Problem using a TandyPro Deluxe Leather Splitter

[Coloradoguy]

I posted a similar question back on May 18 in this forum and got some good tips, but I'm still having trouble.  I purchased the TandyPro Deluxe Leather Splitter a few months ago.  My problem is, when I pull belt straps through to skive 7" at the buckle end, I am not getting a flat cut.  It is cutting too deep in the middle of the blank, see photos.  The light area on the end of my blank in the photo is cut too deep, I cut a cross section of the waste piece and am holding it in my hand in the photo, you can see how bad it is cutting.  These are the steps I am taking to do my split/skive:

First, I sharpened the blade a LOT from how it came in the box, and kept the edge very flat.

I set the roller at the depth I want at both ends and tighten the two lock nuts

I start my cut while pressing back on the lever, cutting slowly for about 1/4" to 1/2" until the blade gets to depth

I stop and tighten down the roller with the large nob

Then I use a short piece of 2x4 to hold down the bar and the blank behind the roller, so the blank follows the curve of the roller from behind and slightly below

Then I pull the blank through slowly.  

And it screws up the cut.

What am I doing wrong?  Previously, and before I started holding down the bar and belt with a piece of 2x4, I'd split through the blank entirely and ruin belts.

I'd appreciate any tips or comments to correct this problem, thx!

[fredk]

I think your 2 x 4 is giving too much localised pressure. Giving it more pressure to cut deeper in the centre than the edges

Can you try a wider lever bar?

[TomE]

My older Tandy Pro splitter doesn't have the additional depth locking screws on both ends of the roller. It seems that the strap is getting pinched on either edge and drawn up towards the blade in the middle.  I don't have an idea why that would happen.

Does this occur when using different parts of the blade?  Have you tested different leathers of varying thickness/temper?  Is the roller centered on the edge of the blade?

Also, I don't understand the need for the 2x4 clamping the strap.  When I split straps I don't have any pressure on the strap entering the splitter.  I am careful to pull the strap through at a consistent angle, slightly lower than horizontal.

Edited yesterday at 02:25 AM by TomE

[DieselTech]

I think your blade is not quite sharp enough. Plus if the blade is dull & you are taking a big bite/cut you are actually stretching the belt some & resulting thinner/thicker cuts on the sides of the belt. 

[Coloradoguy]

TomE,  Yes, my roller is centered on the blade edge. Putting pressure on the hold-down bar and blank behind the roller with a 2x4 was recommended by another member on this site to solve my initial problem of skiving/splitting completely through the ends of my belts. I sharpened my blade more and tested this again, I had better success without the 2x4.  Thanks for the tip about pulling the strap through at a consistent angle, slightly lower than horizontal.

DieselTech, I think I may have been stretching the blank, I was pulling pretty hard to get the blank through.  

I think my blade could still be sharper, but the blade has a compound angle and it is difficult for me to keep the angle of the narrow edge consistent on my sharpening stone.  Anyone know what type of sharpening company would be able to sharpen this blade for me?  The local knife sharpeners have not been responding when I send them photos of the blade.

[Mulesaw]

@Coloradoguy I think you need to find a sharpening service that does carpentry machines.
Maybe your local cabinetmaker has got a grinding machine for sharpening blades for a jointer/planer. (I do but Denmark is a bit far away from you)

I tried googling sharpening services in Omaha Nebraska, and a company called Loveless Sharpening looks like the place that could do the job for you.

http://lovelessmachine.com/Pages/home.aspx

please note that I am in no way affiliated with them, I don't know them or the quality of their work, but a shop that can sharpen a paper knife for the book cutting industry would also know (and have the machinery) for sharpening a skiver blade.

Good luck

Brgds Jonas

[TomE]

If you can't find a local sharpening service, you might check with Leather Machine Co.  They offer sharpening of the hollow ground blade for their Class 14 splitter.  @bruce johnson sharpens blades for Osborne manual splitters and might be able to help you out.

Edited 1 hour ago by TomE