The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT
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https://canadianleathercraft.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Canadian-Leathercrafter-Winter-2016-2017.pdf
Volume LXV No. 2
Winter 2016/2017
0045-5121
In this Edition…
Page 2 Notes from the Editor, Highlights of the past Executive Mtgs, Membership Info, CSCL Larmour Library Page 3 Workshops
Page 4 The Annual is coming – Awards to compete for.
Page 5 Embossed Eagle Head
Page 6 CSCL Library Review,
Page 6 Tips for use of CS) #84 Splitter/Skiver
©2016 Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder is prohibited.
To contact any of our Executive please refer to the CONTACT section of our Website.
Website: www.canadianleathercraft.org
Facebook “Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft”
| President: Jim Wilkes 1st Vice-Pres.: Lauch Harrison Past President: Rob Regan Treasurer: Della Chynoweth Secretary: Tracey Howard | Membership: Sheena Burger Editor: Barbara Chynoweth Website: Kristi Cino and Eugene Pik Privacy Officer: Lauch Harrison |
Note from the Editor….
Please check out our new website.
The Annual is coming up the first weekend in May, have you got your registration sent in. Membership renewals are due by March 31st.
The Quarterly Newsletter “Canadian Leathercraft” is your source of information about CSCL and its members. Also check out the CSCL website at canadianleathercraft.org and CSCL’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CanadianLeathercraft/
Highlights from the Past Executive Council Meetings….
This winter the Executive tried their hand at Skyping for the meetings that they did not want the executive to drive in. After some trial and errors people were getting the hang of it and we are looking at doing it again when weather makes travelling difficult. More workshops are being planned and if you have any suggestions please let use know.
CSCL Membership
Have you paid your membership? It’s a new Membership Year (April 1 to March 31).
Send your membership along with your cheque made out to “The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft” to our Membership Chair:
Sheena Burger T: 705-786-7090 – [email protected]
CSCL Larmour Lending Library
The CSCL lending Library of Books and Patterns can be referenced on our web site www.canadianleathercraft.org. Head to Gallery and click on CSCL Library of Books and Patterns. Under the Patter option there is 80 pages of patterns that may give you ideas of things to make. Under the Book section there is 13 pages of titles of Books and DVD’s about Leather crafting, design and colour. Remember these patterns and books are there for you to borrow from the library. Select item(s) you would like to borrow and send your list to Paul Kitchener at [email protected].
Branch Presidents will assist in pickup and delivery of the orders from branch members.
Members-at-large may order directly from Paul and arrange shipping or printing options, fees may apply.
The Hamilton Leather Guild invites you to the 67th Annual Convention Weekend for The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft
May 5th, 6th & 7th 2017
The weekend Theme is Trucks, Truckers and CB Radio Talk 10-4.
CSCL Annual Awards (PART 2)
| pleasing in appearance | London Jewellery Award sponsored by London Members-at-large (this will be awarded 5 times and then is finished) | Piece must be pleasing in appearance. If colour is added it must be well applied (Not clumpy. Appropriate to the article.) Findings (metal fasteners) must have no, or almost no, glue visible around the finding. A piece of leather (circular disc or neatly-cut square) should be glued over the back of the finding. Edges must be neatly finished in a manner appropriate to the piece. It must present a pleasing finish coat or be properly buffed. The piece may be temporarily affixed to a piece of cloth or leather for display purposes. This will be Judged by representatives from London and/or former winners. Award is $20.00 |
| unusual or nontraditional techniques | Best Non -Traditional Piece sponsored by the late Hilda Chynoweth (this will be awarded 5 times and then is finished) | Pieces considered for this award must be accompanied by an ARTIST STATEMENT. The ARTIST STATEMENT must state what unusual and nontraditional approach was used to achieve what result and also state how successful the attempt was. This award recognizes unusual or nontraditional techniques. This award may, but not always, exhibit an unusual or non-traditional use of leather. Award is $20.00 |
| an item of apparel | Best Wearable Item sponsored by the former Toronto Branch. (this will be awarded 5 times and then is finished) | Must be an item of apparel such as gloves, vest, hat, scarf, mitts, footwear, excludes jewellery. Award is $20.00 |
| attractive, handmade article that is rigid, nonpliable | Best Hard Sculpture Item sponsored by the Mississauga Branch. (this will be awarded 5 times and then is finished) | Hard sculpture is an attractive, handmade article that is rigid, non-pliable. Examples of hard sculpture: |
| “Article that stress’ the beauty of leather, less is more, using Traditional leather crafting techniques, is eye catching” | Woodstock Heritage Award from funds of the former Woodstock Branch. | This award is given for the “Article that stress’ the beauty of leather, less is more, using Traditional leather crafting techniques, is eye catching” at the Annual if there is not a Biennial that year. The amount given for this award is $50.00 at the Annual or $100.00 at the Biennial. Woodstock representatives will compile some examples ie. Robert Muma’s work. This will be Judged by representatives from Woodstock and/or former winners. |
| New Associate with the highest overall percentage | Zalitis Pin | This award is given to the New Associate with the highest overall percentage on their successful Associate Status Exam. This consists of four pieces judges by the Fellows and having an average of 79% or higher. |
| Best Buckle | Miscellaneous Award | In Memory of Don MacLeod, sponsored by the Mississauga Leather Guild. No monetary award just your name on the trophy and you can show the trophy until the following year. This will be Judged by Mississauga Branch representatives selected by the Mississauga Branch. |
CSCL Library Review
By Lauren
#8 – Snaps and Fasteners, Karla Van Horne, 15 pages, duotang
An authentic leathercrafter’s bright yellow covered report moderately describes scenarios to set knobbies, split rivets, tube rivets, burr or washer rivets, eyelets, the Chicago screw, conchos, zippers, buckles, grommets, clasps, Velcro, the Sam Browne, and ring assemblies. Snaps come in a number of different cap sizes which are determined by a system of 40 lines to the inch. Photos and illustrations are not included; the author’s empirical view of fastener selection and installation succinctly compares and offers advice for each application. With only a few faintly reproduced paragraphs the
electric typewriter font is a nicety for this genuine discourse from a home-grown button to a lock clasp to the author’s favourite: tuck locks as they offer a great deal of security for cases, which, due to their function, may be put under stresses which make snaps open too easily and which make buckles too clumsy or inefficient to use.
Tips for Use of CSO #84 Splitter/Skiver
by Lauch Harrison, ACSCL
Blade set up
To make the blade cut well the bottom of the blade must be flat, no micro bevel, this includes beveling due to excess stropping. The blade has a set angle so when you sharpen the blade sharpen only the top side. The blade should be hollow ground as it wears and get sharpened it gets flatter as the hollow is reduced. This makes the blade harder to sharpen due to the increased contact of the steel and the stone. A quick fix is to elevate the stone on a penny, this will create a micro bevel and allow you to sharpen the edge and not grind down the whole blade. The micro bevel increases the strength of the edge with a very slight sacrifice in cutting ease.
The blade should be set just back from top dead centre above the roller. You can move the blade by loosening the screws and sliding the blade back and forth. Experiment on some scrap before you use the splitter on your good projects.
I use diamond hones for sharping the blades, depending on how much grinding I have to do, I’ll use 400 grit then 600 grit then 15 micron then 1200 grit then finishing film or the strop. The diamond stones remain very flat and are a good investment.
Starting a cut
You place your leather Grain side to the roller in the splitter by pushing the handle forward, as the roller closes, wiggle the leather and pull it slightly to set the split then pull. First put about 10” into the splitter from the back of the splitter, wiggle it then pull it thru. Check the weight and adjust as needed. By using the thumbscrew and the setting the handle stop the same weight can be reproduced many times over. Reverse the strap and put the 10” split end in the front, use it as the handle to pull the entire strap thru the blade. It is best not to take off too much if it is very stiff leather, go at it bit by bit.
The skiving feature is used by pushing the handle forward as the leather is being pulled thru the blade, this makes a skive, The slower the handle is pushed forward the longer the skive will be.
Make a strop
Take some 8 oz leather 3” x 18” and pull it thru the splitter, to about 6 oz. punch a hole in one end as a thumb notch. Put some polishing compound on the flesh side and use it as a strop to polish the bottom of the blade. I use green aluminum oxide and white paste that comes in small bars or blocks.
Expect to pay $450 – $600 for a used splitter so make sure you have lots of heavy leather to pull dow to make it worth while, that being said they last for hundreds of years and they retain their value very well so it can be a good investment in your tool chest.