Thinning Down Crocodile Leather Edges To This Kind Of Results

[leatherlover101]

Hello,

I have previously tried to thin down crocodile leather, and it seems that in these pics the thinning process is done perfectly, and in fact most likely it's real croc skin, and adding depth to the housing is also nex to impossible.

Can anybody advice on how to get this type of results, especially with the edges?

Many thanks for any advice, highly appreciated.

[DavidL]

there are ways to identify real croc, or alligator.

you can split with a specialize splitter for chrome tan that can split below .5mm.

or a skiving machine done in section

[terrymac]

Dremel tool with a sanding drum will feather edges nicely. Just be gentle. It appears the edges have been folded over. The raised effect is done by gluing some kind of thin material under the alligator.

Terry

[leatherlover101]

there are ways to identify real croc, or alligator.

you can split with a specialize splitter for chrome tan that can split below .5mm.

or a skiving machine done in section

Thanks for replies, I think that splitter would work, but can you explain what you mean by "specialize splitter"

is there a splitter that suits well crocodile leather, or will any splitter work?

thanks

Edited July 6, 2015 by leatherlover101

[stelmackr]

This is what I use to do fine leather splitting:

Bob Stelmack

[DavidL]

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=50706

That above type of splitter will work for crocodile, a band splitter, I don't know if it goes by any other name. The specs should allow the leather to be split down to fractions of a mm. In the picture you showed the leather is probably below 1mm. There was one splitter I saw, almost like a sanding drum that the workers would pull the alligator skin through with tension to shave down the flesh. No, I do not know the name of the machine.

A splitter for vegtan is not used for flimsy type leathers. It can not reach sub 1mm and probably can't even split the leather if it is too soft, although I never tried. It is what I understand of that type of splitter.

A skiving machine only thins down the edges. Without the guard on it can split the entire alligator hide an inch or two at a time.

Ask a dealer what they recommend.

[jk215]

At scale they are probably done on a "bell knife" skiving machine like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9DjcC3grgg

[mrtreat32]

Ahh I was gonna mention maybe scharf fix. I have been eyeing one at a bookbinding store near me but wasn't sure how well they worked. In your experience can it also skive down leathers that are around 4oz or is that too thick?

[Andrew Chee]

Don't get a scharf fix. I got one a while ago to do this and it cut through the leather all the time. Not easy to use. I ended up getting a bell knife skiver and I think it only cost me about $600-650. Not cheap but much better results.

Andrew

[leatherlover101]

Thanks for the most valuable input, I will let you know once I get desired results... thanks again