How do you cut?

[Justis Cases]

[soapbox]

I'd use one too, but I don't want to pay to replace the blades all the time. I think in the long run, it's more cost effective

to use a head knife and buy a good quality oil stone. [/soapbox]

If your careful and use the proper matting, the blades will last a long time. If your not careful and use the improper matting, you will occasionly nick the blades just like you will with any knife. The sharpner does a great job if you elect to take the time to do it. Replace blades run about $3.50 each in a pack of 5. If you try it, you just might retire you head knife.[/size

[Bree]

I usually use an Osborne head knife. But recently I bought a Gemsy electric rotary cutter. This is an inexpensive rotary but it was a good way to test the water using these powerful fabric tools. I can tell you that this thing cuts through thick leather like a hot knife through butter. It also leaves a good clean edge.

I have some complaints about the construction/design of the unit but there is no doubt in my mind that I will certainly be using it to rough down large pieces and once I get well practiced, I will probably be using it to make my finish cuts.

[Rolf]

90% round knife - 10% (tight curves, light leather) several other knifes ;-). In Al Stohlman's Letahercraft Tools Book you will find the needed guidance how to use this knife (incl. sharpening tips). Best regards

Rolf

[8thsinner]

When I worked in making leather stuff for a company I used an olfa fabric cutter.

It's basically a pizza cutter with a better edge and perfect for cutting upto very thick leathers with shallow curves down to thinner pig skins and such with very tight curves.

I still use this type of blade now, 8 years on, the blades are cheap enough if the blade is well looked after, the first ding on metal however kills the use of them for anything important.

I also use a victorinox card knife, it's small but uses very good steel which is easy to sharpen and a delight to use, If it's appropriate I lightly hammer it in to a post or similar and just push thicker leather through damp, or pull thinner stuff through much like you would use a sewing machine. I have made axe sheaths down to mp3 player cases with this kit. That we swiss card is handy, the pen for marking out disks for lace cutting, and the scissors handle surprisingly thick leather.

I also use a leatherman regular pocket folding knife on occassion or a larger sheath knife.

I do like using the old fashioned leather knife that looks like an ulu, but don't have one now.

[oldskool]

So, do you think the rotary tool is better than the utility knife with thick razor blade? When cutting with a metal straight edge, do you strongly suggest using a headknife? What are the benefits that would be seen in going with this type of knife over a rotary tool or utility knife?

[Art]

Welcome to Leatherworker.net

When using a straight edge to guide the knife, I use a utility knife, but generally I make a line and then cut the line with a head knife. For Tight inside curves a clicker knife works very well and a punch of the correct radius works even better. The rotary tools are of for straights and big radius outside curves, but you usually have so much blade in the cut that it is hard to turn. A well sharpened and buffed or stropped utility knife can be a thing of beauty also.

Art

So, do you think the rotary tool is better than the utility knife with thick razor blade? When cutting with a metal straight edge, do you strongly suggest using a headknife? What are the benefits that would be seen in going with this type of knife over a rotary tool or utility knife?

[Prince]

It almost boggles my mind how shears/scissors aren't in the lead with like 70% of the votes but then again, my stuff is probably a lot different than the typical leather productions. Here are 2 pics of a current project in progress and you can see that there can be thousands of tight curves and complex cuts in a particular project. and each new suit requires dozens of brand new patterns.

First I draw a bunch of stuff out onto the leather, and then use one of those pocket folder style razor blades to cut out 'clumps' of the drawn out parts since it's easier to control and cut smaller pieces, and then I cut and trim everything finally with the shears. I've never even used a head knife but can't imagine it'd be useful for anything other than what my handy razor knife thing does. Same for the roller knife, can't see it being useful for my stuff.

Anyone have any contrasting thoughts? Maybe something else would actually be better for my kind of work?

[hivemind]

Azmal, I do a lot of the same types of stuff you do. I own a nice Osborne head knife, but I've never used it. All my cutting is done with either a utility knife, a strap cutter, or (90%) shears.

[oldskool]

Welcome to Leatherworker.net

When using a straight edge to guide the knife, I use a utility knife, but generally I make a line and then cut the line with a head knife. For Tight inside curves a clicker knife works very well and a punch of the correct radius works even better. The rotary tools are of for straights and big radius outside curves, but you usually have so much blade in the cut that it is hard to turn. A well sharpened and buffed or stropped utility knife can be a thing of beauty also.

Art

I see. I basically only do straight cuts, but still I want to try marking the leather and cutting with a head knife. I would be worried that I wouldn't maintain a perfectly straight edge without the guide.

[8thsinner]

Even with a tiny bit of practice you can get the hang of cutting a straight edge.

After several years of not doing leather work I can, and did, the other day get a nearly perfect straight edge using a camp knife on 2mm leather pulling towards me.

You really just have to have a steady hand and recognise when your going off a bit, just don't practice on good stuff.