Thread: Linen, or Canvas or Horsehide, OH MY!

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Bruce,
I apprenticed as a pattern maker in a foundry and my day job is still in the foundry industry where I run an NDT lab. We use mahogany much of the time for long running jobs, poplar for short ones. The new Renwood/Renshape products are taking over now and what used to be hand made is now chopped out on a 5 axis router.

www.dankoarlington.com

Tony

DankoArlington...it's in Bal'mer, hon! (Sorry, couldn't resist) For those who haven't visited Charm City (Baltimore's nickname) there is a unique accent in certain parts of town and some natives also tend to end sentences with an affectionate "Hon" (Will ya have some more coffee, hon?).

I just received Tony's horse/cow Latigo hanging strop and the 4 side pre-pasted paddle. I also have an Illinois Russian leather/linen. As an example, I have a TI 7/8 which has not seen a hone since I got it off of eBay. 10 passes on the paddle, 30 on the linen, 10 on the Illinois, 10 on Trigger and 10 on Flossie...shaves "like butta!"



Greg

Greg,
Yep, the ole'Balmer accent hon! Funny though, I was born and raised here as was my father and neither of us picked up the sound. More of a city thing than county though.

Tony

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Would any of the cedars make a good paddle frame, I can see it meeting the requirements for lightness and stability. Alaskan white cedar is clean reasonably light and dimensionally stable. Quarter cut would be best for any wood though. There are many woods that could meet the requirements for a good paddle. Why can the paddle not have a stretched loom type leather instead of the glued down type? Well I suppose it's production costs to sales return that prohibits this

waffle over

PuFF

Puff,
Quarter sawn would make nearly any wood more stable but getting wood milled that way is big $$ because of the waste factor. I like the idea of the loom type design but then the fancy milling of the wood pushes cost up too. Once the box strops are finished I may take a wooden loom type sample up to my Amish friend and see what he can do on it. He has a very well equiped shop, far better than mine for woodworking and is very talented. Almost all of his shop tools have been converted to air motors running off of a gas powered air compressor as the Amish do not use electricity.

Tony

Linen rocks (i need a head banging metal smilie)

What I find interesting is that both waxed and unwaxed linens work well. Still not sure about the difference to be able to discuss it intelligently...

Anyway - on the paddle discussion: it seems that Germans and European users are very fond of them and actually recommend them over hanging strops. I myself think this is BS. I do use both, but prefer the hanging strops by far.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Puff,
Quarter sawn would make nearly any wood more stable but getting wood milled that way is big $$ because of the waste factor. I like the idea of the loom type design but then the fancy milling of the wood pushes cost up too. Once the box strops are finished I may take a wooden loom type sample up to my Amish friend and see what he can do on it. He has a very well equiped shop, far better than mine for woodworking and is very talented. Almost all of his shop tools have been converted to air motors running off of a gas powered air compressor as the Amish do not use electricity.

Tony

Yeh Tony, Quarter cut does cost a bit more, no argument there. Some kind of cam system to tension the leather could be adopted I suppose but in your case Tony I can see the need to keep production costs as low as possible so you don't price yourself out of the market.
If you dont mind, I will mull over the problem and pm you with my design some time soon. I will not take offense if you tell me to F***** O**

PuFF

Puff,
I am always open to ideas and my friends is quite creative in woodworking. For me it is not only a $$ cost, but a time cost too as there are only so many hours in a day. Sending some of my woodwork to him will make other, new projects feasible now.

Let me know what you have in mind.

Tony