Edge Bevelers

[gmace99]

People in the UK can understand my English Red.  I also never get a problem when I am teaching in America, India, Argentina, France, Holland etc. It might not be the same version that you use. Then again we the British did let you use our language. It can't be our fault If you don't use it with a nice Scottish brogue. 

 

(Ps . I hate text it can make people sound as if they are bitching.  I'm having a laugh)

[Boriqua]

On 9/9/2016 at 9:15 PM, Steve75 said:

What type and brand edge bevelers are you guys using?  I am currently using Tandy Keen Edge Bevelers and have found they are not user friendly when beveling a corner or a tight radius.  Any insight given is appreciated.  

I have the same exact problem ... it aint you and it aint that the tool isnt sharp. Well I dont know that since I havent tried your tools but my edge beveler is sharp and whisks through leather .... so long as it is a straight line. I have 2 of the newer Tandy edgers and I have one of the old ones. old old like I got it with a kit in the early 90's.

I posted a few pix below. You can see that the newer (black) one is a chunk of steel at the end. It is perhaps 2.5 times larger top to bottom than my old edger. The old edger tapers to a fine curved tip and the opening gets progressively wider as it goes forward. So while it is a #2 edger the very ends of the 2 prongs are further apart than the actual cutting notch. you will also notice it has an inward curve on the outer edges. Oh my how useful for edging leather of various thicknesses instead of having a large blunt end. So it tapers outward, curves up and curves in !!

That is a well designed tool!! Wow .. really well thought out.

I used that tool for YEARS and would whisk around inside turns. I wanted to get a slightly larger size so I bought a new # 3 and its awful. Anytime I try an inside curve one of the prongs digs right into the leather. I pointed an arrow at what I think the culprit is. Besides being super thick and crude there seems to be a little katana sword edge that sticks out from the front. what a weird place to put a bevel on that tool but there it is right where it will dig in the leather. I have been following the thread hoping someone would make some good suggestions on a replacement. Getting that bevel right is worth a few dollars and I will pay a fair price if the tool is good but am afraid of spending the money without knowing. The New tandy round bevelers just SUCK!

I may try some careful creative grinding because as it stands the new Tandy edger is damn near worthless to me.

Edited September 12, 2016 by Boriqua

[billybopp]

I've heard good things about the Jeremiah Watt interchangeable blade beveler.  Cheap at something like $45 a full set and usably sharp out of the box.   Haven't tried them for myself yet, but they're on my buy list.

Bill

[Boriqua]

Found an informative video from one of our own. Thinking maybe an osborne ... see how he mentions lifting the toe. Was easy breezy with the old tandy edger but just cannot be done with the newer style ....  I have tried.

 

 

[YinTx]

The middle tool in the photos I show is a CS Osborne 133, just like the one that Bruce is showing in his video.  I like what it does, but it needs to be rescued.  Anyone know the best way to recover the damaged edge?

YinTx

p.s., its not an issue of sharpening, more like reshaping if you look closely at the opening, it is uneven.

YinTx

[ConradPark]

All cutting tools need to be properly sharpened to work well, kind of basic law - period. Low quality tools only means that you need to strop/sharpen more often, while better quality tools last longer in between. Pricier tools does not mean better quality. Everyone has personal preferences so the real only way to find out what works for you is to first try things out. Amazing how many people that actually forget that part. Also, rarely one tool covers everything.

I have plenty of Craftool and Ivan (for a while in the past Craftool had most of their tools made by Ivan company in Taiwan) bevelers and they are perfect in my busy studio where the tools change hands many times and often get dropped on the floor etc. But then when I do a custom project with especially softer leather and smaller items with refined edges, I bring out my 'branded' bevelers, however, it is still all depending on the project - and that dictates the tool - not the other way around.

[TinkerTailor]

I take a run at all my tools with needle files and a buffer on a dremel.  Bevelers and creasers especially.  There is always a ridge, point or bad curve somewhere, and they can always use a polish to glide better. I make tools as well. Check this one out, it is made from a screwdriver.  It is both a beveler or a creaser depending on which way you run it, I included  pictures of both. It is in the #3-4 size range.

Works great as a stitch ripper as well. Just slip it between the layers and go to town.

[Boriqua]

Hey That is a nice looking tool there Tinker!

I have a question ... some edgers are listed in sizes like 1,2,3,4 and I am now finding some measured in inches. I have only ever bought them by number .. does anyone know what a 2,3 measure out to in inches?

Alex

Found the answer and posted a link for anyone else that is looking. Now to figure out the difference between the common edger and the western edger

 

http://www.csosborneleathertools.com/product_detail.php?p_id=177

Edited September 13, 2016 by Boriqua

[Thor]

16 hours ago, YinTx said:

The middle tool in the photos I show is a CS Osborne 133, just like the one that Bruce is showing in his video.  I like what it does, but it needs to be rescued.  Anyone know the best way to recover the damaged edge?

YinTx

p.s., its not an issue of sharpening, more like reshaping if you look closely at the opening, it is uneven.

YinTx

Yin some not so bright person must have used a jewelers file to sharpen it and of course the diameter was wrong. You will have to bring the large groove that same distance back and re-polish the edge. You can either use sandpaper on a whatever matches the diameter of that groove or find a file that diameter. CSO sends sharpening tools with there edgers and bevelers. 

[Steve75]

On Monday, September 12, 2016 at 4:10 PM, Boriqua said:

I have the same exact problem ... it aint you and it aint that the tool isnt sharp. Well I dont know that since I havent tried your tools but my edge beveler is sharp and whisks through leather .... so long as it is a straight line. I have 2 of the newer Tandy edgers and I have one of the old ones. old old like I got it with a kit in the early 90's.

I posted a few pix below. You can see that the newer (black) one is a chunk of steel at the end. It is perhaps 2.5 times larger top to bottom than my old edger. The old edger tapers to a fine curved tip and the opening gets progressively wider as it goes forward. So while it is a #2 edger the very ends of the 2 prongs are further apart than the actual cutting notch. you will also notice it has an inward curve on the outer edges. Oh my how useful for edging leather of various thicknesses instead of having a large blunt end. So it tapers outward, curves up and curves in !!

That is a well designed tool!! Wow .. really well thought out.

I used that tool for YEARS and would whisk around inside turns. I wanted to get a slightly larger size so I bought a new # 3 and its awful. Anytime I try an inside curve one of the prongs digs right into the leather. I pointed an arrow at what I think the culprit is. Besides being super thick and crude there seems to be a little katana sword edge that sticks out from the front. what a weird place to put a bevel on that tool but there it is right where it will dig in the leather. I have been following the thread hoping someone would make some good suggestions on a replacement. Getting that bevel right is worth a few dollars and I will pay a fair price if the tool is good but am afraid of spending the money without knowing. The New tandy round bevelers just SUCK!

I may try some careful creative grinding because as it stands the new Tandy edger is damn near worthless to me.

I apologize for the vagueness of my original post.  I have read the posts and yours spells out the issue nicely.  I don't like that I am not able to use my bevelers on tight corner, especially inside corners.  

I appreciate all the advice on how to sharpen the bevelers.  It is good knowledge.  I also have Stohlman's book on leather tools and how to sharpen them.

Just looking for recommendations on which bevelers perform well in addressing tight corners without gouging the leather.