getting some tearing when I skive

[ClayB]

When I was learning to build saddles someone suggested that I cut the handle off a safety skiver and solder it on the other side, cuz I am a lefty too I just learned to use it right (wrong) handed instead. Another thing I learned is that when the blade gets dull, change it or take it out and strop it, instead of trying to keep going. They work lots better with a sharp blade.

[Regis]

I'm left handed so I must have missed something in the training manual[lol]. If you skive pushing, then safety skiver is in right hand. If you pull, then skiver is in your left hand. It is not like using an open knife blade. Although I'm not very experienced, it's pretty easy to use either hand because working with both hands on solid surface. But, like other tools, if it doesn't feel just right to us, we're in search of something that does the job and does feel right. After all, I started this thread about how wet to get leather for proper skiving. Just skiving dry was a tremendous improvement for me.

Regis

Edited March 14, 2007 by Regis

[BruceGibson]

Being a lefty, I'm feelin' right at home!

[Art]

I skive dry, but I am missing something here (wow ain't that a revelation). When I skive I am tapering an edge to just the grain for folding over or any of a number of reasons. I put the leather on the cutting surface grain down and put a piece of glass on top of the leather with the edge of the leather revealed. I then use a head knife or a special Bill Buchman knife with an angle and one ear lopped off (this saves knuckles from that missing ear) to run down the edge laying against the glass. The further back I have the glass, the more gradual the skive. I also do this with french edgers (Ron's) in the bigger sizes. You can also do this with a surgical scalpel with the big bellied blade (not #10 more like a #20 that uses a different handle than the #10 although the #10 might work too). I also use the cheap curved skiver fron Tandy with the injector blades for small stuff, it works really well if sharp so change blade often. The expensive skiver from Tandy is too bulky but might be ok for belt ends or something.

Guess there is more than one way to skin a ferret.

Art

[bruce johnson]

Another use for the piece of safety glass we should all have laying around in our shop. Some of the boot guys who do a lot more skiving than I ever thought of passed this little tip on. Apply rubber cement to a piece of safety glass. Let tack up a bit and put the leather to be skived grain side down on the glass. Skive away (using a second piece of glass as a guide like Art suggested or what ever technique/tool you prefer). It prevents stretch and the piece moving around. The rubber cement will roll or rub right off the the grain side of most leathers. These boot guys can do this adding pieces for build-up inlays and overlays, and turn the glass over, look through it, and make sure everything is lined up.

Bruce Johnson

[CitizenKate]

Heheh! Well, when I used it, I pulled, but I couldn't control it nearly as easily pulling a safety skiver as I could pushing the scalpel. Might just depend on the technique your hand prefers.

Kate

I'm left handed so I must have missed something in the training manual[lol]. If you skive pushing, then safety skiver is in right hand. If you pull, then skiver is in your left hand. It is not like using an open knife blade. Although I'm not very experienced, it's pretty easy to use either hand because working with both hands on solid surface. But, like other tools, if it doesn't feel just right to us, we're in search of something that does the job and does feel right.