Makers of Sailmakers Palm
 

I'm looking for a new (or gently used) palm and haven't found many in my area. Ebay has a few to offer, but they look past retirement age!

The one at the local West Marine looks cheap (and I don't mean affordable, I mean flimsy).

Any tips? Maybe manufacturers sites, or somewhere that sells more than one kind?

love
nick

check with a local sailmaker
 

Nick-

Bainbridge sells several different William Smith palms. Check with a local sailmaker, they will likely have a Bainbridge account.

Bob Pingel
also from WI

Palms
 

I've had good luck on Ebay (fortunate for me, since the only "chandlery" around me is West marine's branch in Philadelphia) with used palms... the rattiest I got I simply soaked in some neat's-foot oil and then dried it and let it sit for a while. It absorbed the oil and (besides being easy to locate by smell alone) came right back to life for me.

Best of luck.

Any idea on a website for William Smith? Just to make sure, is this the same W. Smith that makes the needles that come with the green label with black writing?

I can't find them on google ANYWHERE!

FrayedKnotArt- your explanation is exactly why I DON'T wanna use ebay. The thought of some nasty smelling thing...:eek:

love
nick

Smith Palms
 

I beleive it is the same Smith. They makes lots of different types and qualities of palms.

I have only seen them marketed through Bainbridge, though there must be other sources.

One caveat, the palms are far from uniform in size and cup placement. Buying one mail-order is sort of like buying shoes, shoes with no sizes printed on them.

woodenboat.org does have Smith palms on their website.

Good luck,

Bob

Get the best
 

Hi Nick,
Smith and Co. is not exactly the kind of organization that is big into ecommerce. They're a tiny, tiny shop in Redditch, and I doubt they have a computer on the premises, unless it is coal-fired, with an isinglass monitor screen. But they do make mighty fine palms. As has been noted, there is quite the range of grades, but the worst is far better than anything you'll find at West. Just get the best grade you can afford. The Wooden Boat Foundation is a good source. Or you could contact Des Pawson at Footrope Knots, and beg him to drop by Redditch to high-grade a palm for you. It'll cost more, but you'll get a good story out of it.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

Thanks guys! I will definately follow your advice and if all else fails, I'll have to pick up the bat-phone and call Mr. Pawson!

Quality is worth it. I was in the aisle at WM looking at the Palm they had and just said outloud, "blech" and I put it back.

I'll let y'all know what I end up with!

love
nick

Where, where, where?!?!

I checked out the WBF site and found nothing about palms. I found a couple of dead link. Maybe the palms are gone now?

love
nick

Still there
 

Nick-

The palms ae still at WoodenBoat. Use this link -> http://www.woodenboat.org/store/folder.asp?f=255

Bob Pingel

From the "Overly Romantic Files"... The best way to aquire a palm is to go crew on a square-rigger for awhile, and have one passed on to you. That's how I got mine, and how other friends have gotten theirs.
Besides, what makes for better story?
"So, after walking the aisles of West Marine in dismay, I emailed a guy who knows of a company that takes a credit card..."
OR
"Hands chapped and scarred, cursing the dropped pliers (yet blessing the sturdy lanyard), I was hanging in my harness half-way down the front of the nicely-drawing fore top'sl, tending to a started seam in the second reef band. 'Yar", says the mate on the aft side of the sail, pushing the needle back towards me, "You'll be needin' a proper palm, you will... I've a spare in me ditty bag to fit yer ham-hands..."
As if you needed another reason to go volunteer of a square-rigger...

Comparison
 

Thanks for the link! I have no clue why I couldn't find it. I swear I looked!

Click here to see 2 Palms

Notice the one on the left, the "best" one ($90) has a sharp edge on the inside of the thumb. I see the cheaper one has a rounded edge. That rounded edge looks more comfortable to me.

What other factors should I consider? Why is 3 layers better than 2? I won't be using this thing for hours at a time.

Whattya think?

love
nick

Palms
 

Nick,

The"best" is a roping palm and the other is seaming palm -- both Smith palms. The diff is in the thickness and stiffness of the leather. Both are beefy and way nicer than the WestMarine variety.

Where do you live in WI - do you ever get down near Milwaukee? I own a Smith roping palm and I'd be glad to let you take a look at it.

Contact me off board at rmpingel@earthlink.net

Bob

Bob, actually on the WBF site, there are 4 palms showing. In the Best category, there was a roping one and a seaming one, and in the other category there was also a roping one and a seaming one.

That said, is the 3rd layer of leather necesarry? I bet this is one of those things that when I try them both on, I agree that the expensiver one is indeed worth it, but it's hard to get all that via the tiny screen on my computer.

And Bob, sadly enough, I no longer live in WI. I used to live in Stanley and went to school in Ripon. Now I live in Los Angeles. But I'll always be FROM Wisconsin.

love
nick

Great news! After work yesterday I stopped by a local sail repair shop to see if they had any small scraps of dacron or other fun material that they'd sell cheap. Well, that didn't pan out, as they told me that they use all but the SMALLEST of pieces. BUT, they DID have some Smith palms on hand (literally!) and some for sail (I mean SALE). They had seaming palms and roping palms, but only left handed ones!

Well, I got to see the quality of the palms and WOW WOW WOW they seem (seam?) top notch. The lovely lady I spoke with said she'll call and get a quote for 1 right handed roping palm, then she'll call me back in a few days.

I am wayyyy excited about this.

Then Karina pointed out...."don't you have friends in England?"

So where in England would one go to pick up one of these puppies?

love
nick

Which one for general use: Roping or Sailmaker's?
 

I have been wanting to get a palm, but have relatively large hands and would like to try some out for fit before buying. Not that easy.

1. The advice is to get "best" quality from Wm. Smith, but the internet info is a real mix.
Prices vary and in New York City there seem to be no sources. Any ideas for a local source?

2. Should I start with a roping or sailmaker's model. I am a novice, want to handsew some projects, and presently use a junker West Marine palm to make whippings, for miscellaneous ropework and for minor sail repairs. The roping one seems like it might be more useful for general use....or is that the wrong way to go?

3. Are there sizes? Or do you simply adjust the securing loop on the back of it?

4. Are the best ones with black/blackened leather (as above in this thread)?

Any advice appreciated.

1. The advice is to get "best" quality from Wm. Smith, but the internet info is a real mix.
Prices vary and in New York City there seem to be no sources. Any ideas for a local source?


I've managed to get three nice Smiths from Ebay... but I had to go thru about eight purchases to do so. Even so, the end cost about evened out with buying new and the ones I have were "pre-broke-in", as it were. Check (esp. in NY) maritime antique stores as well as dockside shops, ask gnarly ol' seamen, etc. Smith is definitely the way to go unless you can find an old Pembroke. (Chances are very small on that!)

2. Should I start with a roping or sailmaker's model. I am a novice, want to handsew some projects, and presently use a junker West Marine palm to make whippings, for miscellaneous ropework and for minor sail repairs. The roping one seems like it might be more useful for general use....or is that the wrong way to go?
[b]
The roping palm has a high collar around the thumb (thumbstall) which you use when you want to REALLY tighten up the stitch (sewing a footrope and the like, hence 'roping' palm) which will get in the way of some people's seaming, or ordinary sewing. If you don;t anticipate doing any heavy-duty sailmaking, the seaming palm is a better choice for flexibility, as well as being far the more available of the two.

3. Are there sizes? Or do you simply adjust the securing loop on the back of it?

To the best of my knowledge (small and puny) the palms were mad in two sizes... one for the smaller hand and the standard palm size... all adjustments shuld be done by adjusting the sailtwine loop at the back of the hand. If possible, avoid palms with a buckle and tongue setup as they fail at the damndest times.

4. Are the best ones with black/blackened leather (as above in this thread)?

Black, tan, whatever.... if it's new, it's only a decorative feature. Blackened OLD leather indicates age and use... not necessarily either quality or reliability, mind you, but only that it has been sweat into, oiled and has oxidized over time from salts. A darkened leather palm which is soft and supple IS a good indication of a quality palm as it shows it's been used a lot... but the real test is how it feels on your hand. I've been most fortunate that I was given my first and the others I have now all just sort of melted into my grip.... like they'd been there for several years. The rest of them get re-sold or donated. They're like puppies.... those that come right up and say hello are keepers... the ones who cower back by their mother or in a corner turn into someone else's problem.