Cutting Small Curved Shapes

[thevisualworld]

Hi,

I am new to leather work and new to this forum, so please bear with me if my question is hopelessly amateur!

I am looking to cut multiples of one shape and I was wondering what the best tool to purchase would be for this. The shape is part straight lines and part curved and would be about three inches tall (below is a rough sketch). I also don't want to buy a bunch of tools when one would suffice. Would leather scissors be sufficient for this task or would they compromise uniformity (even if I'm using a template)? Should I just dampen the leather and use a utility knife?

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie out!

Susan

[Hilly]

Hi,

I am new to leather work and new to this forum, so please bear with me if my question is hopelessly amateur!

I am looking to cut multiples of one shape and I was wondering what the best tool to purchase would be for this. The shape is part straight lines and part curved and would be about three inches tall (below is a rough sketch). I also don't want to buy a bunch of tools when one would suffice. Would leather scissors be sufficient for this task or would they compromise uniformity (even if I'm using a template)? Should I just dampen the leather and use a utility knife?

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie out!

Susan

I don't think I'd dampen the leather; it might stretch during cutting. You can use a utility knife to cut any leather as long as the blade is very sharp. It may take multiple passes...

If you are using light weight leather, such as calf or even 4-5 oz., you could probably use a good scissors.

What are you making using these shapes?

[Luke Hatley]

I WOULD UES AN EXACTO KNIFE..

[thevisualworld]

I don't think I'd dampen the leather; it might stretch during cutting. You can use a utility knife to cut any leather as long as the blade is very sharp. It may take multiple passes...

If you are using light weight leather, such as calf or even 4-5 oz., you could probably use a good scissors.

What are you making using these shapes?

I currently make jewelry and want to incorporate more leather into my pieces. So these would become parts of pendants. Thank you for your advice. I'm going to try with my utility knife this weekend (not dampening the leather) and then perhaps an exacto knife.

[Dwight]

Susan, you did not say how many "multiples" you wanted, and if the number is very many, . . . especially if it is a recurring shape, . . . you may want to investigate a company you can find at www.weaverleather.com .

Go to the "supply" link, then "demo videos", and click on "hand operated clicker". This is the "premier" way to get pieces cut in a shape that will be virtually identical in every respect, one to another.

I don't have a cost, . . . but you can contact them, . . . and if you don't want to invest in the clicker, they can make the die for you and cut out your shapes for you, . . . sending you the cut pieces ready for your use.

May God bless,

Dwight

[TomSwede]

I USE an exacto style knife with a comfy handle, there are many styles of blade suiting different needs. I like the way you can flex the blad wich helps keeping it straight when cutting curves and bends out of thicker leathers.

Remember, don't keep your fingers anywhere near the cutting line....theese blades are dang sharp!!!

Tom

[amuckart]

Hi Susan,

As has been said, if you want lots of identical ones of these, a clicker die is the way to go. You could also get a small die made so you could strike it with a hammer.

If you only want a few though, and you're not cutting them out of very very heavy leather (say, 3mm or less) what I would do if possible is reduce the shape to straight lines and circular radii so you can cut it out with a knife for the straight lines and use drive punches for the inside curves. For the outside curves you can either modify an old punch or cut the curve with a knife.

If I didn't explain that coherently (it's a bit late where I am) I'll draw a picture of what I mean.

Cheers.