Best Edge Bevelers for the money? DC53? D2?

[DaveS]

Which edge bevelers / edgers are the best for the money? 

I've been using budget ones forever and I hate them so I want to buy some decent ones without overspending for a name.

Does the steel matter much? I hear about DC53, but does it get rusty? There's also D2 and heat-treated steel like Barry King. Then there's Weaver Leather's that have a Lifetime Warranty, but that doesn't mean they are actually good... or are they? Buckleguy has some DC53 and M390 ones. DC53 is better steel but it can rust easier right? So is M390 the better option? I saw that WUTA makes some using those steels as well, about 40-50 bucks a piece.

Ahhhh. lol

Thanks for the help everyone.

[AlZilla]

This is a great question. As a rookie leatherworker, edge bevelers is something I've also been struggling with. I'm looking forward to the answers.

[bruce johnson]

This could a chapter in a book. 

The first thing to consider is thickness and type of leather you are edging. The second thing is to realize that size numbers generally mean nothing between makers. Next factor is your ability to maintain an edger, some styles strop and sharpen up easier than others. Steel types - once you get past the entry level lower priced edgers, I could care less what they they use. The makers have thought it out and and found out what works for them and their manufacturing process. In use, can I tell if an edger was made from D2, 53, or 390? I am not that good and the previous factors are more important to me. 

Going forward, everyone has a favorite and likely they are going to be different. Once you get past a low price edger that never came sharp and limited instructions to sharpen it then whatever you trade up to is going to be better and your recommendation. Might be Weaver, Barry King, Ron's Tools, WUTA, Palosanto, Owden, older or newer CS Osborne, older Gomph or HF Osborne. Styles might be a round back edger, bisonette edger, fine edger, bent toe or "western" edger, European edge shave, and others.  That doesn't make any one of them better than others, just personal experience and we are all different in expectations and budget. You can pay from $30 to $120 for an edger. Everybody's best for the money is going to different. 

 

[Tigweldor]

In my experience, the cheaper ones made from cheap steel do not hold an edge as long - but can be resharpened in a jiffy.

I have a small hook on one of my sewing machine tables - to it a string rubbed with polishing compound is attached - a few strokes and your back in business.

If the manufacturer does not explicitly state that the beveler was made in the US of A - you can bet your next pay cheque on  it coming somewhere from Asia (China, Korea, Japan).

While thick veg tanned leather is easy to bevel - the real challenge as to sharpness comes when having to bevel thin chrome tanned leather.

Just my opinion though

Greetings

Hans

[Tigweldor]

And do not knock steel that will rust - most all old straight razors will rust if left wet - but could be easily stropped to a "razor edge"

Same goes for the French "Opinel" knives - you can get these really sharp - but they will rust.

Stainless and steels with additives like molybdenum hold their edge longer - but are a pain in the butt to resharpen once dull.

In the end it comes to user practice - most people neglect to strop their beveler before every use - which takes about 20 seconds with a piece of string.

Greetings

Hans

[billybopp]

If you want to talk about steels, go to a knife maker's forum.  You'll hear (or read) all sorts of different opinions, debates, and outright arguments.   Does it make that much difference?  Mostly no, but that doesn't stop people from thinking it does.  

What's probably more useful to think about is which type of edger will work best for what you do and the way that you do it!  I don't think I've ever seen a GOOD guide to the many kinds of bevelers available and how to use and maintain each type - pictures, maybe video to help along the narrative.   Anybody with the experience and knowledge up to the challenge??

- Bill

[SUP]

Hmm. I have many edge bevelers and the pain is always the 'sharpen them' part. I am never sure that I know exactly how to do it, no matter how many videos I watch. So, I followed @fredk's suggestion and now use plain old disposable cuticle trimmers. They are ridiculously cheap (think 30-50 for $7.99 on Amazon and probably cheaper still in Brick-and-mortar stores) and surprisingly effective. I have used them on thin and thick leathers with no trouble at all. When one goes dull, I discard it, no sweat. 

 

 

[MClark]

Get yourself one of those edger sharpening plates sold at some leather suppliers, and there is a tool that Weaver Leather sells for sharpening edgers.   It's kind of expensive, other places sell something similar to the Weaver tool.  You can also fold emory cloth over a rod and use that as a form.

Grit: 1200, 3000, and 5000.

I have diamond hones you can buy from Sharpening Supplies, Inc. 

Diamond Machining Technologies, DMT, makes a lot of sharpening tools.  Barry King sells the DMT #2, I have both the #2 and #3 hones. 

You might want to buy Al Stohlmans Tool Encyclopedia from Tandy, E BAY or Amazon which shows how to sharpen leather tools.

There are a number of ways to sharpen edgers, just start looking for resources and you will find the information you need.

 

Good Luck!

Mark Clark

 

 

[SUP]

1 hour ago, MClark said:

There are a number of ways to sharpen edgers, just start looking for resources and you will find the information you need.

The Weaver sharpening tool for edge bevelers, sharpening stones of different diameters and sizes, diamond stones, string with that green compound... seen them all, got them all, tried them all, AL Stohlman's book included. Still a pain. so prefer the cuticle trimmers. Sharpening knives is fine, bevelers, not so much. Besides, the cuticle trimmers? I can adjust the tips as I need - widen them, narrow them, bend them... as I need for the current project.  I really like that. My regular edge bevelers, Bissonnette bevelers et all sit around looking beautiful. 

It's a personal thing, I guess. Whatever works, finally, is it not?  🙂 I know that many will think I am talking through my hat, but this works. Try it sometime. You might like them. Most women have disposable cuticle trimmers lying around. Need to be the unused, disposable ones though. 

 

[Tigweldor]

Bruce Johnson has a pretty detailed tutorial on how to sharpen edge-bevelers :

https://brucejohnsonleather.com/links-resources/tutorials/tutorial-edge-beveler-sharpening

 

Greetings

Hans

Who up to now didn´t even know what a cuticle trimmer was - but I looked them up on the internet and for 1,29€ at DM (German wide pharmacy stores) I will sure buy some to try them out.

Edited Monday at 11:26 PM by Tigweldor

[Tim Schroeder]

I have a set of the Craftool Pro Classic's with the big fat black handles. I just sharpened them (every grit of sandpaper from (800 to 10,000)and they cut very smooth. I just bought a set of the Kemovan Round D2. #2 thru #7. They are very sharp and cut super smooth on veg tan. I bought the Kemovans because I like the Cocobolo handles and the small steps between sizes.  In a set they were $43 each shipped to the house.

The Craftool #0 is the same size as the Kemovan #5, 1.6mm. The Kemovans only go up to #7, 2.0mm so I bought a Wuta M390 #5, 2.2mm.

 I also bought a Diudus #4, .7mm off of Amazon ($16) and it was very sharp so I decided to try the chinese stuff because I can't afford the Ron's Tools edgers. They are very expensive. There's a local leather shop here and when I looked at the bevelers they were all Ron's Tools and they love them. 

 I was always trying to use the Craftool #0 but it always wanted to dig in. After close inspection you could see it was bent from the factory. I took it to the local Tandy and they said just tough luck they couldn't do anything. Took it to Tandy headquarters in Ft. Worth and they said SOL. They don't warranty their tools. I bought a new one and wanted to see how sharp they are from the factory. After sharpening the new one with 800,1000,1200,1500,2000,2500,3000,5000, 7000, 10,000 it wasn't even close. From the factory they were OK but not even close to the sharpened one. IMHO the sharpened Craftool is noticeably sharper than even the new Kemovans.  

[SUP]

12 hours ago, Tigweldor said:

Who up to now didn´t even know what a cuticle trimmer was

😄 Most people don't. And what fun it is to try different things around the house and put them to new uses. Think of how one can use orange sticks - again a tool for nails that have a million non-nail uses.

Just one thing - I do leatherwork as a hobby, so anything that I say is from that point of view. it will be different, many times, from the point of view of a leather professional. Please consider any information that I provide with that in mind!

Edited yesterday at 11:48 AM by SUP

[SUP]

12 hours ago, Tigweldor said:

Bruce Johnson has a pretty detailed tutorial on how to sharpen edge-bevelers :

https://brucejohnsonleather.com/links-resources/tutorials/tutorial-edge-beveler-sharpening

I know. And its good. His site has some great information and excellent tools. And he guides you well on what you need.

[Tigweldor]

Think of how one can use orange sticks - again a tool for nails that have a million non-nail uses.

 

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Even though I am not a nail technician - I know what those are.

I use them to clean my ears (not the pointy side) :)