Edge Beveler Vs. Keen Edge Beveler?

[SouthernCross]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Tandy's regular edge beveler and the "keen" edge beveler...and which one I need to get for general leatherwork? Holsters, belts, knife sheaths, etc....

[Sporq]

This is just from my experience, but:

The regular edge beveler can be angled however you want along the edge, but can lead to a wiggly looking edge bevel if not kept under control. The keen edger's round underside makes it easier to knock just the corner off at the same angle every time. The keen edger seems to have a narrower cutting surface as well, about a 1 size smaller cut than the regular flat one, and the curved underside means that you have to strop it with a rounded strop instead of a normal one you likely already have. Not hard to make one, just use your keen edger on both top grain and flesh side of a straight edge of leather, preferably a 7-9oz in thickness, then move back a little from that rounded edge, and cut it off entirely. Mount that cut-off on a flat board, and rub it with rouge, and there you go.

As far as choosing between them, I like both for different things. if I'm going to slick a belt, I usually use the keen on both sides of the leather, then slick / burnish the edge. It seems to give a better even rounded edge this way. On holsters and sheaths, I tend to do the same. a size 2 and a size 3 should be good for just about everything you want to do. I tend to go with a regular flat beveler more when making crease lines in leathers, or knocking off edges that I want a more severe angle on without using a french skiver or other skiving knife. With the crease lines, I'll use a straight edge and either a stitching groover cut or two or swivel knife, and then knock the edges of those cuts off with the flat beveler or a french skiver..whatever is closest to grab usually, but that's just me being lazy. I tend to prefer this method over using a v-gouge, because I feel I can control it better, and it's one less tool to buy and sharpen. (But I tend to be making cases with 90 degree angles in them more than sheathes or holsters, so I don't know how useful this will be for you.)

If anyone has any corrections to this, or additional advice, I'd love to hear it as well.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Sporq

[TheIdentityStore]

I like this answer - have been selling and using both and had been trying to work out a way to explain the differences to customers in a clear way- this has been a big help!