Nighthawk Report post Posted September 6, 2010 This may seem like a silly question... but how the heck do I cut a clean circle?!?! Tried guides, freehand... Is there some kind of tool that I can use, like a compass that holds a blade? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted September 6, 2010 How big? Generally, take a pipe, sharpen the end on a grinder, wet the leather, pound on the pipe till you have a hole. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aggiebraider Report post Posted September 6, 2010 When I cut circles of kangaroo that are for lace (generally 2-3 ft in diameter) I use a large set of wing dividers. They are cheap ones from Harbor Freight but are pretty sharp so they scribe a nice line. Since the kangaroo is fairly thin, I then use a set of Gingher scissors to cut the circle out (carefully). Im thinking about getting a gasket cutter and trying them out on kangaroo. Hopefully it will speed things up because the scissor approach takes a good piece of time. I think the determining factor is what you are trying to cut and how large a circle it is. Hope this helps, CW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roo4u Report post Posted September 6, 2010 how big and for what purpose? when i cut roo for lace i cut the hide into one big circle. i use a big wing divider and scissors...not that careful cuz the outer lace isnt good anyway. if the circle has to be really good clean i might try a circle guide that they use for routing you could put a blade tip thru the hole and cut that way Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) Hi When I started doing leather work I started out making coasters and (Before I got my clicker die press) I used a really neat gizmo that cut leather in perfect circles... much better than I could ever do by hand. I got it at misterart.com LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter Hope this helps Edited September 6, 2010 by LNLeather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted September 6, 2010 If you can have a hole in the middle of your circle, just drive a nail through the middle into your bench, and put a knife through your outside diameter and " spin 'er 'round",. Of course, the nail has to be straight, your knife has to be straight and you have to keep the leather flat. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk Report post Posted September 6, 2010 Thanks for the ideas! The circle I need, I found out last night, is exactly the same diameter as a spindle of Tejas lace! I'm using it for the bottom of a leather mug that I'm making as a Christmas gift for a friend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seveneves Report post Posted September 11, 2010 If you can have a hole in the middle of your circle, just drive a nail through the middle into your bench, and put a knife through your outside diameter and " spin 'er 'round",. Of course, the nail has to be straight, your knife has to be straight and you have to keep the leather flat. Kevin I tried this yesterday and it worked awesome. It's such a simple solution. And it just saved me a whole lot of money that I was going to spend on round punches. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
funnygirl62221 Report post Posted September 11, 2010 Hi When I started doing leather work I started out making coasters and (Before I got my clicker die press) I used a really neat gizmo that cut leather in perfect circles... much better than I could ever do by hand. I got it at misterart.com LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter Hope this helps Thanks Cheryl. I really like that website. They have a lot of neat gadgets I haven't seen before! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted September 12, 2010 Thanks Cheryl. I really like that website. They have a lot of neat gadgets I haven't seen before! You are welcome! Yeah, I agree about the things I haven't seen before. I was also looking at their Leather Crafting items, in the Crafting section, mister art leather craft and there might even be some "Tandy" items that cost less there, that is if you are not a member of Tandy... I looked at your gallery and you're very talented. I am so new to this, I am just happy to be able to share a little of what I have learned. I just love this place (leatherworker.net) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mugwump Report post Posted September 13, 2010 how about a string and a thumb tack to mark out the circle, and then cut it with you shears? that way you can make any diameter you want, and are not limited to the tool/wing divider size? just a thought.... eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernCross Report post Posted September 15, 2010 How big? Generally, take a pipe, sharpen the end on a grinder, wet the leather, pound on the pipe till you have a hole. Aaron Oh, heck - now why haven't I thought of that before! So simple and inexpensive it ought to be illegal.... I'll be keeping my eyes open for some "coaster-sized" pipe. Thanks, Aaron. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) FYI - While searching for something else I came upon this old thread for ----> Circle Cutting that also has different ideas for cutting circles... In this very old thread started back in 11/08, is a link to some other Circle Cutters that may also be of help. lion-office.com There are a dozen or so different designs including the one I used to use... LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter - which was an inexpensive solution to my less than perfect hand cut circles. There are a lot of really good ideas and also a couple of other links in that old post for other cutters... Latest Gadget and Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter - # CMP-3 Hope this helps Edited October 16, 2010 by LNLeather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PensacolaJim Report post Posted October 16, 2010 Thanks Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted October 17, 2010 (edited) This may seem like a silly question... but how the heck do I cut a clean circle?!?! Tried guides, freehand... Is there some kind of tool that I can use, like a compass that holds a blade? Draw your circle with a compass and then use a round knife to cut the circle. Cut a series of straight or slightly curved arcs until you get all the way around. Don't try to make a freehand cut on a circle unless you really know how to sharpen your round knife and and have some knife skills. Cutting a series of straight slivers is a very easy way to cut a circle. Hope this helps....... Bobby Edited October 17, 2010 by hidepounder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWL Report post Posted April 12, 2012 When I cut circles of kangaroo that are for lace (generally 2-3 ft in diameter) I use a large set of wing dividers. They are cheap ones from Harbor Freight but are pretty sharp so they scribe a nice line. Since the kangaroo is fairly thin, I then use a set of Gingher scissors to cut the circle out (carefully). Im thinking about getting a gasket cutter and trying them out on kangaroo. Hopefully it will speed things up because the scissor approach takes a good piece of time. I think the determining factor is what you are trying to cut and how large a circle it is. Hope this helps, CW I know this is an old post but, I was lurking and found this. The gasket cutters is a great idea and I bought a set.................. up to 2". when I received them I found they were sharp enough to cut gasket material (paper) but not sharp enough to cut clean through leather. Anybody know how are who sharpens these. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zaynexpetty Report post Posted October 30, 2014 Hi When I started doing leather work I started out making coasters and (Before I got my clicker die press) I used a really neat gizmo that cut leather in perfect circles... much better than I could ever do by hand. I got it at misterart.com lion Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter.jpg LION Ev-R-Round Perfiect Circle cutter Hope this helps Does this cutter cut a circle without making a center hole? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted October 30, 2014 Yes, there are actually 2 ways to do it with this tool. One is with a hole and one without... It's been a while since I used mine but there is a piece that goes on to hold the cutter in place and it is like a small round plate instead of the one with the pin. What I did was glue a thin piece of leather to to the metal plate so there was no indentation the size of the plate either. Hope this helps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zaynexpetty Report post Posted October 31, 2014 Yes, there are actually 2 ways to do it with this tool. One is with a hole and one without... It's been a while since I used mine but there is a piece that goes on to hold the cutter in place and it is like a small round plate instead of the one with the pin. What I did was glue a thin piece of leather to to the metal plate so there was no indentation the size of the plate either. Hope this helps Ohhh, okay. I think I will try that out. On that website, they offer an "extender arm" or something for that circle cutter. Would I need that for cutting a 4 1/2 inch diameter circle? Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted October 31, 2014 Nope - You will not need the extender arm for that. The LION EV-R-Round Circle Cutter will cut circles from 3/4 in. up to 6 3/4 in. btw - looks like Mr Art has the best price for that cutter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
