handheld belt sander or planer for reducing 10 oz veg tanned to 6 oz

[JohnBarton]

We use a belt sander with a nice powerful motor. It works but it's loud and very time consuming and the results ae uneven.

I would be very happy to hear that the planer solution works.

I have one case model where it is CRITICAL that the leather match the edges of the endcaps perfectly flush. I can't sand the endcaps to match the leather or it damages the edges of the leather as well as makes the endcap edges uneven.

The only solution is to skive or sand or somehow make the last inch of the leather taper to be perfectly flush. But how to do this in a controlled manner is driving me crazy.

[bruce johnson]

{"I have one case model where it is CRITICAL that the leather match the edges of the endcaps perfectly flush. I can't sand the endcaps to match the leather or it damages the edges of the leather as well as makes the endcap edges uneven.

The only solution is to skive or sand or somehow make the last inch of the leather taper to be perfectly flush. But how to do this in a controlled manner is driving me crazy."}

If I am reading what you need to do, sounds like a bell kinfe skiver would get the jod done. A one inch taper is no big deal on those with the right presser foot set up.

[esantoro]

We use a belt sander with a nice powerful motor. It works but it's loud and very time consuming and the results ae uneven.

I would be very happy to hear that the planer solution works.

I have one case model where it is CRITICAL that the leather match the edges of the endcaps perfectly flush. I can't sand the endcaps to match the leather or it damages the edges of the leather as well as makes the endcap edges uneven.

The only solution is to skive or sand or somehow make the last inch of the leather taper to be perfectly flush. But how to do this in a controlled manner is driving me crazy.

Haven't been able to experiment more and have to before deciding if I should return the planer. The sander I'm keeping.

REvised method thus far only in theory:

1.Plane to edges,shouldn't take much time. Start in middle go out to edges and stop about an inch short of edge.

2. Take orbital sander around edges applying some pressure. It is good if 1" margin around edges is thinner than the rest. At least for bags, this helps with the the stitching.

Theoretical time projection (not including setup and cleanup) for 1 pass of the planer and finishing off with orbital sander (17" x 12" piece of leather): 2 minutes. Add a minute for each additional pass of the planer along the entire surface.

I'll try to get back to it this weekend.

Ed

[esantoro]

Playing around just a minute ago with my Osborne U-shaped channel gouger , I got to thinking that someone ought to make something like this that can plane, gouge or scrape a 3"-wide section. Something like a spokeshave but with a basic depth adjustment.

I've never used a spokeshave. Do they have depth adjustments?

Ed

[tonyc1]

Yes, Ed. My old, wooden spokeshaves have adjustable blades. Two wing nuts on the back and you can use the handles as burnishers if you want to, I know I do.

Tony.

[Windy]

Playing around just a minute ago with my Osborne U-shaped channel gouger , I got to thinking that someone ought to make something like this that can plane, gouge or scrape a 3"-wide section. Something like a spokeshave but with a basic depth adjustment.

I've never used a spokeshave. Do they have depth adjustments?

Ed

Ed ,

It sounds like you need a hand plane.You can adjust the

depth the blade will cut and since it has hand powered it is

easy to control. I imagine since mine will cut the hardest

wood with ease they should cut leather. Hand planes come

in many sizes and various blade angles. If I get the chance

this weeekend I will try my planes and let you know. I might

even try my cabinet scrapers on some leather to see how it

works. I can not help but feel somewhere in the history of

leather working there must have been a cross use of tools

between wood workers and leather workers.

WINDY .....Confused wood worker and leather worker.