help-cutting thick leather

[Randy Cornelius]

Here is a video that I found on youtube that is good, I would not say it is great but it shows you the basics of how to sharpen a round knife and how to strop it. I do it a little different but then everyone you talk to will have thier own way. I use 3 different stones, course, fine and them I have an old razor hone that my grandfather used on razors. Then I use a power strop I made. I have a leather belt for my 4 x 36 inch belt sander that I have rouge on that works great for polishing a blade of any kind. I hope this helps.

Randy

[UKRay]

Here is a another video that I liked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpWNJOCYA1A

I think this one says it all...

[Dwight]

Just a couple of comments: one being a question. What is the big deal on cutting the leather?

If you are doing a finished project, you will want to sand and finish the edges anyway, so why go into a big sweat on whether the "cut" is 90 degrees or 85 degrees, . . . or even on the line you will want to see as the finished project?

Secondly, . . . if you have a Stanley razor knife, . . . you can make an improvised strop for it with a 1 by 4 inch piece of scrap leather, . . . rub it with jeweler's rouge, . . . and keep your razor knife sharp with it. Most of the cuts I make would try the patience of anyone with a round knive as they are sharp curves, etc, . . . so my choice has been the razor knife that I keep "razor" sharp (which is about 3 times as sharp as a new blade right out of the box) with my improvised strop.

But, . . . regardless of what you use, . . . if it is dull, . . . it will not cut correctly. A sharp knife, . . . regardless of the kind, . . . is what you need.

May God bless,

Dwight

PS: If you really are dead set on perfect cuts, . . . on the line, . . . etc, . . . contact a band saw blade manufacturer through Google or something like that, . . . those that make custom blades will be able to make you one that has a razor edge on it, . . . you can put it on a regular wood or steel cutting band saw, . . . and you can cut leather as intricate as you want with a little practice, . . . and all your cuts will look great. If you do this, however, . . . you will want to be extremely careful with it, . . . it will take finger tips, knuckles, etc off so fast it is almost unbelievable.

Edited April 21, 2009 by Dwight

[Tkleather1]

I remember the days when I used a utility knife to cut leather, bought a round knife, learned to use it and keep it sharpe, never looked back, still have a utility knife, use it to open the boxes my leather and hardware come in..

I was looking at Utube videos the other day and some saddle maker was on this video and he was saying how a utility knife was the only way to cut leather, said some use a round knife but he did not like them. I think the only ones that do not like round knifes are the ones that are afraid to learn to use one and keep it sharpe, I think I have 5 or 6 now.

Randy

I too have seen that and had to laugh a little. I am by no means an expert at any of this but I personally think that a saddle builder who claims to be as good as that should at least know how to use the "proper" tools for the job. To me that is like a mechanic saying "well I know how to use that torque wrench but I prefer to use this pipe wrench and pair of pliers instead" Just doesnt seem real credible to me.

Use a round knife.

[Tkleather1]

Here is a another video that I liked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpWNJOCYA1A

I think this one says it all...

That puts it pretty clear to me.

[hidepounder]

Vector,

As you can see from the different posts, knife sharpening is the major issue here. Anything can be used to cut leather...if it's sharp! What you need to concentrate on is taking whatever type of knife you think you like to use and learn to sharpen it. What is sharp enough? A box cutter with a new blade is not sharp enough, a new knife with a factory edge is probably not sharp enough. There are many videos available on U-tube that are worth watching, and they all demonstrate different methods of sharping. It's a learning process that you must master in order to be able to continue enjoying your leather work.

I personally use a head knife and a small straight knife. I don't have any problems cutting curves or corners or wierd shapes in heavy leather with a head knife. A couple of suggestions....when cutting out of a side of leather, rough cut (cut it oversized) the initial piece out of the side. Take it to your bench, dip it in water, let it dry a bit, then cut it to shape on your bench. It is much easier to cut correctly from a small piece of leather than to try to cut your exact shape out a dry side.

I have to agree with Randy about using head knives and there is a good reason why most professionals use them. They are difficult to learn to sharpen, but if you get a good one and get the hang of it, you'll never go back.

Good luck,

Bob

[vector]

Thanks for all the replies people. Im probably being too harsh on myself in my leatherwork opening moves and getting down heartened. Ill check out some videos and and get busy sharpening some tools and try again.

Ill also have another go at sanding back the edges as this was my original intention. Maybe the dremel is just too fast and thus causing the burning of leather rather than sanding.

I also think that starting off making a sheath for a min multitool (70x20mm) was maybe making things a little hard on myself.

[MADMAX22]

Just a couple of comments: one being a question. What is the big deal on cutting the leather?

If you are doing a finished project, you will want to sand and finish the edges anyway, so why go into a big sweat on whether the "cut" is 90 degrees or 85 degrees, . . . or even on the line you will want to see as the finished project?

Secondly, . . . if you have a Stanley razor knife, . . . you can make an improvised strop for it with a 1 by 4 inch piece of scrap leather, . . . rub it with jeweler's rouge, . . . and keep your razor knife sharp with it. Most of the cuts I make would try the patience of anyone with a round knive as they are sharp curves, etc, . . . so my choice has been the razor knife that I keep "razor" sharp (which is about 3 times as sharp as a new blade right out of the box) with my improvised strop.

But, . . . regardless of what you use, . . . if it is dull, . . . it will not cut correctly. A sharp knife, . . . regardless of the kind, . . . is what you need.

May God bless,

Dwight

PS: If you really are dead set on perfect cuts, . . . on the line, . . . etc, . . . contact a band saw blade manufacturer through Google or something like that, . . . those that make custom blades will be able to make you one that has a razor edge on it, . . . you can put it on a regular wood or steel cutting band saw, . . . and you can cut leather as intricate as you want with a little practice, . . . and all your cuts will look great. If you do this, however, . . . you will want to be extremely careful with it, . . . it will take finger tips, knuckles, etc off so fast it is almost unbelievable.

Allthough I agree with some of what you say, I have not sanded any of my finished products. I dont currently have the facilities to do that. I make as best a 90degree cut as I can then bevel the edge and slick it. When I slick the edge I get it cased and this will form the leather into a nice rounded edge. With a round knife you can get pretty good shapes and such. On the really small corners or shapes for my projects I will use a straight blade that as you mentioned has been stropped to a very nice sharpness.

[badger]

I really don't understand all this bashing of anything that isn't a Round/Head knife.

I do 95% of my cutting with a utility knife. Randy, I have a Head knife and I'm neither ignorant of how to keep it sharp nor afraid of it or of using it.

This comes up again and again. We've had people boldly state that nothing else is the 'proper tool' and you cannot produce quality work unless you use one.

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

The proper tool is one that does the job you ask of it safely. Nothing more. I think a lot of the knife fascism comes from the Head/Round knife being seen as a kind of badge of office. I'm sure some feel they need to own and use one to feel like a 'proper' leatherworker.

I'm not saying that a Head/Round knife isn't an excellent way to cut leather, just that it isn't the only excellent way to cut leather.

Can we have a bit more 'live and let live' please?

Badger

[MADMAX22]

I really don't understand all this bashing of anything that isn't a Round/Head knife.

I do 95% of my cutting with a utility knife. Randy, I have a Head knife and I'm neither ignorant of how to keep it sharp nor afraid of it or of using it.

This comes up again and again. We've had people boldly state that nothing else is the 'proper tool' and you cannot produce quality work unless you use one.

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

The proper tool is one that does the job you ask of it safely. Nothing more. I think a lot of the knife fascism comes from the Head/Round knife being seen as a kind of badge of office. I'm sure some feel they need to own and use one to feel like a 'proper' leatherworker.

I'm not saying that a Head/Round knife isn't an excellent way to cut leather, just that it isn't the only excellent way to cut leather.

Can we have a bit more 'live and let live' please?

Badger

Honestly i thought this one was pretty civil as compared to some of the other threads on this subject. I dont think anyone was really bashing just kind of giving the opinions. I think it varies for different things and different preferences. For thin leathers utility knives are great, for thick leathers the sturdier round knife seems to suit me well but could be different for anyone else.

I think the biggest thing with this subject is its like any thread youll find anywhere on motoroil. You bring that subject up and the thread will turn into a 1000 post thread in a couple of days with no one correct answer.

Live and let live is a good idea though.