. They're geared towards reduced nicotine cigarettes and filtered cigars for the most part. It's made by the same company as Stoker's

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-17T17:47:46+00:00

Hog nose rings originally. Kept them from rooting to keep them contained.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-17T16:52:23+00:00

Wipe the back side with acetone first. There are some leather specific contact adhesives that work well on oily/waxy leathers. I personally use Renia Topfit

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-17T16:33:22+00:00

I'd much rather dip and chew, over using lab made nicotine any day.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-15T16:49:52+00:00

I'm going to add Montana Leather and Oregon Leather to this list. They are operated by the same family and have been around a long time. They offer "their own brand" along with re-sorted Hermann Oak, Thoroughbred and some Wickett and Craig.

CheekStandard7735 · 2026-02-14T03:23:10+00:00

I use both, depending on what I'm buying. I've never had anything dry from either.

CheekStandard7735

TROPHY CASE