Tired of soft edge bevelers. Edge holding brand?

[Tallbald]

I have fought with a lower end edge beveler for years now thinking "I'm just not sharpening them to a razor edge like I've seen taught...". "It's my own fault" I've reasoned.

Anyway, I use a number 2 beveler almost exclusively, from a major chain retailer I don't want to mention. I have to fight with it constantly to trim the back side of a hide. I know that the back side is difficult anyhow, given the interlocking grain of the hide,  but right after a sharpening and wheel buff mine cuts OK for a few inches only then I have to begin my annoying choppy movements again to trim as I must.

Please tell me a brand that's hardened as I need and of a good enough high carbon steel to hold the edge I must have to get the trim finish I want. Thank you. Don.

 

[Bigfoote]

I do a lot of belts, I'd also like to find one that will put a nice rounded edge on both sides. I don't mind spending time sharpening If I could get something that would at least cut a whole belt or two without sharpening.

 

[alpha2]

Throw away the basic Tandy stuff, get AT LEAST the pro stuff. I'm presently replacing all my basic Tandy stuff with AT LEAST the Pro line stuff. They have a beveled underside to follow the line, and hold an edge for a lot longer. I never pick mine up without stropping it. That helps too. Check out some videos on now to set up a beveler stropping kit.

[Troy I]

Go to Berry King Tools...high quality...been using his tools for years.

http://www.barrykingtools.com/

[MADMAX22]

Yeah ecspecially if your only using one size grab a more expensive nice edger. Give Bruce  Johnson a call and grab a gomph or old osborne. He doesnt have much on his site right now but may be getting some more in. 

Also check the fleabay for old gomph edgers and such. 

[catskin]

22 minutes ago, MADMAX22 said:

Yeah ecspecially if your only using one size grab a more expensive nice edger. Give Bruce  Johnson a call and grab a gomph or old osborne. He doesnt have much on his site right now but may be getting some more in. 

Also check the fleabay for old gomph edgers and such. 

Am I the only one who wonders where Bruce gets shipment after shipment of these (good ) old tools and nobody else can ever find any?

[MADMAX22]

4 minutes ago, catskin said:

Am I the only one who wonders where Bruce gets shipment after shipment of these (good ) old tools and nobody else can ever find any?

Ya know I think he knows more old leather workers around the US than anybody else here on the forums. 

[electrathon]

Rons Tools are the best.  There are other good ones out there too.  I think the main difference in the Pro Line tools are the handles, not the steel or the temper.

[Bolt Vanderhuge]

6 hours ago, electrathon said:

  I think the main difference in the Pro Line tools are the handles, not the steel or the temper.

I started with the standard Tandy bevelers and now use the Pro line. They are different in many ways. The Pro line, while much better, does not do so good in very tight inside edges. I might have to get some of those corner ones at Barrys linked above. That is unless you are referring to Tandy's Pro line vs ones like Barry's sells. Then yeah it looks like the handle that is the main difference.

Standard Tandy's

 

Pro line

 

The ones at Barry's from the link earlier

Edited February 12, 2017 by Bolt Vanderhuge

[ZigZag]

I'm glad it's not just me having this problem. Are there any alternatives to Barry King to buy new? Also is there a guide on which size edger for which weight or thickness of leather.