Edge Beveler Not Giving The Desired Edge

[SimonJester753]

I'm working on dog collars made from 8-10 oz latigo.

I use a #4 edge beveler.

See this illustration to get an idea of what's happening when I use the beveler:

As far as I know I'm using the biggest beveler, yet it seems too small.

[D.A. Kabatoff]

If you are getting the type of edge in your profile, you may be using the wrong kind of edger (actually, I have never seen an edger capable of making that type of concave edge). On 8-10oz latigo I use either a #3 or #4 Bob Douglas common edger and get the rounded profile you are looking for. Perhaps you could post a photo of the edge of your tool so we can see why you are getting the undersired result.

Darcy

[Tina]

I think I know what you're after...Keen Edge Beveler (with the reservation for spelling here *S*)

Comes in size 2, 3 & 4, I did found them here:

http://www.sbearstradingpost.com/leather_tools.html

[Dwight]

Simon, . . . I had an older #4 edger that was so dull it would just simply not cut.

I bought a new one.

Then I got the idea that I could probably sharpen it if I tried, . . . and I am thoroughly pleased with the outcome.

I took a 3/16 inch dowel, . . . about 18 inches long, . . . cut the heads off some paneling nails, . . . drilled holes in the dowel for the nails, . . . and nailed the dowel to a board that had a small groove (to keep the dowel straight), . . . and then countersunk the nails so they didn't stick out.

I then covered the dowel in valve grinding compound, . . . medium grit, . . . and began stroking my edger BACKWARDS along the dowel for about 75 strokes, . . . beign careful to gently rock the tool in about a 30 degree arc, counterclockwise as I pulled it toward me with my right hand.

Afterwards, . . . I put a piece of 8 oz leather that had been edged with my sharp #4 edger on both sides, . . . into another grooved board, . . . leaving it stick up about 1/8 inch and loaded it up with jeweler's rouge, . . . and about 25 strokes later, . . . I have one SHARP edger that actually does a ROUND edging that is really nice for the CCW belts I make in my shop.

May God bless,

Dwight

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

All good information, especially from Darc. you might also want to try a Bisonette edger, they also come in different sizes. I use a #4 to edge the leathers of a horn when I am finishing off an installation. It gives you the result you are looking for, a nice rounded edge. Of course, you still need to do some burnishing to get that professional finish.

Bondo Bob

[SimonJester753]

If you are getting the type of edge in your profile, you may be using the wrong kind of edger (actually, I have never seen an edger capable of making that type of concave edge). On 8-10oz latigo I use either a #3 or #4 Bob Douglas common edger and get the rounded profile you are looking for. Perhaps you could post a photo of the edge of your tool so we can see why you are getting the undersired result.

Darcy

OK, here's a picture of the edge and of the edger. I got the edger from Tandy. I think it's a Craftool brand #4.

By the way, my dog has been wearing the collar and been swimming in it a bit.

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Simon,

I can't say for sure from the photos but from what I see it appears the edger may be too narrow for the thickness of leather and you may be trying to compensate and take off more edge than it's capable of. Are your pressing down quite firmly on the tool as you push it along? If you are, it may be pressing a crease into the top of the leather and still only taking a small amount of leather off the edge. If the tool is sharp, you need very little down-ward pressure on the tool as you push it along... the tool should only be removing material and not be leaving any kind of mark on the top of the leather. If you think what I've described may be happening, make sure the tool is very sharp and then try it on a piece of 4-5 oz leather and see what the edge looks like.

The only other thing I can think of is the cutting edge looks fairly flat like a french edger instead of curved like a common western edger or a bissonette edger.

Darcy

[dirtclod]

A # 4 beveler is pretty wide. Try a #2 #3 and see what happens. I think your taking to much off.

[Tina]

The Keen Edge Beveler IS concave, I have one and this is my favourite edger by far when it comes to style. Mine is an old from Tandy but I know Osborne still have them.

[roo4u]

for 8/10 oz leather i recommend a #2 edger. for dog collars i use a common edger i use the kind with the bent up ends cuz i got tired of the pointy ends jamming into my fingers. a sharp edger is a must for a good clean edge.

each size edger is for a different oz leather, it looks to me you are just using too big an edger.