Video: Possible Schärf-Fix 2000 Alternative?

[Daniel G]

I was browsing youtube and ran across this device. Wondering if anyone has experience with it? It's not as pretty as the Schärf-Fix 2000, but looks like it gets the job done.

I'm not sure how to embed videos on this forum, so I'll just leave the link for now.

https://youtu.be/ai21-SxZ2Ow

http://www.leathercraftpattern.com/Leather-skiver-splitter-thinner

Edited September 29, 2015 by Daniel G

[lilwaysleather]

came across this as well on ebay about a week ago. Looks interesting. Hopefully some reviews come out soon.

[Northmount]

OK. I decided to get one to try it out. Took about a week after shipping date to arrive, so wasn't on a slow boat from China.

It comes completely disassembled. The instructions in the box are all Chinese. After assembling it, I found a download with English instructions. That would have been much more helpful! Instructions

It skives soft leather fairly easily. On vegtan, it kept digging in and cutting right through, making a useless mess. The blade has too high an incline wrt the leather, so just keeps cutting deeper. I decided to try reducing the angle (actually bending the blade holder closer to 90 degrees) to about half of what it was supplied as. Now it will skive vegtan too. The instructions say to place the blade about 1 to 2 mm behind the apex of the roller. If you don't, the leather runs into the bottom of the blade holder and screw heads. The blade needs to be supported as close to the edge as possible to stop the blade from flexing. So I will be filing the bottom blade support at a much shallower angle to give the clearance needed plus the support.

It uses standard disposable razor blades. Comes with 3 packages of five.

If you watch the video in the OPs original post, It looks real easy to skive. You will need some practice to get it to behave that nicely. Notice that the user in the video has left a number of screws out of the blade holder and bracket. Makes it easier and quicker to change blades or skiving angle. The version I received has the blade clamping bar on the top of the blade holder, whilst the video has it under the blade holder.

The "limit block" or guide is useless.

The video and instructions show it assembled to pull the leather from left to right. I reassembled mine to pull from the right to the left. I can see better what is happening, and find it easier to guide with my right hand rather than my left.

For any amount of skiving, I find this easier to use and more repeatable than a skiving knife, round knife, or safety skiver. It will take me a little more practice to go around corners, and to start right at the end of a strap. Once started, it goes well now (with the lower blade angle).

Tom

[soccerdad]

How much did you pay, including shipping?

[Northmount]

How much did you pay, including shipping?

$120 USD plus $27 USD shipping. (Sep 30)

Tom

[panchoskywalker]

I was looking at that skiver too, I aslo saw these on aliexpress, I feel tempted on the first one. I'm just sharing.

1. For about US$200

http://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/Leather-paring-device-kid-max-35mm-width-Manual-leather-skiver-handle-leather-peel-tools-vegetable-tanned/1243106_32511083635.html?spm=2114.04010208.3.10.iCvdBS&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_1,searchweb201644_4_10001_10002_10005_301_10006_10003_10004_62,searchweb201560_8,searchweb1451318400_6150,searchweb1451318411_6452&btsid=a4864808-3050-42a7-89be-8b6cc3292427

2. For about 238 euros.

http://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/6-inch-Manual-leather-skiver-handle-leather-peeling-tools-DIY-shovel-skin-Machine-split-leather-vegetable/1243106_32378843819.html?spm=2114.04010208.3.1.iCvdBS&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_1,searchweb201644_4_10001_10002_10005_301_10006_10003_10004_62,searchweb201560_8,searchweb1451318400_6150,searchweb1451318411_6452&btsid=a4864808-3050-42a7-89be-8b6cc3292427

3. For about 234 euros

http://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/Leather-splitter-Skiving-machine-Peeling-machine-Paring-machine-Leather-skiver-Vegetable-tanning-Scrape-thin-tool/1314153_32382431658.html?spm=2114.04010208.3.29.iCvdBS&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_1,searchweb201644_4_10001_10002_10005_301_10006_10003_10004_62,searchweb201560_8,searchweb1451318400_6150,searchweb1451318411_6452&btsid=a4864808-3050-42a7-89be-8b6cc3292427

[club49]

I will stick with a knife, if I do buy a machine it will be made in the USA.I have enough problems reading instructions in English.

Jim

[Northmount]

Attempted to do some more work a few days ago with the Chinese Skiver / Paring machine.

Attempted to skive the edge of some 8/9 oz. Chrome tanned.  It just kept digging in deeper.  Changed the angle of the knife, but didn't improve.  I went back to one that I made modelled on the Scharf Skiver.  Works much better.

Tom

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Northmount
added photo since originals are gone from above post

[panchoskywalker]

On 19/8/2016 at 3:04 PM, northmount said:

Attempted to do some more work a few days ago with the Chinese Skiver / Paring machine.

Attempted to skive the edge of some 8/9 oz. Chrome tanned.  It just kept digging in deeper.  Changed the angle of the knife, but didn't improve.  I went back to one that I made modelled on the Scharf Skiver.  Works much better.

 

Tom

 

Any picture to share with us?

 

Edited September 6, 2016 by panchoskywalker

[Northmount]

9 hours ago, panchoskywalker said:

 

The Chinese one or my copy of the Scharf?

Tom