How Do You Make Perfectly Round Corners?

[joobacca]

Hey folks,

I just recently dipped my feet into leather working! So far I've been making very basic card holders and it's been a blast.

As for my question, I was wondering how you get perfectly round corners when cutting leather. So far, I've been using a small bottle to trace and then cutting. It works pretty well, but each corner is not always the same. Is there a better way?

Thank you!

Jason

(Just to be clear, I am not talking about edging!)

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

One way is to buy, or make a corner 1/4 round punch to cut the entire corner in one shot.

[joobacca]

One way is to buy, or make a corner 1/4 round punch to cut the entire corner in one shot.

Ahhh that makes sense! I guess they make these corner punches in different sizes? I'll check out a local Tandy Leather. Hopefully they'll have a few different kinds!

Thanks!

Jason

[joobacca]

Hmm, looks like the internet is only showing cornering machines and not punches. Tandy Leather has some strap end punches, but it seems like they won't make a perfectly round corner shape.

Jason

[dirtclod]

You can buy a round punch and grind it off till you get the size you want. Or you might take a piece of pipe and grind to the size you and then sharpen it up. The pipe would take longer but it should be alot cheaper. I think that's what biggundoctor was talking about.

[AndyL1]

I use some steel fender washers and trace with my X-Acto blade very carefully to make a curved corner. A little touch up with some sandpaper and they're perfect.

Andy

[Leatherimages]

I think Bob Beard of ProSeries Tools makes them in sizes.

I'm not so sure about shaping a round punch.

A corner cutter would need to straighten out at the edges of the corner.

I've used my swivel knife for this kind of thing before.

Just follow up your cut with you clicker knife and clean it up with a rasp or sand paper.

[Luke Hatley]

I use Metal Washers also .and..........cut very carefully...this works for me..

Edited August 1, 2010 by Luke Hatley

[8thsinner]

Is everyone answering here so young they forget the primary concept when cutting.

Practice

Practice

Practice

Practice

Practice

Practice

It helps to have an extemly sharp blade and to know that blade very well too though.

Of course sanding machines can make up for a lot of our mistakes.

[Kevin]

I don't know how well I can describe this, but, I draw the corner, then use my round knife and rock it forward a little, move the leather into it rock forward again and keep going around until done, like you're just taking off a little chip at a time. It amazes me how a bunch of small straight cuts makes a smooth corner. Leather is soft, so when you stick the knife in and try to just cut around the corner you stretch it out of shape, even if it's 10 oz. firm leather. If you cut a little at a time, you're pushing down and not out. Like the difference between using a rolling blade and a drywall knife on chap leather. Maybe that's almost clear.

Kevin