Scissors for leather?

[AussieTanker]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

All the rotary knives are good. I use a 60mm blade one. But the 40mm is just as good plus the replacement blades are easier to get and a lot cheaper than the 60mm

Thank you.  That is very helpful.  I appreciate the detailed advice. And I've just discovered that a store about 5 minutes drive from my place sells them

Does anyone have any other thoughts on the Vergez Blanchard leather scissors compared to other brands mentioned in the thread?

[SUP]

I do not know about the Vergez Blanchard but I have a Henckel and that works well for me - I use leather up to 6oz. so no idea how it would work for heavier leather.

Frankly, I increasingly only use a Stanley knife and a round knife for most cutting these days, using the scissors only for the odd corner that might not be completely detached. Using a scissors, I find, does not give me as smooth a cut line as a knife does but that might just be that I am not cutting correctly with the scissors..

Edited October 4, 2023 by SUP

[fredk]

I use heavy duty kitchen-type scissors made by Mundial. I have 3 pr, each cost about £12 when I bought them 20 years ago.. They'll cut leather 5 mm thick and thin sheet brass or sheet steel. Only recently has the smaller of the 3 been showing signs it needs sharpening

1. shop around, sometimes you can pay too much more $£$£$£  because a tool says 'leather' and you can buy the same tool cheaper in a different place *

2. take a piece of thick leather with you and try the scissors on it. Thats how I found the Mundial. I was working with some 6mm thick leather and mentioned to a friend who worked in a home goods store. He recommended the Mundial ones, I tried them and have them since

* eg, recently I bought a special self-contained  airbrush/compressor. Regular art places had it for over £80. One seller of leather working supplies had it for £120. I found one on ebay in 'Nail Art supplies for under £25   ~  And they had a discount sale so I got it for £21!

Edited October 4, 2023 by fredk

[ArkieNewbie]

I have a pair of Ghinger Super Shears that I use. I have used them all the way up to 8/9oz veg tan with no problem. 

One caveat, I only use them to cut out a smaller piece of leather out of a side. I don't use them for detailed cuts. 

[DacianFalx]

I used to use gold-handled knife-edged Ginghers for all my cutting, but anything heavier than 6oz would dull them out pretty quickly. Then a friend at a tannery turned me onto Wolff Industries, and their large-handled utility shears. They fit my hand much better, but like a dream, have gripping serrations to hold firm, and happily cut anything up to 14oz. Tend to last about 4 times longer between sharpens, as well. 
Here you are: 

Wolff Industries Straight Large Handled Utility Shears

[nstarleather]

On 7/21/2023 at 6:47 AM, DaveP said:

I just looked at these. Does the serrated edge of lower leave a rough cut? They look strong. 

Yes they will leave marks.  So when we finish products occasionally we have a bit of edge that hangs over because of leather stretching during splitting.  The Wiss are great (and we do use them frequently) but will mark on one side of the leather, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Here's a piece I folded and cut you can see the "bottom" part of the fold gets teeth marks.

For us when it's precision and not too heavy.  We use any of the Fiskar's Razoredge series.  They're $15-$20 and we do have to replace occasionally.  I'm going to look at the KAI too.