New Tool Idea - Large Leather Shears - Should I make these for sale?

[Stagesmith]

Greetings. 

I make tools, and have been making tools for over 40 years. I spent many months this year learning the skills of refurbishing, sharpening and tuning, tin-snips, shears and scissors. Along that path I discovered WISS #8 Belt Shears for cutting leather and fabric belting.

They are very nice, but a bit small for my taste. The largest commonly available WISS Shears are #22W, at over 12 inches long

They can be purchased new but the old ones are better. I ended up with several pairs of 22W's and decided to super-size the #8 Belt Shears.

The WISS Belt Shears are interesting because the lower blade is serrated to hold the leather and the upper blade is knife-edged.

My new shears cut 1/4" sole leather like paper. Kind of amazing. As a knife-maker these aren't too hard to make, but I'm curious if there is a market for them.

I've been using these for the last few weeks on various knife sheath projects and really love them, but there are lots of ways to cut leather.

I am curious what others think of these.

[Dwight]

There's a market for virtually anything produced.

Price will generally determine how big that market is.

May God bless,

Dwight

 

[SUP]

There are shears in the market that are large although not the brands known well here. They work well on thinner leathers but they do not work on thick leather, at least  none that I have seen. So there is no reason why your shears should not sell well.  Best of luck.🙂

[AlZilla]

Given the number of places that sell Wiss 22W scissors, I'd say there's definitely a market. I can get them to my door for $32 to $60. The question is whether you want to play in that market or can you build a better mouse trap and get a premium price for it.

You've piqued my interest. But remember, you're dealing with a crowd for whom the hundred dollar servo motor seems to be the holy grail. Price will definitely be a factor.

[bruce johnson]

I deal in refurbished and selected new leather tools. People cut leather with a $350 round knife down to a $10 Olfa rotary cutter, $7 utility knife, or maybe the $6 HF scissors that cut pennies. The range of leather workers and their cutting tools is pretty vast. I get some leather scissors or shears in some of the old sets once in a while .  Overall, I don't think they have been marketed the best as a cutting option in the last 20 years.  The best thing you can do is put some out there and see how they sell.

Price them at what is fair to you, not what you think the market is. In my case what I personally think rarely happens close to expectations. Many things I think won't sell fast due to price (high or low) ends up reordered the next week. Stuff that I think is a dead-on great value gets reordered in 6 months. 

[Cumberland Highpower]

Anything sells in America, even if its' a "bad" deal! 

There would probably be a market for any shears, although unless you can be competitive it won't matter.

The tariffs are your friend to a degree.  You may pay more for steel, but get a higher percentage return on the finished product.

I use a pair of W German made "Black Diamond" shears that are similar to the Wiss, w/serrations to grip, but I find the Black Diamond shears to be better balanced. Osborne also markets shears that I think are made by Wiss.  

A longer pair would not give any increase in leverage so only would be good for soft leathers/thin chrome, etc.

To be honest, while they might be known as "belt shears" they are not all that great at cutting belts.  Cutting a belt or 2 yes, or a holster prototype, but if you do it all day no way.   I use a pair of cutters with compound leverage far more than my Black diamonds for cutting straps to length.  (Cut-Rite)  They were marketed in the 1990s by Walmart (USA made) and I've bought every pair I've ever come across at almost any price.

I'd think a buyer would pay up to $80 for a quality pair (really about going rate) if you were to make something up.

Edited Wednesday at 04:08 PM by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

1 hour ago, bruce johnson said:

People cut leather with a $350 round knife down to a $10 Olfa rotary cutter, $7 utility knife, or maybe the $6 HF scissors that cut pennies. The range of leather workers and their cutting tools is pretty vast.

You are right cutting tools is pretty vast. I have a fairly expensive brand name round knife which rarely gets used, maybe once in the last year. What do you mean --- $7 utility knife? I typically splurge and use the $1.25 CAD ones from the dollar store that come with a spare blade for cutting. If I'm cutting chrome tan probably 3 or 4 oz I use a electric fabric rotary cutter. Cutting heavy fabric or leather with a pair of scissors for me would be a no go no matter how good they are, old hands.

kgg

[Cumberland Highpower]

5 minutes ago, kgg said:

- $7 utility knife? I typically splurge and use the $1.25 CAD ones from the dollar store that come with a spare blade for cutting.

I like the old Staney razor knives that retract.  One of my favorite Quarter or 50cent purchases at garage sales/flea markets/auctions! 

I only buy the retractable versions, I have a tendency to want to put them in my pockets....

Do you have garage sales in Canada? Just curious.

Edited Wednesday at 03:46 PM by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

31 minutes ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

Do you have garage sales in Canada? Just curious.

Yes we do. 

 

32 minutes ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

I like the old Staney razor knives that retract. 

Yes I known what you mean. The only "good" thing is when using one if you cut yourself you feel it before you see the blood. I almost never carry a pocket knife even through the son buys really good ones and then sharpens them so they are as sharp as a razor. You see the blood dripping on the floor before you feel the cut. Ask me how I know. I must as a giggle try using one to cut leather.

kgg

[DukeandDrummond]

These look appealing to me. Sometimes shears/scissors seem the right tool.