Does a Splitter Damage Leather?

[TomE]

The author of this harness making manual repeatedly says splitting strains and damages the leather.  He recommends buying hides in all the thicknesses needed to avoid splitting whenever possible.  Also says that removing thickness from the flesh side significantly weakens the leather, compared to an intact/tanned hide of same thickness.  For example:

"Running the hide through the splitting-machine has long been acknowledged to be detrimental to the leather, owing to the severe strain to which it is subjected, but the introduction of the belt-knife machine for splitting removes much of this objection, as the hide is split without being strained in the least."

Since the band knife splitter is OK in his opinion, I am wondering if a crank or motorized splitter is similarly nondamaging.  I am considering a Cobra splitter to handle wider pieces than I can split with a manual splitter.  I'd like to split bridle leather bellies and shoulders for cases, purses, etc. These pieces are leftover from cutting straps from 9-10 oz sides of leather.  I'd appreciate hearing your opinions and experiences about whether one of these feed through splitters damages the leather.

 

[Alexis1234]

I have the same manual and remember the author mentioning it... I'm curious as well. It's something I've kept in mind, as I try to buy the weights I need. I've noticed my splitter tends to stretch the strap and I use my round knife when skiviving. I wouldn't be so worried about the integrity of a purse strap or case compared to  horse harness when it could be dangerous. Just my 2 sense, I could be totally wrong. 

[PeterinID]

I am certainly no expert but I know there have been advances in tanning techniques since 1886 that could easily alter the possible damaging results of splitting, present day leather cases differently that leather did 50 years ago (or so Jim Linnell told me in a class last year). When we buy hides of any particular weight they have been passed through splitters too.