RyanCope Report post Posted November 6, 2007 I'm beginning to look in to purchasing a band saw splitter. I'm curious if any of you have knowledge/ experience with a particular band or model, and might be willing to share it. 12" would be a minimum width for me. Ryan Cope Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg gomersall Report post Posted November 6, 2007 Ryan welcome on board. They are generally called a band knife splitter. I have a line on a couple but I will be away from the shop for the next week. I check into them when I get back. Greg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted November 6, 2007 Ryan, Welcome to the group. I bought a bell knife skiver from Melanie Machine in LA last spring. Arnold has a warehouse full of machinery. At that time he had a few bandknife splitters. He has a good reputation for machinery, and sure treated me right. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanCope Report post Posted November 6, 2007 Thanks Bruce. I'll look for their number. How do you like the skiver? I've heard from a couple of people that they can be fairly tempermental. Ryan Cope Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted November 6, 2007 Ryan, I like the skiver, and use it more than I thought I would. Mine is a bottom feed Fortuna, which a lot of people told me would not work very well for what I wanted. The thing is, most of the skivers come with a stone feed wheel. They grip and feed soft chrometan leathers very well. On vegtan leathers they may spin, smoke and glaze up on the surface and not feed. Arnold set me up with the stone wheel, but also sold me a steel wheel. The steel wheel is like the feed roller on a crank splitter, it gets ahold. He also set me up with different roller presser feet for the vegtan to help feed. He was really helpful. DW Frommer referred me to him. I can use up heavier leather and skive the edges thinner to make checkbooks, and bible covers, etc- gouge the center fold, and leave it fuller in the middle to really get some depth. The thin edges make a cleaner look. I had some heavy mule hide that I was able to run through and split even enough that I could get use the top and skiving both for wraps. That was cool. Not an everyday using machine, but dang sure worthwhile. Come over and play with it. You can skive, and I'll come over there when you get the bandknife splitter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldcowpoke Report post Posted November 12, 2007 Hi I have skivers for sale if ya know some who needs one I have splitters (fortuna and comoga) as well JJ 423 571 1364 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Report post Posted November 12, 2007 Hey there Ryan About 3 years ago I purchased a Fortuna Bandknife splitter and it is fantastic. I had it converted to single phase but the price was right. I recently had a new knife blade put in and the whole thing serviced and it runs like a dream. I have the steel top feed roller fitted and it will split veg leather easily. It has a 12 inch throat which is a little small sometimes but I get by and I wouldnt be without one now. Cheers and good luck Trevor "way down under" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dink Report post Posted December 20, 2007 I have a band knife splitter that I would be willing to part with, It came from Randall in Yoakum Texas, Completley reconditioned. $3700 it is a 12" Fortuna 620. I can get you more info if you are interested. Dink Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Genadek Report post Posted December 20, 2007 I find the Camoga to be less tempermental than a Fortuna. Generally cheaper too. David Genadek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
