Manual skiver

[DieselTech]

5 minutes ago, TomE said:

Not sure about this item but I have an old Tandy Pro modeled after an Osborne #84.  I use it frequently for lap skives on the ends of straps including buckle turrns.  It is difficult to split items wider than about 2-3" on one of these, and consistent splits longer than ~1 ft require practice.  Thin leather pulled through the splitter will stretch.  My tips are to keep the blade really sharp, pull the leather with a slightly downward angle, and keep a finger on the leather entering the blade to prevent it from lifting up (and cutting through the grain) at the end of a strap.  I eventually learned to split 2-3 ft long straps to a desired thickness provided the temper of the leather was consistent throughout.  Now I use a motorized, push through splitter for big jobs and use the manual splitter for lap skives.

Yeah I want a power skiver & strap cutter, but just cant afford them. I recently decided to order a cobra class 4 sewing machine & it's going to wipe out my fun money i have stashed.

Yeah i watch guys that have been using this style skiver for years & they make it look soo easy to do. I know i wont have the required skill/ technique to use it like they do. 

Thanks for the info & advice. 

[Burkhardt]

10 hours ago, Wepster said:

I think he is saying it may be darn near impossible if you wanted to thin ONLY the buckle bend area, as opposed bend area to the end of the wrap. No way to go into and and back out again, have to go until no more leather, put another way, can not scoop out an area.

Yes, that's what I thought he meant.

[Burkhardt]

6 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Ok thanks. No when I thin a belt in the buckle bend area I thin it out from the buckle bend to the end of the belt. Basically I thin it from the buckle bend to the end of the belt. Roughy I thin 4-6" of the buckle end of the belt.

I meant it as @Wepster explained, but how you said that would work ok. Either way when you do one you have to start in one direction and finish in the other for a whole belt so would just not do the opposite way and only thin through and past the buckle.

[Cattleman]

My local saddle shop just got some of these from the same manufacturer that makes them for Weaver... They are exactly the same, but about half the price. I want one BADLY!!!