The Key To Cutting Straight Edges?

[Cowgirlup8807]

I am very new at cutting things out of leather and have tried with both a knife and shears to get a good straight edge when I cut out patterns and cannot cut a straight line no matter how hard I try. Normally it is the heavier leathers that i have the biggest issues with. I do not have a metal straight edge which is what I had supposed I could try next because cutting against a plastic or wood ruler doesn't help either. Any tips or tricks of the trade for cutting straight professional looking lines?

[sinpac]

I use a pacific arc cork backed metal ruler. But as you get better you will beable to freehand a straight line I also use a olfa H-1 break away knife.

Chris

Edited January 6, 2013 by sinpac

[oldtimer]

Scribe a line using your straight edge, then follow the line with your knife. My way to do it.

[Mike516]

I have several metal rulers from a 4 foot long drywall t-square down to a 1 foot "L". I use one of these with a sharp utility knife laid out flat on the floor so as few starts and stops as possible.

[Cyberthrasher]

scribe your line with a scratch awl then cut slowly. Sounds like you're relying on your straight edge too much. Those things have a tendency to move around. Use it to scratch your line then trust yourself to follow it. Go slowly first to get a top cut, then go back over it again to cut all the way through. The knife will follow your first cut you made.

[Dwight]

Sinpac and I agree on that ruler. Mine may be a different mfg. but both are cork backed, . . . and I have no trouble with them moving.

I also use a strop sharpened drywall knife that stays "touched up" for most of my cutting. If I can use my strap cutter, I will, . . . but that's only for belt blanks, etc.

The "sharpness" of your cutting instrument is the key to it for me, . . . dull knife and I start making boo-boos. STOP ! Strop ! Continue.

May God bless,

Dwight

[David8386]

I like to use a rotary knife with the metal corked back ruler. Like they said above don't try to cut all the way through on the first pass let the knife do the work. I have also found with shears that the heavier leather tries to pull when I use a straight edge so scribe it and follow your line. Good luck

David

[Chavez]

A bigger saddler's knife (or a half-round knife) will do the trick for longer cuts.

Mine is only about 4 1/2" and I don't usually have problems cutting straight lines. Might get a +/-1mm error margin if I'm not very accurate though.

I really recommend investing into a good quality saddler's knife and a strop. It will do most of the work (straight & curved cutting and skiving) as long as it is sharp enough.

In fact, regardless of what knife you use, you always have to keep it stropped. A blunt knife is a dangerous knife!

PS you also might want to invest into a strap cutter. Cheap wooden ones work great and cut up to 4" straps.

[lightningad]

definitely keep your blade razor sharp, otherwise it will pull and stretch your leather and the cut will be wonky!

I would certainly second the comment about a round knife - had mine a couple of weeks and am absolutely amazed by how clean and easily it cuts.

adam

[bluesman1951]

Rotary 60mm cutter with a good plastic straight edge .3/16 thick x 4" wide x what ever length you need . This works for me