Using A Band Saw To Cut Leather

[whiteeugene]

Anyone ever used a band saw to cut 8\9 oz leather; my hands have been hurting so I gave this a try. I cut some leather small enough to fit in a Ziploc bag, cased the leather then put it in the Ziploc bag and then into the freezer for an hour until it was stiff. I put a scroll blade on my band saw and cut my patterns out. With the leather stiff the scroll blade easily cut through the leather, I was able to make sharp turns with little effort.

My question is does freezing the leather hurt it ?

Please comment.

Doug

[Tree Reaper]

You don't have to freeze it, use a scrap piece of wood under it.

[equiss]

I do it all the time, I don't wet it, don't freeze it - just go to the saw like it is....I am sure the older leather crafters wouldn't like the idea, but my wrists are not strong enough to use a blade well without cutting myself, so this is the method I use a lot...

[Tree Reaper]

You should have zero clearance where the blade runs through the table otherwise the leather can get pulled down inside the table causing the blade to break or the leather damaged or both.

[Art]

Yes, I use the band saw, usually on sole leather and anything that got short changed in the tanning vat. Usually not for anything 6oz and down.

Art

[Dwight]

I have not done it yet, . . . but I did talk to a company rep from down in Florida a couple of years back.

They make custom band saw blades.

I asked him if they could make me one without any teeth, . . . sort of like one endless razor blade.

He laughed and said no problem, . . . something less than $30 for a 62 1/2 inch blade.

Again, . . . I didn't do it yet, . . . but if my arthritis gets much worse, . . . the knives are going into the drawer, . . .

I'll be getting a band saw knife to do my work.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Ferg]

Dwight,

That isn't a special order blade. We used to buy bulk blade, I have a blade welder.

Remember the width of the blade determines how short the radius you can cut.

Check this: http://www.doallsawing.com/products_detail.aspx?idcategory=saw%20blades&idsubcategory=knife%20edge&idproduct=DOALL030

ferg

1344288434[/url]' post='259528']

I have not done it yet, . . . but I did talk to a company rep from down in Florida a couple of years back.

They make custom band saw blades.

I asked him if they could make me one without any teeth, . . . sort of like one endless razor blade.

He laughed and said no problem, . . . something less than $30 for a 62 1/2 inch blade.

Again, . . . I didn't do it yet, . . . but if my arthritis gets much worse, . . . the knives are going into the drawer, . . .

I'll be getting a band saw knife to do my work.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited August 6, 2012 by 50 years leather

[whiteeugene]

You don't have to freeze it, use a scrap piece of wood under it.

It seems that the blade does not bite the leather as much when its frozen kinda like cutting jerky from steaks its easier to control when it's stiff. When i cut spur straps with it I wet the leather and put the flesh sides against each other put it in the freezer with a block on them when I take them out they are frozen together I cut the right and left strap at the same time.

[KAYAK45]

PS Not all bad for cutting round steak into thin slices for china steaks. Not a bad use for a skiver.either ehye? Just clean and oil after. Real slim beef.

[Iron Pounder]

Never thought about using a bandsaw, great idea. Shop right down the street makes blades super cheap. I think the last blade cost me 6 bucks,lol. I don't see how they do anything for that but I guess they are happy.