Leather by LOU Report post Posted August 14, 2013 Today I was skiving some leather and regrettably ruining more than successfully making I became frustrated and tried to mod my hand skiver... This is the skiver I'm working with... I removed the bottom plate like you would to change out a blade. I realized that the plane that the blade bends on is to slight for my liking and causes me to cut through my edge often times when a thin skive is required. So to improve the curve/plane that the blade bends on I wedged a piece of card stock in-between the blade and the handle. I also put a wedge of card stock on each side of the screws to compensate for wedge in the center of the blade. This helped to create a more drastic curve which I find much easier to control and I don't seem to cut so uncontrolled. Another idea I have for hand skiving would be to get a thin sheet of metal clamp it to my table so that I can have a surface to but the leather up against but have a raised plane from the table, hopefully acting like a guide for skiving. Thought this might be helpful for anyone struggling with skiving... Anthony Loughan http://lousleather.weebly.com http://facebook.com/lousfineleather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shtoink Report post Posted August 14, 2013 I had trouble with the very same style of skiver that was purchased from Tandy. It had left over nubs from where the sprue was during casting that should have been machined off. They were not and interfered with the blade sitting properly. I had to reshape nearly the entire area where the blade sits and the opposing clamp in order to get it hold the blade. It was a giant pain and about my only option since they wouldn't take it back and all the other skivers on the wall suffered the same issue. Glad to see that you were able to get it fixed and working, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WScott Report post Posted August 14, 2013 Gonna have a look at mine on the weekend Thanks for the tip Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leather by LOU Report post Posted August 14, 2013 and beyond that I read a thread the other day about caseing your leather, i'm not sure if it is suggested before skiving but I tried it and I liked the results. It does tend to stretch more at the thin points but i'm okay with that on this project because the design allows for trimming after its sewn. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ferg Report post Posted August 14, 2013 Lou, Try modifying the angle of the blade so it rests perfectly flat with no angle at all. ferg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leather by LOU Report post Posted August 14, 2013 I'll try that Ferg. Right now I'm liking how the blade cups, Ive been working from the inside of my skive towards the edge too, then leaving the fine feathering for last. I used to work for the outside edge in and I think that is part of the reason I was gouging my edges. thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Cent Report post Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) It might not fit the situation but the skife knife does just as good and you have more control of the cut. I use it like the name: a knife. I can keep the skiving area contained and judge the thickness as I cut better. http://www.bing.com/...selectedIndex=0 Edited August 15, 2013 by Red Cent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
