Cutting A Circle

[Nighthawk]

This may seem like a silly question... but how the heck do I cut a clean circle?!?! Tried guides, freehand... Is there some kind of tool that I can use, like a compass that holds a blade?

[electrathon]

How big?

Generally, take a pipe, sharpen the end on a grinder, wet the leather, pound on the pipe till you have a hole.

Aaron

[Aggiebraider]

When I cut circles of kangaroo that are for lace (generally 2-3 ft in diameter) I use a large set of wing dividers. They are cheap ones from Harbor Freight but are pretty sharp so they scribe a nice line. Since the kangaroo is fairly thin, I then use a set of Gingher scissors to cut the circle out (carefully). Im thinking about getting a gasket cutter and trying them out on kangaroo. Hopefully it will speed things up because the scissor approach takes a good piece of time. I think the determining factor is what you are trying to cut and how large a circle it is.

Hope this helps,

CW

[roo4u]

how big and for what purpose? when i cut roo for lace i cut the hide into one big circle. i use a big wing divider and scissors...not that careful cuz the outer lace isnt good anyway. if the circle has to be really good clean i might try a circle guide that they use for routing you could put a blade tip thru the hole and cut that way

[LNLeather]

Hi

When I started doing leather work I started out making coasters and

(Before I got my clicker die press) I used a really neat gizmo that cut leather in perfect circles...

much better than I could ever do by hand. I got it at misterart.com

LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter

Hope this helps

Edited September 6, 2010 by LNLeather

[Kevin]

If you can have a hole in the middle of your circle, just drive a nail through the middle into your bench, and put a knife through your outside diameter and " spin 'er 'round",. Of course, the nail has to be straight, your knife has to be straight and you have to keep the leather flat.

Kevin

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for the ideas! The circle I need, I found out last night, is exactly the same diameter as a spindle of Tejas lace! I'm using it for the bottom of a leather mug that I'm making as a Christmas gift for a friend.

[seveneves]

If you can have a hole in the middle of your circle, just drive a nail through the middle into your bench, and put a knife through your outside diameter and " spin 'er 'round",. Of course, the nail has to be straight, your knife has to be straight and you have to keep the leather flat.

Kevin

I tried this yesterday and it worked awesome. It's such a simple solution. And it just saved me a whole lot of money that I was going to spend on round punches.

[funnygirl62221]

Hi

When I started doing leather work I started out making coasters and

(Before I got my clicker die press) I used a really neat gizmo that cut leather in perfect circles...

much better than I could ever do by hand. I got it at misterart.com

LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter

Hope this helps

Thanks Cheryl. I really like that website. They have a lot of neat gadgets I haven't seen before!

[LNLeather]

Thanks Cheryl. I really like that website. They have a lot of neat gadgets I haven't seen before!

You are welcome! Yeah, I agree about the things I haven't seen before. I was also looking at their Leather Crafting items,

in the Crafting section, mister art leather craft and there might even be some "Tandy" items that cost less there, that is if you are not a member of Tandy...

I looked at your gallery and you're very talented. I am so new to this, I am just happy to be able to share a little of what I have learned.

I just love this place (leatherworker.net)