Adjustable Edge Creaser (Vergez Blanchard)

[mrtreat32]

Placing a order for some new tools today and was about to pull the trigger on a edge creaser as well.

I am looking at a vergez blanchard mostly. Question is I don't own one and have never used a creaser. In the past few days I have I tried using my scratch compass on the edges of dampened leather and Im getting a crease line that Im pretty happy with.

I don't know what to expect from a normal creasing tool so I can't really compare the result. The compass is leaving a impression in the leather and not just a scratch.

Im basically trying to find out if this is a tool that I should invest in now or its just a more convenient method of getting a similar result.

I guess once I work with chromexcel where the impression is harder to make this is where the proper tool would really shine. Would love to hear any feedback

thanks.

here is a picture of some crease lines I made with the compass tool. I will try to upload a image of one done on natural color veg tan where you can see it a bit better

[Bob Blea]

I've been using a Tandy adjustable creaser since I started and it's worked OK. I just bought a fixed edge creaser from Barry King to do edges like what you are showing, and it takes a learning curve too (I'm still not confident about not skipping off the edge on thin leathers without going slowly) but I like it better. I think it's easier to use than my Tandy one. I think the crease your getting with your compass looks pretty good.

[mrtreat32]

I've been using a Tandy adjustable creaser since I started and it's worked OK. I just bought a fixed edge creaser from Barry King to do edges like what you are showing, and it takes a learning curve too (I'm still not confident about not skipping off the edge on thin leathers without going slowly) but I like it better. I think it's easier to use than my Tandy one. I think the crease your getting with your compass looks pretty good.

Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah I don't know what a real nice crease looks like so I have nothing to compare mine too in terms of what to expect. Im kind of thinking about holding off on the creaser if its not going to be a major improvement over what Im getting now. I guess the main advantage would be that you can heat a creaser tool up and I can't do that with my compass.

My scratch compass which I mainly use to mark the lines before I use my pricking Iron has been a major learning curve for me also. I find it really hard to get a straight line since Im mostly working on wallets and other items with multiple layers. When I set the width and run it along the edge the line varies because the outside leg of the tool is being guided along different widths of leather.

If I use it on a test piece that is only one layer thick I can get a much better result.

[Matt T]

Yeah, your compass line looks fine, but that's because you are using veg tan. You need the heated creaser when you use chrome tan

[mrtreat32]

Yeah, your compass line looks fine, but that's because you are using veg tan. You need the heated creaser when you use chrome tan

thats what I figured. Plan on ordering chromexcel for my next order so I will go ahead with the creaser most likely.

thanks for the feedback

[Cletus2014]

I'm kinda going through the same trials and tribulations with properly creasing leather myself. Like you, I've been using my dividers, which work okay, but I recently picked up two (a #1 and #2) CS Osborne Creasers from Ebay. I'm starting to wonder though, whether these CSOs are seconds or rejects or something, as I can not, no matter how slow I go, or how carefully it try, keep the tool indexed off the edge of the piece. It doesn't even seem to "slip" off, but rather seems to actually pull off the leather, which obviously screws up the edge. The #1 is worse than the #2 and I've so far found it impossible to use the #1 at all and this is on a piece of 4oz veg tan with a very clean, square edge. I can't even imagine trying one of these things on a work piece with an edge that's been beveled or isn't completely perfectly sharp and square to guide the tool.

Anyone have an comments on this? I know the vintage CSO tools tend to be a little (or even a lot) better than new ones, but these creasers seem unusable to me. Could it really be I just haven't figured out how to use it properly? I'm thinking about dropping half a buck on a Barry King (Their awls are a work of art) and be done with it.

[mrtreat32]

I'm kinda going through the same trials and tribulations with properly creasing leather myself. Like you, I've been using my dividers, which work okay, but I recently picked up two (a #1 and #2) CS Osborne Creasers from Ebay. I'm starting to wonder though, whether these CSOs are seconds or rejects or something, as I can not, no matter how slow I go, or how carefully it try, keep the tool indexed off the edge of the piece. It doesn't even seem to "slip" off, but rather seems to actually pull off the leather, which obviously screws up the edge. The #1 is worse than the #2 and I've so far found it impossible to use the #1 at all and this is on a piece of 4oz veg tan with a very clean, square edge. I can't even imagine trying one of these things on a work piece with an edge that's been beveled or isn't completely perfectly sharp and square to guide the tool.

Anyone have an comments on this? I know the vintage CSO tools tend to be a little (or even a lot) better than new ones, but these creasers seem unusable to me. Could it really be I just haven't figured out how to use it properly? I'm thinking about dropping half a buck on a Barry King (Their awls are a work of art) and be done with it.

sounds strange. I looked at the c.s. osborne briefly as well.

Is one edge hanging off the side to guide it.. similar to how a divider or a grooving tool has one side run along the edge to guide it? The side that is not making the crease is in contact with the mat or work table you are working on? I recently got a versa groover from Sheridan and it is super easy to keep the line straight..would be nice if a creaser was designed in similar fashion to that tool.

I will post my impressions of the vergez creaser and its ease of use once it arrives this week if youre interested. Excited I ordered it but at the same time kinda thinking I could have spent that money on another tool that has more uses (head knife, vergez skiver) since the crease is pretty much only for decorative purposes.

When you speak of the barry king awl are you referring to the handles he makes or his blades. I have the handle which is very nice but Im switching between a Vergez and Sheridan awl blade. Maybe I will try the BK next!

[Hi Im Joe]

I use a cheap tandy screw creaser and have found that you have to get it pretty hot first. Then press pretty hard.

[Macca]

I will post my impressions of the vergez creaser and its ease of use once it arrives this week if youre interested. Excited I ordered it but at the same time kinda thinking I could have spent that money on another tool that has more uses (head knife, vergez skiver) since the crease is pretty much only for decorative purposes.

Just a word of warning

Don't buy a new Blanchard knife, the steel is garbage compared to the old ones.

[Cletus2014]

Thanks mrtreat32, I'd be interested to hear how the VB screw crease works out for you. I came very close to getting one of these, there's an Ebay seller who usually carries quite a bit of Blanchard stuff and had this tool for right at $70. I should have just got that in the first place, rather than screwing around with these other ones.

The Barry King awl - I actually bought the small haft and the #1 blade and I'm really happy with it. I'd been using a CSO #143 (I think) and it served me well once I had it all polished up and sharp enough to slip through the leather. The BK awl (blade) was already polished when I got it and works beautifully. I've heard the Douglas blades are very good, but I'm happy with the BK for now. I also have a small Blanchard awl, but I've not had a chance to polish it up yet, so haven't used it.

Last thing - If you're looking for a round knife, or any kind of leather knife, don't forget to check out Knipschield Custom Knives. I just got my new French style head knife and Wharncliff trim knife yesterday and I am so blown away with how bleeding edge, FRIKKEN SHARP these knives are, I've never seen anything like it in my life. I always thought I was getting my shoe knife pretty sharp and stropping it up to straight razor edge - NOTHING compared to these Knip knives, which slice right through a tough old 14oz latigo like it's butter. I've never seen anything like it. Terry Knipschield's prices are great too and the knives are beautifully and perfectly done. Do yourself a big favor and check it out, if you don't already know about Knipschield.

Edited June 14, 2014 by Cletus2014