Help! How Do I Put A Blade In My Strap Cutter? And Then Put It Back Together?

[spooky]

Okay, doofus newbie question. I boight a wooden strap cutter before Christmas, but life got busy and it got put aside. I know that it came with instuctions on how to put a blade in (didn't come with a blade in), but i've managed to "file" the instructions in a very safe place.. ie I cannot find them! I have managet to pull the strap cutter apart (perhaps I shouldn't have!!!!), so know I have two separate wooden pieces, and a round metal disc thingy, that fell out, that should go "somewhere"! I'm sure it is the sort of thing that once you have done it once, it's easy, but I cannot figure it out.

So, once you have all finished laughing and splerking into your coffee, this newbie would be very grateful for some simple, clear instructions.

[Cyberthrasher]

pictures on the way

[Cyberthrasher]

Step one: The round metal thingy goes here (sounds like a good term to me) and is used to keep the crossbar solid with pressure from the main thumbscrew. Make sure your blade is on the side of the handle that has this round cutout on the side.

Step two: The blade goes here in the slot that's at the 0 mark on the ruler. It should go BEHIND the screws. These screws hold the blade in place and at the same time that keeps this end of the crossbar set at the proper thickness. You'll need to loosen that top blade screw in order to adjust the thickness. It can be really hard to get into the slot, so take your time and don't cut yourself.

another view to show where the blade sits.

This is the thickness adjustment for the otherside of the cross bar. You need to make sure that the thickness is equal across the entire length in order to get a nice clean cut. You will need to loosen 1 blade screw, this little thumbscrew, and the main thumbscrew in order to adjust the thickness.

Springfield leather has a good video on their youtube page that shows all kinds of stuff about this great tool

http://www.youtube.com/user/SpringfieldLeatherCo

[spooky]

Thank you! I've manages to get the two wooden pieces back ogether... yay! So much easier when you have the orientation right and they fit! I assume that the divot thing on the metal thingy sits facing the screw? Also, does the blade go across both the skinny wooden bits? Off to find a screw driver.

[spooky]

Yipee-yii-ya!!!!! I think I got it! One of the slots was so narrow you could barely see it, so struggled to get the blade in, but now in. Once you have the instructions, not that hard. Off to try cutting some scraps then watch that video.

Thank you sooooooo much for helping out a newbie. You may now return to splerking your coffee

[Cyberthrasher]

Thank you! I've manages to get the two wooden pieces back ogether... yay! So much easier when you have the orientation right and they fit! I assume that the divot thing on the metal thingy sits facing the screw? Also, does the blade go across both the skinny wooden bits? Off to find a screw driver.

Yes, the blade should go through both pieces with none of it sticking out. I haven't had the plate out in a while, but I'm pretty sure there's a little dimple on the side that is pressed in with the screw, and the other side has a larger flat surface that contacts the crossbar. Just in case, all those pictures will expand to full screen if you open them up.

Yipee-yii-ya!!!!! I think I got it! One of the slots was so narrow you could barely see it, so struggled to get the blade in, but now in. Once you have the instructions, not that hard. Off to try cutting some scraps then watch that video.

Thank you sooooooo much for helping out a newbie. You may now return to splerking your coffee

Nah, it's too late for coffee.

Almost bedtime, so you are splerking free

[Northmount]

And be careful how you handle your strap cutter. The exposed ends of the blade are hard on your fingers. I glued a small leather flap across both ends of the blade. Can still replace or move the blade by folding the flaps back. A little less blood on the strap too!

Tom

[Cyberthrasher]

And be careful how you handle your strap cutter. The exposed ends of the blade are hard on your fingers. I glued a small leather flap across both ends of the blade. Can still replace or move the blade by folding the flaps back. A little less blood on the strap too!

Tom

How long's your blade? I know some people leave a little exposed to pull up a fresh section, but I just put the whole thing in there so it's all covered by the wood.

[veedub3]

I could have used this when I was putting mine together a few days ago as the instructions that come with them are not really clear at all. I called Tandy but when the guy that answered the phone started using words like dohickey and thingy, I just hung up on him. From the instructions posted here I seem to have installed the blade correctly.

I should have just checked here from the start.

[Cyberthrasher]

I should have just checked here from the start.

I just posted those last night as I was finishing up some pictures for customer updates. The first time I put the blade in mine I had put it in front of the screws because it was so tight I couldn't get it to go that far back. The second I tried cutting a strap the blade popped out. I ended up prying the slot open a little with a small screwdriver and using that screwdriver to push the blade once I got it started.