electric skiver

[Canuck]

I have recently acquired an electric skiver. It is made by HART and built in Rotterdam Holland. It is similar to a fortuna(sp). I am trying to figure out how best to operate this machine with regards to setting it up properly to do clean skives.

Does anyone have generic instructions of electric skivers that I could get a copy of?

There are two control knobs in the front of the machine. The left one is for the sharpener. The right is attached to a worm gear that moves the cylinder cutter close to the feed dogs.

The presser is concave (No roller) and there are screws to adjust the camber,

On the far left are two knobs that adjust the camber of the feed dog.

Any hints would be greatly appriecated. So far I have been going on trial and error.

Thanks Robert

[bruce johnson]

Robert,

Sounds like you have the basic controls figured out. As far as a manual, you might try ShopTalk. Website is www.proleptic.net. They seem to have manuals for several different leather machines. I am not sure if they are originals or reprints. The manual for my Fortuna is pretty ancient, and 60 pages. Bound tight and would crack if I tried to scan or copy it.

Biggest issue would be getting the feet and possibly a feedwheel. I got mine from Arnold at Melanie Machine in Vernon, CA (Los Angeles). Oldcowpoke just joined here, and he deals in machinery, and might have a handle on things too. A lot of the ShopTalk advertisers for machinery might be able to help on parts, and maybe a manual too. I can't tell from your pictures, do you have an edge guide? That is pretty important to keep the edge at a constant point under the presser foot and even skives.

[Canuck]

Thanks Bruce,

I do have a guide. It's a sliding arm device. I will check out the websites you suggest.

Cheers

Robert