Skiver & Utility Knife ?

[Trox]

Hi Django57,

I learned leather-work from Al Stohlmans many books, I had no other way to learn it. Now I am glad I did, because I learned it the right way from the start. No bad habits or wrong techniques that had to be dealt with later.

My advise to you is to do the same. You do not have to buy all his books, buy the one called " Leather-craft Tools *How to use them* How to sharpen them* " by Al Stohlman, the grand ol man of leather-craft. It describes all the tools, how to use and maintain them. Then buy your self a good round or head knife and practice how to use it on scraps, you will not regret it.

I have all kinds of skiving knifes and tools, but if I had to limit my self to one knife; I would choose one of my small round knifes.

On internal corners I use the tip of the round knife. One pattern one knife, you do not want to stop and change knife; then you will have unwanted notch in your pattern. Do not forget to buy or make your self a stropping board, every leather knife has to be polished after sharpening and prior to use.

Clicking knifes (like the second knife in your video), is used to cut outside a cardboard pattern. I also use this technique on thin leather. On thick leather I draw around the pattern with a awl (round clicking awl) and let my head knife follow the awl trace afterward.

I bet more than 90 % of our members use the head knife and love it.

Thats my two cents.

Tor

[Django57]

Cheers Trox your good advise has been taken onboard .

[St8LineGunsmith]

and you dont even have to spend a lot of money on a decent round knife as long as you know how to hone and maintain an edge

My round knife is one of those 10 dollar Abetta round knives from Amazon that would not cut chese until I put a scary sharp edge on it and I guarantee it is as sharp as any al stohlman or Osborne round knife

I always strop the blade before and after use to keep the edge sharp

[simontuntelder]

I took me three years to come to the realization that you have to have good knives in order to perfect your leatherwork. Of course a good Stanley knife will get you so far, but you really do need a head knife and probably a couple of other knives.

I just purchased my first head knives, and some other knives, and right now I'm learning how to use them all and most importantly how to sharpen them. I can tell you that these knives will get a lot sharper than any stanley knife, and it really shows in your work. It was really a hurdle for me, but I'm so glad that I did.

So take Trox' advice. I always do.

[jcuk]

I am a big fan of the round/head knife, you only have to look at the pinned subjects about the round knife under the tool section to know what a important tool it is.

I am a left hander to there is no bias with a round knife same which ever way you hold it. When you learn to use one you will wonder how i have i done with out it. Practise is the key + sharp and strop, any scrap leather you have just use for practise please be careful of your fingers.Not sure how many youtube clips there are but try and have a look better still if you know some working with leather ask them to teach you how to use one.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards jcuk

[Trox]

Thank you Simon, I too used a Stanley knife when I started with leather work. I fund out pretty quickly that the blade flexed to much and it was easy to do mistakes with it. Like Simon says good knifes is the most important leather tool of all. We might be on different levels in our leather work, but remember there have always been older guys there before us. Using their experience is what this forum is based on, so use it for what it is worth and learn it the right way from the start.

Good luck

Tor