Using a dremel to skive leather?

[strathmoredesigns]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to leather working and have been having a little trouble skiving. I just made a veg tan camera strap that I inadvertently cut off a couple of inches from when I was trying to thin out an end that I wanted to wrap around a D-ring. Anyway, I came across this video on the internet and was wondering if anyone had ever tried skiving with a dremel or rotary tool, and if so, how it went, and what they recommended using in terms of tools/grit?

Any thoughts or advice are appreciated.

Thanks,

Courtney

 

 

Edited February 15, 2017 by strathmoredesigns

[bikermutt07]

I have a steel and I haven't really utilized it for leather yet. But I think I would try using it for skiving before sanding edges. Those little sanding heads are pretty aggressive.

I was lucky enough to find a weaver splitter cheap enough to skive with.

[strathmoredesigns]

Yeah, I started out trying to figure out how to attach a burnisher to a dremel and discovered this by chance. Provided you have an appropriate tool and can figure out the right setting, it seems like it could be a lot easier than my super skiver.

[bikermutt07]

Steel??? Spell correct. Sheesh!

Dremel

[Tugadude]

I would try various knives before a rotary tool, but that's me.  Skiving isn't easy.  It is an acquired skill and takes time to master.  I skive all of the time and still struggle on some leathers.  BTW, that is another factor.  Some leather is notoriously difficult to skive.  

[Jack142]

I bought some thick leather to practice on, ( really thick leather),   and have been skiving my heart out,   oh, I bought it cause it was cheap cheap cheap

  I'm going to give this a try and let you know.

[strathmoredesigns]

Thanks, I'm eager to hear how it goes!

[Brianm77]

I tried, with very poor results I might add, to skive.  Then I bought one of these from the Tandy store, as long as the blade is crazy sharp, it is supprising how easy it is to use, and get good results.  The blade will start getting a little dull and I run it across the strop and we are good to go for a little bit. 

 

--edit-- I forgot the link

 

https://www.amazon.com/Skiver-3025-00-Replacement-Blades-3002-00/dp/B00IVS92WK%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-iphone-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00IVS92WK

Edited February 17, 2017 by Brianm77
Forgot to post the link

[strathmoredesigns]

Hmm... that's the tool I have. Maybe I'm just not practiced enough, but I cut right through a strip I was trying to skive.

[Brianm77]

So if it is going all the way through try picking up the back of the tool just slightly.  And like someone else said it may be the kind of leather you are using.  Only project other than practice I have used it on was chrome tanned on half and a oily pull up on the other side.   I was able to get both sides down to about the thickness of about 20 sheets of paper, which is what I was after.  Hope that helps.

Brian