Cutting shoulders straight in quicker time

[RockyAussie]

Please see attached pictures of how I am presently straightening up these 70 shoulders. I have to do this reasonably straight to next feed into the strap cutter and then split all to 2mm thick. Presently I am scribe cutting with the back of a pointy boot making knife and following this with the curved knife. This helps to keep my curve knife sharper longer due to it barely touching the cutting surface. I polish sharpen it once in this lot.The time to straighten this lot has just taken me 105 minutes(1.5min per). This time is to take of the trolley, straighten as shown and put onto another trolley. Any ideas appreciated and possibly rewarded.

Edited July 1, 2016 by RockyAussie
Clearer wording

[bikermutt07]

If you did all that in less than an hour and a half, you sir are a work horse.

I'm looking forward to seeing someone's idea of how to do it faster.

[RockyAussie]

Hi Bikermut07 All I did was straighten the edges of the 70 shoulders, not cut up and into strips or split yet.The time btw is 1 and 3/4 hours so far. I am getting close to 60 now and maybe getting slower and time as I get older gets more precious and I.d rather have me feet up and a stubby that much sooner.

[Colt W Knight]

Ive been wanting to make myself a head knife to try this style of leather cutting. Currently, I use a straight edge and a utility knife.  

[JLSleather]

70 shoulders.... so yer talkin' like 850 sq ft.... er.. I mean -- 80 meters to you.

That gonna be enough to keep you busy all week?

 

 

[MADMAX22]

There was a thread a long while back where someone made a basically 2x4 board clamp and had a utility knife that he sliced down the hide. I have been thinking of how I would make one. 

Was thinking probably the easiest homemade one is a straight board clamp/vise setup on my work table, then make a draw knife (not sure of nomenclature but the straight blade with a handle on each end) with a thin blade. 

[plinkercases]

What are you doing with all those 2mm thick straps if I can ask? and how thick are the side to start with?

[MADMAX22]

Basically what I am thinking of making is a table clamp like this picture but instead of on the side have it on top of the bench running the full length of the bench so you could slide the hide under it and bring out the edge you want to trim. 

 

Then make a thin one of this style blade that you could draw down just over the clamp. 

I think this method would be pretty quick and easy once it is setup. 

The only issue I could forsee is that the length of the clamp may not hold the middle portion well enough. 

Edited July 1, 2016 by MADMAX22

[JLSleather]

2mm roughly 5 oz .... about right for covering with salty croc?

[billybopp]

I have a Logan 60" matt cutter that I have found works very nicely for straightening the initial edge for strap cutting.  It's extremely easy to use, and big enough to nearly do most double-shoulders.  Any remainder that doesn't fit on the cutter is pretty easily extended by a hand cut.  It can do a vertical cut, or 45 degree bevel as needed.  It also does a nice job of cutting photographic matts, as it was designed to do.

Bill