Slacking

Yes I have been, as far as this blog is concerned.  I don't want this blog to be just an everyday record of the hum drum life I lead, but it appears it has been heading that way for some time even though I created this for my own benefit to help me remember various events especially in regard to my battle with Prostate Cancer.  I also wanted to use it to help others be informed about Prostate cancer and what can be expected by sharing my experience.  I also hoped it would spur others to take an interest in their own health.  My cancer has not returned and there is no follow up treatment and the visits to the Urologist are becoming farther and farther apart.  So that news will be less and less necessary.

I also don't want to waste your time.  I will most likely be posting less and less.  I know that this will chase most readers away.  I appreciate your visits so much more than you probably realize.  I enjoy the interaction with those of you who come by and take the time to comment.  I will miss that, but I will be visiting your blogs most everyday as I do now.  

From here on, posting will be sporadic at best.  

I do have one thing in the works I am excited about.  I am having a custom knife made for my leather work.  It's a Head Knife or Round Knife.  

A good one can be very spendy.  The stock off the shelf affordable ones are not real good for holding an edge which is critical when cutting leather.  I have been wanting one for some time but just couldn't come up with the spare cash to afford something like that.  As it turns out a friend has been learning the knife making trade.  He makes all of his knives by hand.  Yes, cutting the steel with a hack saw and using files to get the shape and edge he wants.  Since we are friends he has offered to make this knife at a much reduced rate.  He is pretty excited about this one since it is a much different style knife than his usual, and so am I.  Mine will be even more customized than the above.  Most serious leather workers have several of these with differing size blades and some shape variations.  Mine will be significantly different in order to cover several needs in one knife, thus saving the need for several knives. 

 

I have used a rotary cutter in the past and they are only good for cutting straight lines and marginally at best.  After using one for a couple years with mixed results this is the time to bite the bullet and take advantage of this.  My last couple leather projects suffered due to inconsistent cutting.  Better cuts will save me time and produce a better quality item.  I won't have to spend as much time evening out sloppy cuts.  

Being a worker with hand made crafts I can appreciate what he is doing for me.  Most of us that hand make a product are never really able to recoup the true cost/worth of our craft.  We also realize that it does need to be sold at some point.  I did not ask him for a break on the price, expecting to pay full price, if I could afford it.  Otherwise, I would do without until....  I am so grateful for what he is doing for me.

I will post pics of it when I get it.  It is pretty wicked looking.

Happy Trails