What Do You Cut Leather With?

[raysouth]

Normally, a razor knife or better known as utility knife. Also use some exacto specialty blades when I need to get into finer areas of what I am doing. Not been able to master the round knife so gave it up and comfortable with the blades I now use. Have very large to small serrated scissors and use them to cut roughouts or pieces from sides as needed.

I suppose I would use anything that is sharp and does the job and easy to hold in my tired hands. lol.

Try them all and you will find something comfortable that does what you need.

God Bless.

Ray

[zuludog]

I have posted something similar to this a few months ago, but to prevent you (and me!) searching for it, here it is again.

By coincidence, soon after I became interested in leatherwork I met a retired, traditional cobbler in a pub. Here is a summary of a few pints worth of conversation

Round or head knives are traditional, but unless you're a professional or a keen amateur they are tricky to use and need constant practice. Most beginners and amateurs would be OK with a craft knife (alright, he said 'Stanley knife'). You will need two of them.

Choose the best and most comfortable, and pick through your collection of blades for 2 or 3 that fit well without any wobbling.

The blades are meant to be disposable, but they seem to get better when they have been sharpened a few times - and keep them sharp.

Use this knife & blades for cutting leather only

Use the second knife for opening parcels, cutting string, sharpening pencils and so on. Its purpose is to ensure that the first knife is used exclusively for cutting leather.

He also said that 'them new green boards' (ie cutting mats) were as good as anything he'd used

[Tramps Leatherworking]

Ok. thanks for fast reply. I saw another user mentioned that he was able to cut that thick with rotary cutter. Maybe a coupe of passes? Oh well. Thanks again

I have a Fiskars 60mm rotary knife and it will cut leather 10 to 14 oz with multiple passes...

The majority of my cutting is done with an Osborne head knife.