Need Tool To Thin Baseball Glove Leather

[Csr111]

I'm looking to make wallets using pieces of old baseball gloves as illustrated in the picture below. I have some money to invest in the right tool(s) and want some advice on what to use and how do go about doing this. To sew multiple pieces together and the fact that its a wallet and needs to be on the thinner side, makes be believe i'll need to "split" the leather. I've looked at investing in a landis hand crank splitter, but have been advised that this tool would not be adequate for the job since its primarily used for thick/stiff leather. My second consideration is bench splitter similar to this

. I'm very eager to begin working on these, so any and all advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[TwinOaks]

Look into an Osborne splitter, but be prepared to shell out some money for them - they aren't cheap. You should be able to get them from Weaver or Springfield. Personally, I'd opt to spend the money once and get a quality splitter...BUT if you're on a budget, Tandy has one that is much cheaper. I've seen some threads on how bad it is, and also a couple of reviews that say how nice it is. caveat emptor.

[Bobby hdflame]

I'm looking to make wallets using pieces of old baseball gloves as illustrated in the picture below. I have some money to invest in the right tool(s) and want some advice on what to use and how do go about doing this. To sew multiple pieces together and the fact that its a wallet and needs to be on the thinner side, makes be believe i'll need to "split" the leather. I've looked at investing in a landis hand crank splitter, but have been advised that this tool would not be adequate for the job since its primarily used for thick/stiff leather. My second consideration is bench splitter similar to this

. I'm very eager to begin working on these, so any and all advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Those are cool! I'll be interested to see how you make out with this project. Looks interesting.

[Cobra Tom]

Leather Machine Co. offers the Osborne 86 splitter.

I'm looking to make wallets using pieces of old baseball gloves as illustrated in the picture below. I have some money to invest in the right tool(s) and want some advice on what to use and how do go about doing this. To sew multiple pieces together and the fact that its a wallet and needs to be on the thinner side, makes be believe i'll need to "split" the leather. I've looked at investing in a landis hand crank splitter, but have been advised that this tool would not be adequate for the job since its primarily used for thick/stiff leather. My second consideration is bench splitter similar to this

. I'm very eager to begin working on these, so any and all advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Spinner]

Those were a great idea by Coach. I've had at least a dozen requests to make them since they sold out (within a week or so of coming available). Here's an article on the wallets and how they came upon the idea for those interested:

The Coach team spent a year finding vintage baseball gloves (70+ years old) on eBay, and have made 200 one-of-a-kind (stamped for authenticity) wallets for the collection. Each wallet, priced at $348, is made from ~1.5 baseball gloves.

via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2012/05/coach-vintage-baseball-glove-wallets.html

As to the OP's question, you're definitely going to want to spend the money on a good splitter for these especially if you go the route of actual vintage gloves. Nothing would suck more than to have found a nice 50-70 year old glove, cut it apart and then have it get ruined in a crappy splitter. Look into skiving, either by machine or by hand also as you'll not only need to thin the leather as a whole but will also need to bring some of the edges down to a feather edge to roll them correctly. I believe there are machines that will both split & skive up to 6" wide which would suit the purposes for these wallets.

[Bobby hdflame]

Leather Machine Co. offers the Osborne 86 splitter.

I've never seen one of those work. Would it thin the leather from baseball gloves? Do you pull the leather through by hand or is there a crank that I can't see? Will it also skive just an edge thinner so it could be rolled over?

[bruce johnson]

As much as I like splitters, I have had some feedback from a guy who has good splitters and tried this. He has access to a band knife splitter, and has a few options for pull through splitters and a bell knife. He had the best luck thinning the leather down with ........ a benchtop belt sander. More control, no stretching or bunching. For skiving edges, I'd think this would work about like any other latigo or chrome tan - sharp blade by hand or bell knife skiver.

[Mijo]

1345845140[/url]' post='261662']

I've never seen one of those work. Would it thin the leather from baseball gloves? Do you pull the leather through by hand or is there a crank that I can't see? Will it also skive just an edge thinner so it could be rolled over?

I have an Osborne 86 that I've been using for more than a year. You pull the leather through by hand, you could definitely split leather thin enough to roll over as I've made a couple of rolled leashes. I highly suggest paying the extra money for the 86a or the 84 instead, I hate hand skiving.

[Bobby hdflame]

Just did a Google for a 84. Found one of those at Zack White's. $599 sure seems like a lot for such a simple machine. I guess one with a motor is HIGH DOLLAR!

http://zackwhite.com...&cat=632&page=1

Edited August 25, 2012 by Bobby hdflame

[Csr111]

Ok - I'm ready to spring for a brand new Osborne splitter. I'm looking at the 86. Will this one do the job or should I invest more and go with the 86-a or 84?

[Mijo]

If you need to skive in addition to split, then I'd go with the 86a or 84.

[ramrod]

these are so cool! i love the patina on the leather.

why can't i be smart enough to think of this? LOL

you've got to keep us posted on how you're doing with these.

[Trox]

Since the wallet are sewn toghter by strips I would try my bell knife skiver; skive then turn 180 degree and run them true twice. You could also try the trick with blue scotch masking tape. Tape it on the hairside before running them true your splitter or bell knife. This way you will be able to thin them down much without ruin them. I have not tried this myself yet, however a member here tipped me about this trick. It works well with the bell knife, and the blue tape leave no glue on the leather. I think about the embossed parts of the baseball glove leather, it is weak in those parts.

Just a thought