TOOL TIP this week

[RockyAussie]

Just recently I saw a french edge discussion and thought I would share one of the many tools I developed over the years which some might find helpful. This one starts off as a piece of pine timber around 6" long by 1+1/2" x 3/8' (180x40x10mm) and a couple of bits of Masonite or whatever. To alter the width wider just stack stiff cardboard bits until you have the desired cutting width and tighten the razor blade down on an angle to allow easy cutting.Until you become proficient in its use put something like a piece of plastic under to not cut into the underneath piece.

[billybopp]

That's cool.   I love homemade and repurposed tools!

 

 

[zuludog]

That's interesting. So far I've managed without anything like that, but I'll bear it in mind if the need ever arises

So you both like repurposed & home made tools?

I have made a skiving knife from  an old decorator's filling knife I picked up from a car boot sale for 50 p, about 80 cents. I cleaned it up and re-sharpened it with files, oilstones & a strop; it's now razor sharp. I also put a slight angle on the cutting edge. You need a good one with a forged blade, not stamped. Even new they're only about £7, say $10

Sorry but I'm a bit of a technophobe and I don't know how to post pictures, but you should get the idea without too much of a problem

At the moment I'm asking around to see if someone can cut, re-shape, and sharpen an old saw blade into a kiridashi style craft knife for leather cutting

Be careful, as this sort of thing can get addictive. You might find yourself collecting useful bits of steel, rusty tools, broken kitchen utensils, and so on

Edited June 19, 2016 by zuludog

[RockyAussie]

HI Zuludog. The tools in the pics are just something I came up with when I had to do a few hundred french edged wallets and once I made 1 and it worked they only took about 1/2 hour each to knock up.