Description
Gordon Andrus
Edward A. Whitney Academic Center – W 208
Wednesday 05/15 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
All skill levels welcome!
Workshop Description: It starts with a sharp blade. Does your knife blade need to be fully sharpened or just stropped? Answering this question will make all the difference. Bring your swivel knife blades to learn the difference. In this workshop, we will begin by sharpening our knives and adjust them to fit our hands. Correct adjustment will free up your hand to manipulate the knife barrel and reduce muscle and joint fatigue more actively. Gordon will share insights on how to free up your arm to move better and make smooth flowing cuts. Discover his technique for making cuts of any length that fade from full width to whisper thin. Practice cutting in any direction, making push and pull cuts. Learn to avoid under cuts and improve finish cuts. Time permitting, either by demonstration or hands on work, we will also cover techniques to develop the subtle skill of walking a beveler smoothly while maintaining those new tapered cuts you’ve made to achieve beveled results that are toolmark-free. Provided for you to use: extensive photo-and-instruction handout materials and strops. Some knives will be available for you to try out.
Materials to bring: Your swivel knives and blades, sharpening angle guides (if you have them), sharpening stones or lapping plates, strop, and a 3-ring binder for handouts and taking notes (suggested). The Red Ox Brand Tools In-line Sharpener, diamond laps, double-bearing swivel knives, and pre-sharpened blades will be available and can also be purchased at trade show and from Gordon’s website: https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/shop.
Workshop Instructor: Gordon Andrus, recipient of the ‘2020 Saddle Maker of the Year’ from The Academy of Western Artists, is an artist, craftsman, and author. Gordon has been working leather since the mid-1970’s, starting out with tools that had belonged to Vaughn Tippetts, his grandfather. Gordon studied art and design at Utah State University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 1986. He then earned a Master of Fine Art degree from Alfred University in Alfred, New York, in 1990. He has been working in his own saddlery, Sage Creek Stock Saddle Co., since 2002, starting in Cody, Wyoming, and then moving the business in 2011 to Summit County, Utah, where Gordon can be closer to his parents and other family. Gordon has this to say about working at his chosen craft. “Artistry is vital to any creative endeavor. As a saddler I strive to achieve as high a level of artistry in my craftsmanship as I can. It is a worthwhile juggling act, making a living and keeping artistry at the front. I love creating things that are useful and feel blessed to be a maker”.
Workshop Sponsors: Hermann Oak Leather Co. and Red Ox Brand Tools
CANCELATION POLICY
• There is a $25 administration fee for canceling a workshop.
• The cost of each workshop will be refunded minus the $25 fee.
• No refunds for workshops after Thursday, May 9, 2024.