Cutting Around A Template Which Blade?

[TwinOaks]

I disagree with the statement "As for cutting round corners, it is impossible to cut round small corners with any knife....". I've seen it and done it too many times.

That said....

If it's a really intricate pattern, you could cut it first with your swivel knife to get through the grain, then follow with whichever blade you use best to complete the cut through the flesh side. It will be a multi-pass cut, but I haven't seen any rules that state we HAVE to cut clean through something in one try.

[oltoot]

none of the above, My idea, mark aroud the template with a marking awl then you can move the piece around for best light, angle etc and cut with a round knife, my go to for just about everything

[DavidL]

Source is Francis from leatherconnection.com

Tracing with an awl first is my go to. For grained leather it is very difficult to see the line.

I simply press down with knife blade right at the corner and repeat at the end. This no seems to work best.

Edited November 29, 2015 by DavidL

[Equiplay Saddlery]

none of the above, My idea, mark aroud the template with a marking awl then you can move the piece around for best light, angle etc and cut with a round knife, my go to for just about everything

+1

[Art]

It all boils down to what you have and what you are handy with. If all you've got is a chainsaw, but you are handy with it, it will get the job done (however your sandpaper costs may increase dramatically). Experts are experts at using whatever they use; a $15 utility knife can outperform the best head knife in the right hands, and the inverse is also true. It just helps if whatever you have is sharp.

Art

[TheCyberwolfe]

The surest way for me to screw something up is to try and cut against a template - sure as <whatever>, that template will slip and I'll waste a couple inches of leather doing it over. So, my method is to trace onto the leather and then cut. If I'm having trouble seeing my lines or just want to make sure I know where I'm cutting, I turn my template and my leather grain-side down and trace with a ball-point pen on the flesh side (gettin' old sucks...)

And if anyone tries to tell you a true corner can't be cut with a straight knife, have them watch the video on Round / Head knife use on the Springfield Leather channel. Denny will prove otherwise.

[JamesR]

I cut inside corners with a hole punch or a round end punch. Although it might not work if the hole radius is different then the pattern.

I then make my knife cuts to meet the edge of the hole.

I also bought corner cutters from Springfield that work very well.

[johnv474]

I vote for the clicker knife as well, for the reasons said by others, and for its manueverability.

If the template is just straight lines,like for a briefcase, that maneuverability may not add any value.

Oh, and following up on what JamesR just said above, it' possible to use a round punch to cut exterior corners too. If you buy a spare belt punch (round), then file down part of the circle, you can have a corner punch for any small radius. I know Osborne makes those up to 3/4" diameter.

[Lippy]

FYI, the industrial knife sold by Tandy is actually made by Warren Cutlery. Nice people and you can buy direct from them. https://www.warrencutlery.com

Here's an interesting discussion about the traditional clicker knife. http://halflightbindery.com/journal/2014/3/28/66mqiv4g4mnt7clbkahnulb3nml752

Perhaps there's a reason the "traditional" head knife and clicker knife are still around. The old school leather workers must have tried many different knife styles and those two have survived. Guessed they worked!

Cheers!

[Kulafarmer]

FYI, the industrial knife sold by Tandy is actually made by Warren Cutlery. Nice people and you can buy direct from them. https://www.warrencutlery.com

Here's an interesting discussion about the traditional clicker knife. http://halflightbindery.com/journal/2014/3/28/66mqiv4g4mnt7clbkahnulb3nml752

Perhaps there's a reason the "traditional" head knife and clicker knife are still around. The old school leather workers must have tried many different knife styles and those two have survived. Guessed they worked!

Cheers!

Thanks for the link to Warren,

Excellent products