Making Your Own Laces

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Making Your Own Laces

Postby BretMan » April 18th, 2008, 9:37 pm

Bbrah's thread about the D&M restoration project got me thinking about something I've seen in the leather supply store near me.

They sell a couple of different gadgets and gizmos that are supposed to be used to cut laces from whole leather.

Has anyone ever tried this or had any experience with making their own laces?
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Postby LemonBall » April 18th, 2008, 10:41 pm

I use a contraption called Jerry's Stripper

http://www.montanaleather.com/sc3110.htm

It works really well, even with thick hides.
I cut a one inch lace and then add extra blades to cut four 1/4 inch laces from the original lace.
It doesn't work as well if you try to cut too many laces at once.

I buy whole hides of alum tanned leather.
With Jerry's Stripper, this leather must be wet before it will cut.

I hope this helps.

Paul C.
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Postby LemonBall » April 18th, 2008, 10:45 pm

Oh, I forgot to add that Jerry's Stripper can be configured to cut laces of any width you desire.
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Postby BretMan » April 18th, 2008, 11:01 pm

Yes, that does help!

That is one of the more heavy duty such devices I've seen. Some of the hand-held lace cutters look like they would be kind of flimsy.

Do the laces from the Jerry's Stripper come out looking nice? I mean, are the cuts smooth and the laces straight and parallel looking- comparable to laces you might by in a store?
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Postby LemonBall » April 18th, 2008, 11:17 pm

Bret,

Jerry's Stripper is really well designed, but like anything, it takes a little practice.
After only two or three practice runs you should be making perfect laces.
It uses standard utility knife blades and it helps to use sharp new ones.

The cheaper lace cutters are generally used for cutting thin laces for braiding.
Not really appropriate for baseball gloves.

Go with Jerry's Stripper and you'll be pleased.
Let me know if you want a source for whole sides of leather.
The hard part of all this is knowing what type of leather to buy.

Paul C.
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Postby BretMan » April 18th, 2008, 11:26 pm

"The hard part of all this is knowing what type of leather to buy."

That was my next question! :D
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Postby LemonBall » April 18th, 2008, 11:49 pm

I've been preparing my leather tutorial, so here is the lace entry. :)
Weaver leather (http://www.weaverleather.com/contract/index.html)
sells an item called Alum Tanned Lace Sides. It is a Chestnut color (item # 06-700s)
It is 5-7 oz leather and the hides are 21-25 square feet at $4.22 per sq ft.

It is perfect for those Horween "Heart of the Hide" gloves from Rawlings.
Weaver only sells to business accounts I believe. They have a catalog but don't sell online.

Siegel Leather of California (https://www.siegelofca.com/) also sells hides called Red Lace and Black Lace.
Both are 5-7 oz hides. I haven't seen these hides so I can't vouch for them.

I also buy real baseball leather from Siegel.
It's stiff as a board, but once it's been soaked, it cuts easily and makes nice, pure white laces which can be used as glove welting.
I'm sure it can be dyed although I haven't done that.

Generally, alum tanned hides are used for making laces. Get them good and wet before trying to cut laces.
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