Best Method To Cut Internal Holes And Finish The Edges

[jshill]

Hi just wondering if any one has some good advice on cutting and finishing internal holes. For instance this half inch square I have drawn on a piece of scrap leather.

I normally start by making an internal whole for each corner with a round bladed awl before cutting from one hole to another I find this prevents over/under cutting and means the internal piece falls out neatly. I'm having trouble using an edging tool and a slicker to finish the internal edge as good as my outside edges, mostly due to the hole being so small and not being able to run tools/glass ect down the edge as I would on an outside one.

Any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[camano ridge]

I picked up on ebay some small edge bevelers pretty cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-V-Shaped-Stitching-Groover-Skiving-Edge-Beveler-Leathercraft-Leather-Tool-Kit-/181473645114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a40ac123a They will work for the small area. Be careful they are sharp and can remove a fair amount of material quickly.

As to burnishing the inside edges, get a small diameter hardwood dowel sand different sized grooves into the dowel. Now either rub the dowel against the edges by hand or chuck the dowel in a drill motor and burnish the edges.

Edited February 22, 2015 by camano ridge

[jshill]

I picked up on ebay some small edge bevelers pretty cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-V-Shaped-Stitching-Groover-Skiving-Edge-Beveler-Leathercraft-Leather-Tool-Kit-/181473645114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a40ac123a They will work for the small area. Be careful they are sharp and can remove a fair amount of material quickly.

As to burnishing the inside edges, get a small diameter hardwood dowel sand different sized grooves into the dowel. Now either rub the dowel against the edges by hand or chuck the dowel in a drill motor and burnish the edges.

Hi Camano thanks for your advice. I will give it a go.

[humperdingle]

Hi, feels a bit like i'm pimping these tools lol...

Have a look at this thread:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=61898&hl=

It won't help so much with the edge finishing, but may help with the cutting.

[Dwight]

I have also found (mostly by bad experience) that I can about 99% of the time NOT need a hole with square corners. Slightly rounded corners work in just about everything I do.

That said, . . . I use a round punch to do all four corners, . . . then connect the cutting like you talked about with the awl. The punch actually starts that burnishing process in the corners, . . . by compressing the leather there, . . . and using a little burnisher I made by putting a 1/2 inch dowell on a 1/8 in drill bit (long ways), . . . and by notching it, . . . I can burnish those little holes very well.

I couldn't find the pictures I have of them, . . . so here is a little drawing that shows kinda what it looks like.

The 1/8 inch drill bit fits exactly in my Dremel, . . . works like a champ. I drilled the dowell, . . . glued the drill bit in, . . . put it in the dremel, . . . turned on the dremel, . . . and used it like a little wood lathe, . . . taking out the grooves and shaping it with files, etc.

May God bless,

Dwight

burnish tool.bmp

Edited February 24, 2015 by Dwight

[papaw]

On squares I go at it a little differ I cut cross corners making a X then cut the line and I have some very old burnishing sticks that are flat to get into the corners with. Just try differ things till you find the best way for you.

[Thor]

How about getting a 1/2" square tubing and sharpen it? I would sharpen it on both sides or just as needed. Question would be if burnishing is still required then.

[jshill]

Hi, thanks for all the advice I'll give most of them a go.

Cheers