Homemade Strap Cutter Tutorial

[Hawk Scarbrough]

I have toyed with buying a strap cutter to cut belts blanks for some time but have always baulked at the cost. I was thinking about making one from scratch but then I had one of those sparks of inspiration…

Take one mortise marking tool from the local market tool store

I removed the marking pin by knocking through and then used a claw hammer to remove it being careful not to mark the main 'bar' as this is what the leather will eventually ride on.

With a very fine blade (junior hacksaw) I cut a slot for the blade from the left hand side as I am right handed – this means that when cutting you will be pushing the blade into the body. I then drilled a pilot hole to take my locking screw (the smallest I had) of which once I had screwed it in once to cut a thread I removed an files the point off to give a flat end to bite into the blade better. The blade is one from my skiver / thong cutting tool but you could use a Stanley blade snapped in half.

With the blade in place the screw is tightened to hold it in place

And finally a shot of it in use… - you must be wary of the exposed blade but that is the same as a number of models in Stohlmans book

So there you have it! - a strap cutter on a budget!

Where do you go to by the mortise thing?

[TZBrown]

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/145465/ROSEWOOD-CUTTING-GAUGE.aspx?gclid=CjwKEAiApOq2BRDoo8SVjZHV7TkSJABLe2iDL6YuPIitCc3e5GnnZ4olqAPfSKCCcs1RQast48RGDxoCQf_w_wcB

others are available I am sure but that is a place to start

Edited March 6, 2016 by TZBrown

[Roq]

sounds like a good tutorial, but without the photos for context.....

Like ^^^^^^^^ he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^ pictures just don't show up............

May God bless,

Dwight

It is a 7 yr old post, shhh don't tell anyone.