Johanna Report post Posted January 31, 2013 Cobra Steve of Leather Machine Co. has put together an informational page about Skiving Machines with a video too! Thanks for sharing, Steve! Leather Skiving Machines are very powerful tools to bevel the edges of leather from the lightest weights up to heaviest 14/16 oz. hides. Producing a beautifully smooth and uniform flat or beveled edge is easy as the feed wheel effortlessly pulls the leather through the bell knife. The width, depth and shape of the skiving are easily adjustable by the operator in any amount. You can remove just the roughness from the flesh or hair side, or take off a huge amount and thin out a 1/4” thickness down to as thin as tissue paper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ferg Report post Posted February 1, 2013 Johanna, I believe the video is on sewing machines. ferg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GianinaG Report post Posted February 11, 2013 Hey Guys, I know this is a little off topic, but I wanted your input on what would be the best tool for skiving. I learned my techniques when I studied Shoemaking and I just started my own handmade leather purse company. Right now am using upholstery leather and skiving by hand with a leather skiving knife (Osborne 925). For my biggest purse, which is about 6 sqft of leather it took 3 hours and 30 blades to skive. I am wondering how professionals do it? Do they use something more similar to the skiving machine you guys are referring to? I am open to any suggestions. Thank you Gianina of http://www.well-loved.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Chee Report post Posted February 11, 2013 Yes. A skiving machine will give you perfect edge skiver in a few seconds. Andrew Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leatherdog Report post Posted May 12, 2013 you definitely need a skiving machine. get one with the fan suction cabinet. hand skiving soft leather........i can't imagine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted May 12, 2013 A Bottom feed Bell Skiver is probably the best bet. I still use a skiving knife for intricate stuff, but for long runs, the bell skiver is best. Bob Beard makes the best Skiving Knife, but I have one of Terry Knipschield's that is very good also. A good bleeding sharp head knife will work ok, but the real skiving knives are better. Art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ferg Report post Posted May 12, 2013 My skiver has both top and bottom feed, I would need to use a single feed to be sure that was the best way. Anyone considering one of these machines should know that other than the Fortuna, almost all of the machines on the market are exactly the same with different names on them. Fortuna is certainly the one that has been copied the most with at least one glaring difference. Just check out the photos of the different makes you will see the difference immediately. I also have several hand skiving knives I use to clean up corners mostly. That I do with a French Edger at times. ferg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Doodler Report post Posted December 7, 2013 (edited) Hi, You might find the first 9 pages of this manual to be of a lot of help operating, and maintaining your skiver http://www.ou.edu/ao...r Model 10A.pdf Also, here is a skiving machine trouble shooting chart should be helpful to all! Skiver Troubleshooting.pdf Edited February 13, 2020 by Northmount Replaced photbucket 3rd party non-viewable link for trouble shooting Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Woodyrock Report post Posted March 10, 2015 My grandfather was a harness maker, and had a straight blade lap skiver for doing harness joins. I make leather polishing belts for lapidary work, and do all my lap skives by hand. This is getting old quick when I get large orders. Does anybody know where I can get a lap skiver? One I remember had a big blade with a handle that was pulled. The harness was clamped into the machine. Woody Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thor Report post Posted March 10, 2015 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cowboy-Leather-Skiver-Machine-in-SLEEK-LIGHT-GRAY-/281596550073?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4190765bb9 here you go. I'm sure there are lots of other places, too. Tandy has one for a lot of more many and there is a fellow on the board (forgot the name though) who would be able to get you one as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted March 10, 2015 Try Bruce Johnson Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
