Skiver not skiving

[CreativeName]

I got this set and I can only get them to bite on the edges.  On the back of a belt strap, they will barely get a little leather dust off.  Am I doing something wrong or did I just get a total POS tool set? Is there a way to adjust them to work better?

Edited November 24, 2024 by CreativeName
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[DJole]

23 minutes ago, CreativeName said:

I got this set and I can only get them to bite on the edges.  On the back of a belt strap, they will barely get a little leather dust off.  Am I doing something wrong or did I just get a total POS tool set? Is there a way to adjust them to work better?

I have one of those "safety skivers" (the silver one),  but I never could get it to work right, never making a clean, even skive.  

I now use two different tools for skiving. One is a French edge skiving tool, and the other is an Olfa Japanese skiving knife. Do an internet search on those terms to see what I am talking about.
I spent some time watching videos to see how the Japanese skiving knife is used, and I caught on quickly. I polish the edge up with 1000 grit sandpaper and my leather strop before starting a skiving project, and I have learned the "feel" when I need to re-polish in mid project. 

For other jobs, such as skiving large bits of leather (rather than just edges, like the Japanese knife), I use the French edge skiver. I keep it sharp and polished too. For some projects using stiffer leather, I can use it for edge skiving. 

Maybe others have figured out how to get those skiving tools to work, but mine just sits in a drawer, and I reach for the other two tools frequently.
I think the only selling point is that they are "safety" skivers, whereas the other skivers (especially the Japanese knife) have a bare razor edge, right there ready to injure the careless. Just keep them sharp and polished, be careful, be aware of where your fingers are, and use a polished stone surface to skive on. 

[bruce johnson]

It is hard to make a generalization about the two styles of skivers you have. These designs have been around for a long time. I could get both styles of the originals to work. I modified several. On the silver skiver I bent the handle up on one to reach some areas I couldn't otherwise. On the black skivers I bent the ends to different arcs. 

There are some great tools coming from the Asian countries, and on the other hand - some cheap knockoffs that aren't made to function correctly. I haven't had any of the Amazon skiver versions through here that I've used but here is my thoughts. If these are made so the blade angle is too steep, they will dive down and dig too much. If the blade edge is tipped up then the leather rides under the cutting edge. There is a sweet spot for angle and you may need to tip the handle one way or the other to find it. The other thing is to make sure  there isn't something on the frame on the bottom in front of the blade edge that prevents the blade from contacting the leather. Too thick and the blade can't meet the leather.  

The other issue is blades. I get some Import tools with supplied blades that are "universal blades", the cutting edge is about as sharp as the back edge (dull, dull, dull). Gripping them with a visegrips and buffing makes a big difference. Option B - order some good blades. Good quality blades make a difference. 

[zuludog]

I haven't used those skivers that you show because generally I hear they're not very good, and also I took the hint from the fact that if you watch YT Videos of well known and expert leatherworkers, I don't think I've ever seen them use that type either - 'fraid you might just have to buy something else. In which case you have three basic choices -

A European style? skiving knife, which looks like a broad stubby hand held chisel 

A Japanese Leather Knife, aka Japanese Skiving Knife, with it's distinctive offset blade, which feels odd at first but you soon get used to it

An English Style paring knife, which has a sloping cutting edge similar to a craft knife, Very often it's just a long strip of steel, without a handle

Whichever you get, they can all do a good job, but you must learn to get them razor sharp - there are loads of YT Videos on sharpening & using skiving knives, the usual procedure is a fine stone or abrasive paper followed by a strop. Watch as many as you have the stamina for and you'll pick up the methods

Rocky Mountain Leather Supply has several skiving knives on their website, or Search accordingly, or perhaps people in the USA can suggest others 

FWIW I use a mid priced Japanese Leather Knife for edges & small areas, and a David Razor Plane for larger areas, including the back of the fold over on a belt strap

In previous Threads I've posted that I like a JLK, there are several videos on using & sharpening them. I have a mid priced JLK and a very cheap one that you sometimes see on the Net, with Korean? symbols on the blade and a red painted handle. I wouldn't recommend this as it took a lot of work to get a sharp edge on it, and I hear that the latest ones are poor quality

Here are a couple of videos, but there are many others

 

Edited November 24, 2024 by zuludog

[asoupley]

I know this is a little late, but checkout this video. He shows how to 'tune' a safety skiver: 

 

[SUP]

I find the French edge skiving tool to be the easiest to use and, for me, the safest. I keep them very sharp but can take care not to take off too much leather at one go.

The skiving knives I'm always afraid I will skive off too much.

The safety ones? They are imitations of rough heel shavers - you get similar ones for removing rough skin from one's heels - yes human ones. That's all they are good for, to me. I can never get them to shave anything off the leather, no matter how sharp and new the blades!

 

[Beehive]

I have the Japanese leather knife that's portrayed as a skiver. I'm not into using, in American terms, a sharpened putty knife. Cutting corners? That's about all it's good for. 

I've never owned a safety skiver so I can't attest to it. 

I have a 4mm French skiver. Cheapo Chinese special off of Amazon. It does ok. I have a 1/4" skiver on the way. I can't see me needing something wider or more narrow as 4mm. 

Otherwise, I use a table top belt sander. Last requirement was the mounting tips of ranger belt billets. 80 grit. Before I bought the sander. It was a sanding drum in a drill press.