Cutting Woes

[Guy W]

what are you guys using to cut our your leather? i marked in the pattern on the leather with a scratch awl, which worked great. then i got to cutting it out... it was a pain in the a$$

I tried a utility knife with new razors and scissors. both worked but my edges on the front and back of the pancake holster were miles apart. i was able to clean them up ok with a dremel sander after i got it glued together but i wasn't pleased with the process.

should i try something else for cutting? my hands are sore, it took almost an hour, and because it took so much effort and the results were sub par i'm not sure what to do.

[dirtclod]

I use round and head knives for all my cutting. But they have to be sharp on you will be in the same boat.

Something to look into is a better quality of leather. Over the years i have got some leather that you needed a chainsaw to cut.

Edited September 9, 2011 by dirtclod

[Steven Kelley]

I tried utility knives, round knives, all types of scissors, and was in the same boat as you with hurting hands, until I found some serrated utility knife blades at Lowes. That's all I use now. They come in a container of 50 blades for about $15. I've been using them for about 4 months and I'm on the 4th blade. They stay sharp a long time, and I can cut through 8/9 oz leather with one pass pretty easily.

[Shooter McGavin]

I used an Xacto for the longest, then bought a round knife. Round knife is nice, but I spend as much time stropping as I do cutting. Last week I ordered a hammer die for my most popular model, and a leather specific backer board.

What kind of surface are you cutting on?

When you dremel sanded the edges, did you make sure that the leather was damp? That helps.

[Dwight]

I personally do not trust myself with a round knife, . . . have to count my fingers too often.

Therefore, . . . I use my Stanley drywall razor knife (I have about 5 of them) with cheapo blades I bought at Big Lots, . . . but long before they touch the leather, . . . they go to my strop, . . . and get stropped REAL good.

For me, . . . there is nothing that works as well, . . . as in the holsters I do, . . . there are always short radius cuts, . . . quick corners, . . . short straights, . . . all which are not condusive to round blades, whether they are the round knife or the rolling type quilters use.

One of these days, . . . I'm going to invest in a band saw, . . . there is a company in Florida that will make a band saw blade that is just one long sharp blade, . . . I plan to try that some day, . . . just don't have the band saw machine to do it with yet.

But please remember, . . . if you are trying to cut out the pattern, . . . put it together, . . . and have the edges looking good without some sanding or dressing, . . . you are chasing a rainbow, . . . that only happens once in a while, . . . on a very good day.

May God bless,

Dwight

[katsass]

what are you guys using to cut our your leather? i marked in the pattern on the leather with a scratch awl, which worked great. then i got to cutting it out... it was a pain in the a$

I tried a utility knife with new razors and scissors. both worked but my edges on the front and back of the pancake holster were miles apart. i was able to clean them up ok with a dremel sander after i got it glued together but i wasn't pleased with the process.

should i try something else for cutting? my hands are sore, it took almost an hour, and because it took so much effort and the results were sub par i'm not sure what to do.

OK Guy, again from the grumpy old guy: This is how I learned many years ago, I suspect that not many do it, but it works for me. I rough-cut the shape with a pair of leather shears. I then moisten the leather and transfer my pattern. I then use a swivel knife to carefully cut along the transferred pattern. It makes a nice shallow cut, right on the pattern line, and is easy to follow with my dedicated leather cutter.Then, out comes a 75 yr. old Murphy knife which is SHARP. If necessary, I re-moisten the leather, then follow the swivel knife cut and I'm done, ending with a smooth, clean cut. A pic of my old Murphy knife, You can use a good razor knife instead, also moisten the leather, it will help. Mike

Edited September 9, 2011 by katsass

[DuaneS]

I use round and head knives for all my cutting. But they have to be sharp on you will be in the same boat.

Something to look into is a better quality of leather. Over the years i have got some leather that you needed a chainsaw to cut.

and I'll agree and emphasize the term SHARP, whatever type of knife you choose to use - it must be SHARP!

I use razor/box cutter type, eXacto type, head knife, and one of those round/roller types that is used for cutting fabric - all depending on what kind of cut I am trying to do and/or how thick the leather is.

I also have several stainless steel straight edges or rulers which are Very Handy for cutting straight lines...

You might also try casing the leather before you do any cutting, you'd be amazed how much difference that will make!

Found this on casing leather

Edited September 9, 2011 by DuaneS

[PHIPPS CRAFTED LEATHER]

For my two cents and because I'm still learning I use my swiss army knife, an officers model. Great thin blades very strong, either the small or large blade and easy to sharpen. Have used it to cut 8/9 oz and heavy harness leather, it makes a great clean cut.

Edited September 9, 2011 by PHIPPS CRAFTED LEATHER

[dirtclod]

( One of these days, . . . I'm going to invest in a band saw, . . . there is a company in Florida that will make a band saw blade that is just one long sharp blade, . . . I plan to try that some day, . . . just don't have the band saw machine to do it with yet )

Dwight you may want to invest in one the chain gloves if you buy the band saw and knife blade to go with it. That would be real similar to the knife / saw thing they use to cut material in sewing factories and several of the cutters have missing fingers. Before they started using the chain gloves.

Any knife round, head or razor knife is going to cut your fingers if you put em in the way.

Edited September 10, 2011 by dirtclod

[JS22]

Here's what I use. http://www.xacto.com/Product/X3206

I use a #24 blade to cut patterns and the long slender #2 blade to trim my linings and also to cut my thread flush to the leather.

The exacto fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and I push it in a compact sawing motion to folow my pattern lines. You can cut perfectly on the lines and around very tough corners with a little practice.

Good Luck