Leather Skiving Machine "nick-O-Sew 801-St"

[philippe]

I have a Nick-o-sew 801-st skiving machine with top and bottom feed, I have read the instruction book and it is about as helpful as ____________ fill in the blank. I watched the shoe school video on you tube but that doesn't help a whole lot either other than just a main coverage on skiving machines. The machine I have is pretty much identical to the other skiving machines with top and bottom feed. But what I can't seem to figure out is adjusting the depth of cut. I know what all the knobs do but which one actually increases and decreases the depth of cut, i.e. the feed wheel knob (angle or height) , the presser foot adjuster, or perhaps the knife adjustment(the one that moves it in and out or rather closer to the feed wheel or farther away). I was very happy to get the machine now I am very frustrated on how to use it. I will be posting a video on a comprehensive use of the machine once I have it down to show others. So any help is greatly appreciated, if anyone has a number I can call for someone to talk to let me know. I would call one of the main dealers but I didn't buy the machine from them and don't want to disrespect anyone. Nick at nick-o-sew doesn't have alot of experience with the machine so he can't help me with my questions. Thanks in advance.

[bruce johnson]

If I am understanding your question right, you need to control how far into the leather to make the cut? There should be an adjustable edge guide to set that. The height adjustment on the presser foot is a knob at the top. That will control the width of the cut somewhat and allow for different thicknesses of leather. There are a lot of adjustments on these, and once you figure them all out it is fairly easy to change things.

[CowboyBob]

Turn the knob on the top down for more.

Bob

[philippe]

Sorry I should have been more clear, I am trying to adjust the actual thickness of the leather, say skiving 4 oz down to 1 oz. I do understand the edge guide although that gives a little trouble sometimes also, finding the initial reference point. And I do get that this isn't rocket science once I figure it out but its getting the point of figuring out that I am sure we all struggle once in a while with. But I really appreciate the quick replies and I am hoping for a few more if you all continue to be patient with me. Thanks again.

[CowboyBob]

To get good at running one you need to get some scrap & play with it @ turn the knob on top & the ones behind the foot (they change the angles)

But there is no set adjustment like turn the knob x# of times to take 4oz to 1 oz as different leather will cut alittle different.

I'm sure after you run it a while you'll know what to do alot easier.

Bob

[philippe]

Thanks for the advice trial and error usually the fix for most things, I will be messing with alot more just got a little frustrated. But thanks.

[Art]

As everyone has said, the knob on the top is the place to start:

If you need to go further, the knob pointed to by the leather strip in the picture below can be used to raise or lower the feed roller which will lessen or increase the cut.

The big black hook will increase or decrease the tension on the spring resistance to the roller being depressed when cranking down on the knob on top of the machine in the first picture.

Please do as little adjusting as necessary. Do not go further than the top knob until you understand just what effect it has. For adjusting a 3oz skive, little should have to be done if the machine was set up correctly in the first place.

Is there a reason you bought from a dealer who doesn't know a lot about the machine? Was it set up or prepped in any way?

The best way to start is to run a piece of leather through the machine and see what it produces, then make adjustments till it does what you want. With a properly set up machine, you put the machine on the table, screw it down, put the belt on, and skive something, make a few adjustments and you are cooking. The machine you purchased is more difficult than the bottom feed ones, because there is only one top roller with one profile. The bottom feed only ones have feet with different configurations. The one you have however will do veg tan all day and night, not always so with the bottom feeders.

If you need more help, take a couple of pictures so we can try to help.

Art

I have a Nick-o-sew 801-st skiving machine with top and bottom feed, I have read the instruction book and it is about as helpful as ____________ fill in the blank. I watched the shoe school video on you tube but that doesn't help a whole lot either other than just a main coverage on skiving machines. The machine I have is pretty much identical to the other skiving machines with top and bottom feed. But what I can't seem to figure out is adjusting the depth of cut. I know what all the knobs do but which one actually increases and decreases the depth of cut, i.e. the feed wheel knob (angle or height) , the presser foot adjuster, or perhaps the knife adjustment(the one that moves it in and out or rather closer to the feed wheel or farther away). I was very happy to get the machine now I am very frustrated on how to use it. I will be posting a video on a comprehensive use of the machine once I have it down to show others. So any help is greatly appreciated, if anyone has a number I can call for someone to talk to let me know. I would call one of the main dealers but I didn't buy the machine from them and don't want to disrespect anyone. Nick at nick-o-sew doesn't have alot of experience with the machine so he can't help me with my questions. Thanks in advance.

[Wizcrafts]

Here is another adjustment that really matters.

The distance of the blade to the presser foot matters a lot. When skiving thin leather the blade must be much closer to the foot than when skiving veg-tan or sole leather.

If the blade is moved too close to the foot, the leather may get forced under the blade, or completely cut off. If it is too far away, there will be a lump of full thickness before the skiving begins.

So, for 4 ounce chap or shoe upper leather, keep the blade within about 1/16" of the business end of the foot.

When skiving thick, dense leathers, move it way accordingly, to avoid bogging down the feed, or motor. You need as much a 1/4" distance to skive soles properly.

The foot can be angled to cause a lap skive to occur. Here's how...

Set the foot's angle screw upwards, so that the rear portion of the foot is level with the top of the blade, but the front is raised the thickness of the leather being skived. Set the depth guide backwards to the place where the foot is about level with the blade. Run a test strip. Adjust the foot height up or down to control the feathering and the depth guide for the length of the lap skive. Using this method you can create a perfect lap skive to blend two layers together, or to install new soles onto shoes.

Finally, learn to use the grinding stone and polishing wheel to keep the blade razor sharp, without any nicks on the top or bottom. A badly sharpened blade causes bad cuts.

[philippe]

Thanks Art. I got the machine from him because it was 1450.00 versus the others at about 2000. I did intend to do alot of thinner chrome tan and soft leathers maybe I should have got the bottom feed only. It was delivered fully set up and assembled with a sample. But call it what you may I have turned lots of knobs pretty much as soon as I got it. I am getting slightly better results but maybe I need some different attachments to do the type of leathers I want to skive. As for veg-tan I will be skiving that alot, but at the moment I have projects this would be perfect for If I could use it properly, any idea where to get different attachments for this if there are any? Thanks

As everyone has said, the knob on the top is the place to start:

If you need to go further, the knob pointed to by the leather strip in the picture below can be used to raise or lower the feed roller which will lessen or increase the cut.

The big black hook will increase or decrease the tension on the spring resistance to the roller being depressed when cranking down on the knob on top of the machine in the first picture.

Please do as little adjusting as necessary. Do not go further than the top knob until you understand just what effect it has. For adjusting a 3oz skive, little should have to be done if the machine was set up correctly in the first place.

Is there a reason you bought from a dealer who doesn't know a lot about the machine? Was it set up or prepped in any way?

The best way to start is to run a piece of leather through the machine and see what it produces, then make adjustments till it does what you want. With a properly set up machine, you put the machine on the table, screw it down, put the belt on, and skive something, make a few adjustments and you are cooking. The machine you purchased is more difficult than the bottom feed ones, because there is only one top roller with one profile. The bottom feed only ones have feet with different configurations. The one you have however will do veg tan all day and night, not always so with the bottom feeders.

If you need more help, take a couple of pictures so we can try to help.

Art

[Art]

Wiz,

It doesn't have a foot.

The top and bottom feed machines are production machines that pretty much do one thing, hence the top roller is the foot. The only accessory I have seen is different rollers, and you cut them on a lathe as needed, the machine then uses that one forevermore. I've never used any but the roller that comes with it. I have seen a clutch that allows the blade to run constantly and the feed intermittently. I do remember seeing guards before, but they seem to get lost, even in factories.

Art

Here is another adjustment that really matters.

The distance of the blade to the presser foot matters a lot. When skiving thin leather the blade must be much closer to the foot than when skiving veg-tan or sole leather.

If the blade is moved too close to the foot, the leather may get forced under the blade, or completely cut off. If it is too far away, there will be a lump of full thickness before the skiving begins.

So, for 4 ounce chap or shoe upper leather, keep the blade within about 1/16" of the business end of the foot.

When skiving thick, dense leathers, move it way accordingly, to avoid bogging down the feed, or motor. You need as much a 1/4" distance to skive soles properly.

The foot can be angled to cause a lap skive to occur. Here's how...

Set the foot's angle screw upwards, so that the rear portion of the foot is level with the top of the blade, but the front is raised the thickness of the leather being skived. Set the depth guide backwards to the place where the foot is about level with the blade. Run a test strip. Adjust the foot height up or down to control the feathering and the depth guide for the length of the lap skive. Using this method you can create a perfect lap skive to blend two layers together, or to install new soles onto shoes.

Finally, learn to use the grinding stone and polishing wheel to keep the blade razor sharp, without any nicks on the top or bottom. A badly sharpened blade causes bad cuts.