Frankqv Report post Posted August 26, 2015 Thought I would post this,for those looking for an entrance grade splitter. Great priced splitter. https://www.tandyleatheroutlet.com/p-383-pro-splitter-wextra-blade.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted September 9, 2015 Anybody ever used one of these? Seems like a handy tool that doesn't take up much space. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Troy Burch Report post Posted September 9, 2015 Thats a nice price but Tandy blades scare me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted September 10, 2015 Well, that was my thought, too. But, these days Tandy does not have a monopoly on dull tools. I ordered an awl 5 times (in 4 different places) before finding one that was decent. Not good, just bearable. I really don't want more machines and tools, but I would like a quick and easy way to skive belt ends. NOT spending $1k to do it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oldtoolsniper Report post Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) I've got one that looks exactly like that, made in Taiwan. It was a rust bomb that I got at a local auction for next to nothing. Mine had been sharpened on a grinding wheel so it took about four hours of work to get the blade back to proper shape. The blades are flat ground and the bevel is wide, it makes it easy to sharpen by hand. The bevel is wide enough so you can tilt the blade forward and it assumes the correct position. I sharpen with a granite surface plate and sandpaper. I do not do micro bevels. The one I have is the common third world casting with no finish work at all. I would say in comparison that it's shaped like an Osborne splitter rather than styled after it. It's very rough but it does work. Easy to sharpen if you can sharpen. Very poor casting. Even after sandblasting and repainting. Not pretty if your into that sort of thing. Lever and thickness gauge are pretty crude. Takes some skill to adjust since the blade is locked down by Allen head bolts, easy to misalign the blade while tightening. Comparing it to a vintage made quality splitter is like saying a Barry King Maul and a section of firewood log is the same thing. You can beat things with both of them, ones just a way nicer beater thing. I have no idea what the blade quality is, based on the casting I'm guessing not good. It has skived twenty or so pieces of leather so far since I sharpened it. I'm not a production shop, hobby only. Mine is most likely not tempered properly anymore (if ever) because of the monkey with the bench grinder. Edited September 20, 2015 by Oldtoolsniper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites