Best Way To Cut Pigskin Lining.

[Highlands858]

So I had to cut some lining for my first belt. It's really thin pigskin lining, and I thought I could just cut it with a razor and metal ruler, but it seems like it works away from me the further I go from my starting point. Seems like I cut a curved piece of lining leather, and that's not what I wanted. What's the best way to cut thin lining leather?

[lightingale]

Are you using a non-slip ruler (the kind with the cork back)? That might help keep you from wandering. If you're wandering away from the ruler, use the ruler on the other side of your cut.

[HellfireJack]

Soft leathers are best cut with either a pair of shears or a rotary cutting knife. (pizza cutter looking thing)

Also, glue your (oversized) lining to the project first and carefully cut the excess away. Way easier then trying to precisely place a backing as you're stitching or glueing.

Edited September 18, 2012 by HellfireJack

[KAYAK45]

Jack is right on with the scissor cutting. And the glue first, cut second.

My problem is getting a pigskin for a 38" belt. My pigs don't come that long. LOL I start by laying out a 1 3/4 blank with a silver pen or pencil on the backside (for a 1 1/2 inch belt). Cut you strips. I then cut the ends..say 45 degrees to the edge and skive both ends. Overlap, glue and sew together (46 thread) for a long strip.

THEN glue to your belt material, and after pounding and setting, simply cut the excess pig from the edges, for a perfect fit.

Try that.

Kevin

[Chief31794]

All good tips above, I always glue liners first then trim. However, something else to think about is using 2/3 oz leather for the lining on a belt, I use pigskin more for wallets, purses, phone cases, etc.

Chief

[Highlands858]

Thank you all for the sound advice. Next time I'll use scissors or shears to cut my pigskin. I like the idea of using 2-3 oz as a backing for my next belt, but the amount of stitching I'm doing on this current one is killing me. Is stitching really needed for a belt like this, or is it mostly decorative?

Thanks for any and all responses.

[DoubleC]

I recently glued 1 and 1/2oz pig to the flesh side of veg tanned leather then use a rotary cutter on it. Mine moved around too even glued, it's very stretchy. So I used a box cutter with a new stropped blade to get the excess off. I don't understand your question though Highland. If you're going to line it, you have to sew it. I used barge and bricks laid on mine while it set up and it's still pulling away in places where it stretches and the veg tanned isn't. You don't have to line a belt, but if you do I wouldn't recommend you depend on glue alone. Just my opinion, others may have a different opinion. Cheryl

[DoubleC]

Kayak, I just bought a whole black glazed pig from SLC and it's long enough to line twice that length.

http://springfieldleather.com/32394/Lining%2CGlazed-Pig%2CBlack%2CSqFt/

Cheryl

[bluesman1951]

You can use some wallpaper with a self glueing back just peel the back off the wall paper and lay the hide down on the paper and smooth out flip it over and cut with a rotary cutter and straight edge . Then simply peel off the wall paper . This trick works well with thin leathers and the lace cutter from Tandy gives the leather some body it dont have on its own . I still believe a 4inch wide 36inch long by 3/16 pexi glass straight edge is the only way to go ,used with a 60mm rotary cutter . Its wide enough not to move end to end and the 3/16 thickness prevents the blade from doing a up and over causing injuries. With this set up you can cut lace strings ,5 to a inch perfect end to end the length of a hide . Personaly I woud rather have sharp things moving away from me rather than pulling a razor towards my body . Hope this helps . Bill

So I had to cut some lining for my first belt. It's really thin pigskin lining, and I thought I could just cut it with a razor and metal ruler, but it seems like it works away from me the further I go from my starting point. Seems like I cut a curved piece of lining leather, and that's not what I wanted. What's the best way to cut thin lining leather?

[Ferg]

Bill,

I have a aluminum drywall "T" square four foot long. I hook the "T" end over the edge of my cutting table end, move the leather under it, cut with the rotary cutter.

Works real well most of the time.

ferg