cutting ends

[dscott]

just starting out and want to make some bracelets. how do you all get the nice rounded end on the are they cut by hand or with a press i cant seem to get a smooth cut.

Thanks for your help

David

[ericluther]

I personally use something round to mark the underside like a roll of tape etc. then cut it out very slowly and carefully with a head knife.

Hope this helps!

Eric

[UKRay]

You might want to look out for a round end punch (check out the Weaver's catalog). This will make a nice neat job of cutting the ends off for you - the downside is that they are quite expensive!

[dscott]

Thank you both

I am just starting out so have not gotten very many tools yet

again thank you

David

[Luke Hatley]

just starting out and want to make some bracelets. how do you all get the nice rounded end on the are they cut by hand or with a press i cant seem to get a smooth cut.

Thanks for your help

David

David ,when i first started doing leather work,i ,like you wanted the Smothe rounded

ends on belts & wrist bands.

the strap ends punches were expensive and they still are.

go to the Hardware Store and Buy yourself one each of all size of flat Washers.

then you have a Template of what you will need to cut the strap ends.

then use an Exacto Knife or a Round Knife to cut with.

[UKRay]

David, I made my first round end strap cutter (about thirty years ago) out of a piece of steel water pipe. I just cut through the pipe (lengthways) with a hacksaw and then put a fairly easy taper on the cutting end with a file (a grinder would be easier on your arms but make sure you don't get the steel too hot). The knife making guys may be able to tell you how to temper the edge but mine was used just as it was cut out.

It worked fine for a while as long as I used it onto a lead block. Eventually I bought myself an end cutter but that old bit of pipe is still under the bench somewhere because I couldn't bear to throw away something that had taken me that long and that much sweat to make!

Ray