Members papaw Posted June 22, 2014 Members Report Posted June 22, 2014 I have a set but use to cut deer up I would not be able to use cutting leather unless it was straps or something like that. Quote Papaw Indiana Calumet Area Leather Guild Happy to be old enough to know better, but young enough to still do it !!
Members barehandcustoms Posted June 22, 2014 Author Members Report Posted June 22, 2014 (edited) So tempted to just buy a good one now..... I get the itch to make some knives every few months but I doubt I'll make a round knife. Edited June 22, 2014 by barehandcustoms Quote
Members JoeSnuffie Posted June 22, 2014 Members Report Posted June 22, 2014 So tempted to just buy a good one now..... I get the itch to make some knives every few months but I doubt I'll make a round knife. I was going to buy one but I hate buying something I can make. My first try was with a stainless paint scraping knife but it didn't hold an edge for long. I ordered a 5.25" round industrial fabric cutting wheel made of high speed steel. With my dremel, belt sander, piece of steel and wood for a handle and tin solder to hold it together, I made a great round knife. It's perfect for me and that high speed steel blade gets as sharp as the straight razor I shave with and holds an edge for a long time. The fabric cutting wheel cost me $16 shipped and will make 2 or 3 round knives depending on the style you need. Quote
Members Colt Hammerless Posted June 23, 2014 Members Report Posted June 23, 2014 Do you have a picture of that knife? Quote
Members Tesla Ranger Posted June 23, 2014 Members Report Posted June 23, 2014 Does anybody have experience with using a kevlar glove in leatherwork? They've made inroads into kitchens in the last couple of years, and supposedly they work well to prevent slicing cuts. They are probably useless for pokey sharp things, but might work well for slicey sharp thing. Bill I've never used a kevlar glove in leatherwork but I use one frequently when carving (wood, not leather). They will certainly prevent nicks, gouges, and lacerations but they'll do nothing to stop a puncture since they're fairly porous. I don't know if they come in pairs but the one I have just fits over the left hand on the assumption that the right hand will be holding a knife. You could always make a pair of them though just by buying one for the left hand and one for the right. They don't limit your dexterity as much as you might think, but they do get pretty warm. And since they're more of a kevlar mesh than a kevlar fabric any sweat or oils from your hand are probably going to get onto the surface of your leather with any amount of handling. I can certainly see the argument that a few errant fingerprints might be preferable to a few errant bloodstains though. If you want to try them out, I think I got mine from a chain called Woodcrafts for probably around $20. Quote http://fosterleathercraft.com
Members BAD HIDE Posted June 23, 2014 Members Report Posted June 23, 2014 I was going to buy one but I hate buying something I can make. My first try was with a stainless paint scraping knife but it didn't hold an edge for long. I ordered a 5.25" round industrial fabric cutting wheel made of high speed steel. With my dremel, belt sander, piece of steel and wood for a handle and tin solder to hold it together, I made a great round knife. It's perfect for me and that high speed steel blade gets as sharp as the straight razor I shave with and holds an edge for a long time. The fabric cutting wheel cost me $16 shipped and will make 2 or 3 round knives depending on the style you need. A good round knife is a work of art. I can't speak from experience, as I only have a couple old Osbornes from snatching up old tool sets, but I drool over what some of the pro knife makers on this forum can do. There are some tools I can make, but knives are a specialty that I'd rather leave to an expert. Does anybody have experience with using a kevlar glove in leatherwork? They've made inroads into kitchens in the last couple of years, and supposedly they work well to prevent slicing cuts. They are probably useless for pokey sharp things, but might work well for slicey sharp thing. Bill As Tesla said, they get hot. I think with leatherworking though, I'm just more careful with knives. If I'm butchering a deer or something, I'm moving pretty fast and that knife is hacking it's way through meat just to get it apart. A cut that's 1/4" off isn't a big deal. Proper use of leatherworking knives are much slower. All cuts are done away from you, in a controlled and accurate manner through harder material. 1/4" is a huge mistake, and will probably mean the project is ruined. Developing good habits and being conscious of where your left hand is will be better off than relying on a safety device that hinders some of your grip and tactile feel of the work. There will be blood, but hell, this isn't stamp collecting. Every injury I've received was my own damn fault, and it's a lesson I don't revisit too often anymore. Quote Badhide.com
Members JoeSnuffie Posted June 23, 2014 Members Report Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) I'm certainly no pro but this thing is perfect for me. It's the right length, width and the handle fits my hand. Might not be pretty, but it does the job well. Edited June 23, 2014 by JoeSnuffie Quote
rawcustom Posted June 24, 2014 Report Posted June 24, 2014 There's a sticky over in leather tools where some guys made head knives. Sounds like you've made knives before so depending on your setup, a head knife may not require a lot on your part. Like anything it all comes down to what your time is worth to you. If you have time and resources (skill helps) than you can get by. If you find you're better off paying someone else for their time so you can spend yours on others projects than guys like me can help. I have to admit the only head knife I made was my own, but I've been itching to make another. After making mine I got caught up in the leather tool knives and went on to make my own skiver and trim knife as well. In fact I have my new trim knife tempering right now since I sold my last one. So maybe if you make your own you'll end up like me and find yourself making a few specialty knives for the trade...rather than leatherworking, only so much time in the day. And as far as the head knife vs the stanley, after you get to using one you'll find it has its perks. Quote
Members Handstitched Posted June 25, 2014 Members Report Posted June 25, 2014 G'Day, I guess every leather worker has their own personal preference of tools , but the knife that I prefer is a Kingchrome folding knife. (see pic) God gave me small hands, so this knife suits me just fine. I can get into all the 'nooks & crannies' of cutting a pattern. Its sturdy & can take a lot of pressure cutting heavy leathers The blades are safely & easily changed, and, I have also noticed that the KC brand of blades seem to last longer than some others. I do sometimes use a stone to extend their life. I have tried using a round knife, but I just found it a bit too big. HS Quote ' I have a very gweat friend in Wome called Biggus Dickus, He has a wife you know, do you know whats she's called? Incontinentia.......Incontinentia Buttocks '
Members barehandcustoms Posted June 25, 2014 Author Members Report Posted June 25, 2014 This is the Roberts Fatso Utility knife I was referring to in the original post. http://www.homedepot.ca/product/utility-knife-big-fatso/938040 I just love that donward angle razor blade and the fat round handle. Quote
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