circle cutting

[carr52]

Is there some kind of cutter? Cause boy I sure can't cut a decent one or a stright line as far as that goes. I was thinking of making circle templates out of plexi glass or something. There in lies the problem. To make a template you have to cut a circle. Catch 22. Help please.

Tom

[barra]

This is an old washer cutter. You might try and look for a gasket cutter. Others may know where to find them. All I can think of is auto stores or home depot type stores. It wouldn't be hard to knock up something home made to do the same job.

Barra

[esantoro]

Is there some kind of cutter? Cause boy I sure can't cut a decent one or a stright line as far as that goes. I was thinking of making circle templates out of plexi glass or something. There in lies the problem. To make a template you have to cut a circle. Catch 22. Help please.

Tom

There was a thread about this awhile back. Some people find a round object of the size needed and cut around it. There are some compass type tools with a stationary end and a blade end.

I've tried locating a center point, marking a bunch of radial points, and then cutting along the dots.

Ed

[tashabear]

Is there some kind of cutter? Cause boy I sure can't cut a decent one or a stright line as far as that goes. I was thinking of making circle templates out of plexi glass or something. There in lies the problem. To make a template you have to cut a circle. Catch 22. Help please.

Tom

Go to a fabric store, and ask in the quilting department for circular quilting templates. They come in sizes from 1"-6". You can just draw around them. For a circle larger than that, get a pin, a string, and a Sharpie marker and make a compass. :-D

[CitizenKate]

My usual method of cutting a circle (like for a coaster) is to use a pair of dividers to scribe the circle into the leather, then cut it out in one pass with a heavy-duty Xacto knife. If the knife is kept sharp, it will cut easily through fairly heavy leather in one pass. To keep the dividers from poking a hole in the center of the circle, I use another small bit of leather to protect the piece I'm cutting on.

Some people will advocate the use of a round knife - that is probably better if you have one and know how to use it safely.

If you don't mind a hole in the center, you can cut a perfect circle by nailing down a piece of leather, poking your knife through the leather at the desired radius, then just turn the leather while holding the blade stationary. When the leather has turned 360 deg., you have a perfectly cut circle.

If all else fails, and you plan to cut a lot of circles, you can have a cutting die made. A die as simple as this can be made fairly inexpensively. If you don't have a press, you can just tap the die into the leather to cut the part with a mallet.

Kate

[HARVEY]

Three different sources: 1) a glass shop. They can cut you circular pieces of glass for a small charge. I used these, in different sizes, when I am stamping a circle around letters, a design, whatever; 2) Old CDs from your computer, music, etc; 3) Fiskars makes a package of 4 templates (8 sizes) with inner/outer circles ranging from 4/5" up to 8.25". Their website is: www.fiskars.com, if there are no stores near you.

Many crafts stores have a slew of circular objects in them, from the floral depts to hobbies to woodwork, etc.

Harvey

Los Angeles

[UKRay]

Washer cutters are a great idea, Tom - here is a picture to show you what the two sorts look like. I have a double washer cutter and it works really well - best of all you can slip the second blade out and use it for simple circles. It does leave a 'dimple' in the centre of the leather though - but I always find a reason to wack that with an embossing stamp LOL.

Edited November 27, 2008 by UKRay

[bruce johnson]

Tom,

I do a lot of stuff with big circles. My biggest problem was always getting a good circle on big stuff. We go to a lot of antique stores and one of the things we collect are things marked "Johnson" - Old Johnson Wax containers, Johnson fishing reels, Johnson soda bottles, etc. A couple months ago we went into a shop, and the lady told me right off the bat she had just got in a tool marked "Johnson" that I might want. I about tipped over when I saw a set of 24" Wm Johnson Newark NJ dividers - $7. Before that I used the string and nail deal to make big patterns. Smaller things I use pans, bowls, stencils, whatever fits.

[carr52]

Thanks everyone. The reason I asked this question is that I am doing the June challenge and want to cut it clean. I know I'm alittle late on this one. I saw some great tools here and I too can always find a reason to whack the demple in the middle with something. I'm gonna try and make the tool I think. Thanks again. Tom

Tom,I do a lot of stuff with big circles. My biggest problem was always getting a good circle on big stuff. We go to a lot of antique stores and one of the things we collect are things marked "Johnson" - Old Johnson Wax containers, Johnson fishing reels, Johnson soda bottles, etc. A couple months ago we went into a shop, and the lady told me right off the bat she had just got in a tool marked "Johnson" that I might want. I about tipped over when I saw a set of 24" Wm Johnson Newark NJ dividers - $7. Before that I used the string and nail deal to make big patterns. Smaller things I use pans, bowls, stencils, whatever fits.

Thats a great find. Bet you said YEE HAW

[steveh]

Take your dividers lay out the size circle you want on the leather, drive a small box nail thru center into your bench, push a point knife thru the line of the circle you layed out and firmly into the bench, now pull the circle to the knife blade to cut out.

[celticleather]

If all else fails, there's a washer cutter for sale here

http://www.oldtools.co.uk/tools/edge_tools...r/other.pg2.php

Whoops - bad link . . . try that one!

Edited November 27, 2008 by celticleather

[stelmackr]

Is there some kind of cutter?

Tom

Although the cutters say they are for photos, the C-1500P will cut 3/4 and even 5/6 leathers with a little practice and a firm hand to hold the center and a sacrificial cutting surface underneath.

http://www.lion-office.com/nt/circle.html

I use the C-1500P unit above. below are some others:

http://www.seihin-world.com/s/2002/03/29_1302.php

http://olfablades.stores.yahoo.net/olcmcicu.html

Bob Stelmack

[carr52]

Although the cutters say they are for photos, the C-1500P will cut 3/4 and even 5/6 leathers with a little practice and a firm hand to hold the center and a sacrificial cutting surface underneath.http://www.lion-office.com/nt/circle.htmlI use the C-1500P unit above. below are some others:http://www.seihin-world.com/s/2002/03/29_1302.phphttp://olfablades.stores.yahoo.net/olcmcicu.htmlBob Stelmack

When I saw that remembered that my mom has a photo cutter I think I'll try. Thanks. Tom

If all else fails, there's a washer cutter for sale herehttp://www.oldtools.co.uk/tools/edge_tools...r/other.pg2.phpWhoops - bad link . . . try that one!

Man they got some scary looking tools. Thank you.Tom

[whinewine]

Although the cutters say they are for photos, the C-1500P will cut 3/4 and even 5/6 leathers with a little practice and a firm hand to hold the center and a sacrificial cutting surface underneath.

http://www.lion-office.com/nt/circle.html

I use the C-1500P unit above. below are some others:

http://www.seihin-world.com/s/2002/03/29_1302.php

http://olfablades.stores.yahoo.net/olcmcicu.html

Bob Stelmack

I have the olfa cutter. It's decent, & very good for thin leathers, but it tends to creep wider as you turn it on thicker leathers, so you often don't have the beginning cut and the ending cut meeting together.

russ

[carr52]

I have the olfa cutter. It's decent, & very good for thin leathers, but it tends to creep wider as you turn it on thicker leathers, so you often don't have the beginning cut and the ending cut meeting together.

russ

I've seen quite a few that I like. Thank now all I have to do is decide which one I want. Decisions decisions. Dont ya just hate em.

Tom

[Beaverslayer]

I also have and use the Olfa cutter. For the thicker leather, where it tends to creep as you spin it, I will just use it to cut the surface, then I can use my good shears to follow the cut line.

Ken

[superchute]

for my 2 cents I use a imbroadry hoop that you can get a like hobby lobby. Dad has like a gasket cutter from osborn or you can get some like that is a good sewing shop just have to make a exato blade fit in the cutting end. Ill try to get you some pics soon.

Russ

[Rhonda]

Hobby Lobby has a Circle Cutter for scrapbooking. Will cut thru thinner leathers, thicker leather it cuts mostly on top, you finish with shears.

While it works pretty good, I won't give it a 10, cause if you don't use enough pressure to hold it down, the circle will widen. Hobby also carries the plastic templates, different size circles.

[carr52]

Hobby Lobby has a Circle Cutter for scrapbooking. Will cut thru thinner leathers, thicker leather it cuts mostly on top, you finish with shears.

While it works pretty good, I won't give it a 10, cause if you don't use enough pressure to hold it down, the circle will widen. Hobby also carries the plastic templates, different size circles.

I got some templates for about 7 bucks and tried them. Seems to work ok but you have to be careful that you dont mark the leather with the border guide.

Tom

[Dink]

I do alot of big circles on thick leather, and have gotten along best by scribing my circle with a divider, and then it is easier for me to follow around my line with a swivel knife cutting around half way through, then I go back and finish my cut with a hooked blade trim knife. my 2 cents

Dink