Rare Shoelace Tool, Sharpening and Using

Taking a look at a rare shoelace cutting and rounding tool. I am sharpening the blade and cutting some shoe laces before rounding them with the end of the tool. Its similar to a rein rounder in terms of making round laces.

[@DeniseSkidmore]

My modern lace cutter works on a similar principle, a sharp blade just over a channel, but it is used differently. Instead of cutting straight across an edge, a round hole is made in a scrap, you start the cutter into the leather, and as soon as you develop a tail you grasp the tail to pull leather through the cutter instead of holding the uncut leather. Go all the way around the circle and keep going into a spiral. Very long laces can be made this way, and moderate laces can be made from fairly small scraps.

[@harryrogers]

Hi Denise...those are very good for braiding as well, as you say a very similar principle. Happy Christmas to you.

[@chrisholt2474]

Great tip, much appreciated, thank you. Regards, chris.

[@rabidavid614]

Replying to Denise Skidmore's comment.. cutting a lace using the spiral technique.. Are the laces as strong, considering that when cut from a spiral one side is shorter than the other, albeit marginally?

[@gerryheynes5082]

Interesting tool Harry, but mostly I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🥳. All the best, Gerry

[@harryrogers]

Thank you very much Gerry, and a very Happy Christmas to you.

[@gazgf]

Love seeing old tools identified (and put back to use)...we have all forgotten soo much but this year hopefully makes us all more appreciative of past knowledge. Keep it up Harry 👌

[@jimathey6153]

OLD LEATHER SMITH here, yes Weaver leather has 2 rounders 1 U clamp 2 UR bench the other 1 U screw or bolt 2 UR BENCH, Suggestion, instead of water try virgin olive oil, it seams 2 upsorb better, lasts longer, and works GREAT AS A DYE, with multiple coats, PLEASE HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR, GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much Jim...and wishing you a very happy Christmas. All the very best Harry

[@bilbobaggins5752]

I can envision a handy tool with a lot more gradual round holes affixed or clamped to a work bench that would be handy for getting nice round laces.

[@graceygal2664]

You seem like the type of man to learn how to fix a car instead of paying an extortionate amount of money

[@harryrogers]

Ha ha...I like to know how to fix stuff, but I often have the experts do it!!...but yes I have over the years worked on a few cars!! Happy Christmas to you.

[@graceygal2664]

@@harryrogers merry Christmas to you two

[@38MarcW]

Great little tool Harry who knew the amount of labour it used to take to make the humble shoe lace.

[@crowznest438]

I do love "whats it" videos, although you know what it is, and are sharing; thanks!

[@terrybrower3437]

I wonder, with the right sized tool I could make a belt for my Singer treadle shoe patcher. And what type of leather I would use.

[@Corialtavi]

Oh so that's what that is ! I think my gran had something similar in her cutlery drawer when I was a kid (She used to mend shoes in the 1930's / 40's). The one I saw was a little thinner in width and I cannot remember it having the holes at the top like yours. I will have to have a search among her boxes of cutlery the family have still squirrelled away.

[@harryrogers]

That's great...of course it could be a runner bean slicer doubling up as a shoelace maker or vice versa 😊😊😊

[@genewhitesides2722]

After the tool, which is a great find. Have you tried giving it a good rolling? Thank you for all the sharing of your knowledge?

[@jackreeves3001]

Thanks for bringing us along! KANSAS USA

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much Jack and Happy Christmas to you.

[@fionadee1416]

A similar tool is used to make tubes and wire in jewelery making and also tubing for silk flower making. The draw plates for jewelery come in many sizes so may be a substitute for this tool. When I made tubes for silk flower making, I always heated the tool before drawing .

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much Fion that's interesting.

[@duke3266]

👍😎

[@bwaldo1]

If you edged the corners first this would work even better

[@thomasbeckett1245]

Once you round it thrust thru the holes, then the next step is burnishing, with a regular burnisher.

[@michaeleveleth7979]

Now that is a great find, THANK YOU

[@angelalewis460]

One could make nice little leather bracelets with that.

[@cannon440]

Seems to me after you put the lace through the cone side, you should put the lace through the other way & it would cut the corners (if the tool is sharp).

[@harryrogers]

Thanks Laddie I will give that a go...I suspect having reread Bruce Johnson's rein rounder instructions I should also have rounded the edges first. Happy Christmas.

[@cannon440]

@@harryrogers Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from the land of 20+" of snow NE PA

[@donkeywhistler]

Send this to “My Mechanics”

[@gustgatt]

Ingenioisa y práctica herramienta. Actualmente es muy difícil de conseguir antiguedades como esta. Saludos.

[@harryrogers]

Gracias

[@maryfrederickson9400]

I must look for one of those!

[@synwannleathercraft8506]

Strange tool is it old one ?

[@Amanda-ev1xz]

I’ve been wondering if a jewellers drawplate would be useful to create the round shape in laces?

[@harryrogers]

Yes good idea...quite possibly as it is not dissimilar to a rein rounder.

[@КонстантинВольфрам]

Старый, проверенный временем инструмент. Раритет. Душу греет. Спасибо за рассказ! Удачи Вам!

[@ВиталийГунин-р4з]

Водой намочить посильнее? Но чтобы не порвалась

[@OrionsAnvil]

That's just a neat tool. Thanks for sharing, great video.

[@PaulSmith-rd8yc]

Harry that sounds like a smart bit of kit. Love to know where you keep getting your bits from

[@simjacobs]

Really nice tool but now I want one ;) Does anyone know of this tool made now?

[@g.m.5412]

That tool is awesome! Would love to know what thickness the leather is that you cut from? Looks like a great size!

[@harryrogers]

From memory I think the tool goes up to something like 3mm laces.

[@g.m.5412]

@@harryrogers Thanks!

[@neogovernment]

Good video thank you for uploading, Happy Christmas

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much and Happy Christmas to you .

[@labrat7357]

I have seen a few lace cutters of the type used for braiding and whip plating but never one like this . With your woodworking skills this nice little tool deserves a new elm handle. I wonder if once started the lace could be secured on a nail and you walk away backwards you might take some of the floping around out of the equation. All the best.

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much

[@samlee2944]

Hi Harry, may I ask where you buy your belt buckles from in the UK? Thanks very much

[@stuartcommon4651]

Try Abbey England they have a massive choice

[@marktullis1175]

Well thought thru tool!

[@doughunter3967]

i was hand cutting laces by hand last week and looking at my treadle belts just yesterday wondering how they used to do it...thanks kindly friend...Yah bless...doug (kanada)

[@harryrogers]

Happy Christmas Doug.

[@doughunter3967]

@@harryrogers Same to you and yours

[@Nicolchu_]

Hope your knuckles are still intact Uncle Harry

[@Nicolchu_]

Could you clamp the 'lace-tool' into a vice and save your fingers and knuckles :/

[@harryrogers]

Thanks...that's a thought about the vice.

[@Nicolchu_]

@@harryrogers Wonder would a wire-die work or too blunt to pull a leather tube tru