Tools Of A Swiss Sattler

[Trox]

Well I use old CS, HF Osborne and new Ron´s tools. They are all good. Most of the old stuff of french edgers are good, English makers call them skirt shaves I believe. You better get different sizes at least a couple (big and small) They are useful on a variety of different tasks, from skiving, making miter joints to setting snaps in thick material (skive away material around a hole when the leather are to thick). I would not know how do without them. In fact I never was without one, I first bought an cheap tandy tool that I polished an modified. Then later I changed that out for a better tool. However, the tandy tool worked well after modifying. I think they where called craftool or the leather factory when I bought my first french edger. Perhaps they used better steel than today and perhaps not. Soft steel gets sharp and thats what a french edger have to be. You do not cut in to a cutting board with an french edger and thats perhaps the reason the cheap tool worked pretty well. They come in both straight and curved bottoms, but they do the same job. I see Bruce sell them from 50 to 100$ for good old ones, they always been of the most expensive among the edgers.

Tor

[Trox]

To make a groove with an edge beveler work only on very light weight leather. Leather you are able to make a sharp outside (90 degree) bend on (Flesh side out). I think your leather are to thick and stiff to use that method. And you must remember to polish/strop your edger first too. I polish mine on the edge of my stroping board. On that thickness you must use an V gouge down to aprox half the thickness of the material and skive away material on each side of the gouge to make the "V" wider. Wet with some water and fold it up nicely.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Trox

[simontuntelder]

Well, I've just exhausted my tool buying funds, as I need to do some other investments first, but I'll definitely pick up some French edgers from Bruce then.


I'm using Barry King edgers (I have all four kinds, though I think I lost the two bisonettes in my last move, but they never struck a cord with me anyways) and they come very sharp and I've polished them on my own jig making them even sharper.

I think I have a Tandy edge skiver lying around, but it's dull and I don't know if I have the neccessary skills to sharpen it. I'll give it a go.

[Trox]

On those Tandy french edgers the safety iron on both sides of the blade are often of uneven thickness and to thick. I remember I had to to take of material on both sides of it before I polished it on my buffing wheel. I took off all the blacking on it and it performed pretty well after that. I bet you could even polished it on your stropping board, that black color comes of easy. Any top side burr´s you can remove with an small ceramic stone or anything else you have laying around. Its not a difficult job, because its not very hard steel. You can afford buying a new one if you f#### it up the first time. If you use a magnifying glass on it you will see if it has any burr on the edge (if you do not feel any and it still will not cut good). You will also see how ruff the steel surface is when its not polished, then you understand why it will not glide true the leather. It has to be sharp as an skiving knife, but this steel is much softer. Its normally an easy job.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Trox

[walter roth]

Hi Simon....................

I've been watching the problem many leather artisans with the leather fold have for long years.

I'll show a job taking pictures and step by step how I do this.

I work to pull a u-shaped trench often without the leather. The leather can withstand much more form than many want to believe. If anyone who has seen how, working much more precise and easier.

I have a small "INCA bandsaw" (old Swiss brand) to produce the forms made of wood.

So, I then commit the forms of leather bags in a wood-embossed tool. Setting to the woodworking tools is very quickly done,... 30 minutes for a form.

But it takes 1-2 weeks until I time to do.

Greeting

Walter

[Oldtoolsniper]

This has been a very informative post. I'm I awe of some of those tools and having them explained is really helpful. Now I have to find some to restore so I can use them. I'm afraid this is going to be more expensive than tying flies to save money.

[Alan RUNDELL]

Good morning,

I have been reading & viewing this thread/ article/ topic for some months now and find it absolutely fascinating, although when you look at Walters finished work it makes one feel inadequate.

You are an absolute craftsman Walter!

I do have a collection of Plough Gauges (30) of various brands some of which you would not have heard of, I will take a photo before long and list them on this thread. They are all just as I have bought them and stored them in my room.

NOW for my request is there anybody that could supply me with the templates and measurements of the Stitching Clamp please, I am quite willing to pay for all the costs.

Best Regards

Alan

[simontuntelder]

I recently walked past a local thrift store and surprisingly saw a plough gauge sitting in the window, which I of course bought straight away. Unfortunately the rest of the tools from the estate had already been sold.

Anyways, the plough is German or from a German speaking country, as there's writing on the blade saying "Edelstahl Geschmeidet" meaning "forged stainless steel" and furthermore there's a stamp on the beam saying "King", which I'm guessing is the brand/maker/wholesaler.

Has anybody seen or heard about tools from King before?

I'm having trouble uploading pictures, but I'm trying to solve it.

[Trox]

Hi Simon, I have a knife (French pattern, Cornette) who have the same brand. Walter knows because I asked him here before. And Simon, post a picture when you can.

Alan, please post pictures of your many plough gauges. I look forward to see them, for sure. Just remember to keep the size of the pictures under 500 kb each, otherwise they will occur to big on this site. Use a picture resizer or use your email program that automatically resize your pictures when you attach them in a email.

Thanks

Tor

[Alan RUNDELL]

Hi Simon, I have a knife (French pattern, Cornette) who have the same brand. Walter knows because I asked him here before. And Simon, post a picture when you can.

Alan, please post pictures of your many plough gauges. I look forward to see them, for sure. Just remember to keep the size of the pictures under 500 kb each, otherwise they will occur to big on this site. Use a picture resizer or use your email program that automatically resize your pictures when you attach them in a email.

Thanks

Tor

Thanks for prompting me Tor, I have been meaning to do that for some weeks now….. I did take them out of the cabinet…. but that is as far as I got. As for a picture resizer etc. I will do my best, I am no Einstein when it comes to computers, stay tuned they might bob up tomorrow.

I do have an excuse though……. I have been making my "Swiss Stitching Horse" and taking copious pictures to post on this site…… it's nearly finished!

Best Regards

Alan