Cutting even straps

[Jordan]

The wood strap cutter I use is terrible for the thin stuff for that I use a straightedge and razor knife or a rotary cutter. Good luck with your quest, you will find a way that works for you just have to try a few different methods.

[Maeshin]

Thanks everyone ^_^ I appreciate all of your prompt and helpful replies. It looks like I will have to just go back to cutting the soft leather by hand and leave the strap cutter to the thicker leathers I work with. Good to know that I'm not using it improperly ^_^

[TZHunter]

When I needed precise thicknesses on thinner leather, I've had better luck by lightly glueing 2 pieces together, then cutting/splitting them with the cutter, then separating the 2 pieces. .. the thicker edge makes it less likely to curl.

[Maeshin]

When I needed precise thicknesses on thinner leather, I've had better luck by lightly glueing 2 pieces together, then cutting/splitting them with the cutter, then separating the 2 pieces. .. the thicker edge makes it less likely to curl.

Good idea ^_^ How do you get the glue off afterward though?

[TZHunter]

The only times I've done this (glueing together before cutting strips), I've always glued rough sides together and the rough sides would never be seen in the finished product so it didn't matter if a little glue residue was on the under side. . . for me glueing was also a little pain but it got the job done for that project. . . didn't know/think about the rotary cutters the others have suggested. .. they are pretty inexpensive and with a metal straight edge, should be able to cut pretty darn straight and pretty quick also on thin leathers. . . I'm gonna do this in the future rather than glueing together.

[Drac]

if you really really gotta stick 2 pieces together for whatever reason, instead of using glue use REMOVABLE double sided poster tape. that's what I use to hold a template down on some of my leather and it doesn't leave a residue on it. same if I'm using a template to paint something onto the leather. of course, I haven't used it on unfinished veg tan, so I'd check it on a piece of scrap first or have it stuck onto an area that's gonna get cut off. it does work on the underside of garment leathers though. at least the stuff that I use, anyway.

[HorsehairBraider]

Drac, that's a great idea to use 2-sided tape. I often have to cut extremly fine lace, so thanks for the tip!

[Maeshin]

if you really really gotta stick 2 pieces together for whatever reason, instead of using glue use REMOVABLE double sided poster tape. that's what I use to hold a template down on some of my leather and it doesn't leave a residue on it. same if I'm using a template to paint something onto the leather. of course, I haven't used it on unfinished veg tan, so I'd check it on a piece of scrap first or have it stuck onto an area that's gonna get cut off. it does work on the underside of garment leathers though. at least the stuff that I use, anyway.

That's a pretty good idea ^_^ I think I'll do that the next time that I need to cut around a template so it stops slipping and sliding everywhere. I seem to have a lot of issues with things sliding around when I'm trying to cut them : p