Best strap cutter?

[Rolandranch]

I have both. It depends on how thick the leather is. If it's 8oz or less, the strap cutter would be great. If it's more than 8oz, I'd definitely go with the draw gauge. I was cutting (or trying to cut) 10oz leather with a tandy strap cutter and I broke 3 blades. One piece of a broken blade was hidden in the leather and I didn't know it until I cut myself pretty good on it. The draw gauge does take some getting used to and works best if you use it over a table edge. Hope this helps.

Ryan

[JKHelms]

Wooden strap cutter works good, but I use Schick injector razor blades in mine.

[billybopp]

8 hours ago, Rolandranch said:

I have both. It depends on how thick the leather is. If it's 8oz or less, the strap cutter would be great. If it's more than 8oz, I'd definitely go with the draw gauge. I was cutting (or trying to cut) 10oz leather with a tandy strap cutter and I broke 3 blades. One piece of a broken blade was hidden in the leather and I didn't know it until I cut myself pretty good on it. The draw gauge does take some getting used to and works best if you use it over a table edge. Hope this helps.

Ryan

Blood on your work is just another form of "customization".  

[Rolandranch]

4 hours ago, billybopp said:

Blood on your work is just another form of "customization".  

Lol. I was making reins for a friend when I cut myself. When I gave the reins to her I pointed out the blood spots and told her that the blood was free.

[bikermutt07]

5 hours ago, Rolandranch said:

Lol. I was making reins for a friend when I cut myself. When I gave the reins to her I pointed out the blood spots and told her that the blood was free.

I call it sissy juice.

The draw guage has always scared me. Why in the hell is that blade so damn long?

I have a few junk ones that I don't use. One came with a Terry Knipshield blade. I use the blade as one of my knives.

Someone should make a draw guage blade that is similar to a lip knife. Then it wouldn't be quite so dangerous.

[billybopp]

39 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

I call it sissy juice.

The draw guage has always scared me. Why in the hell is that blade so damn long?

I have a few junk ones that I don't use. One came with a Terry Knipshield blade. I use the blade as one of my knives.

Someone should make a draw guage blade that is similar to a lip knife. Then it wouldn't be quite so dangerous.

My draw gauge is a Civil War era H.O. Sauerbier with a modern CSO  blade, since the one that came with it was down to pretty much nothing.  The Osborne blades really are terribly pointy, so I filed it down and dulled it near the tip just so it wouldn't be quite so dangerous.  It really was scary before that, but not now: And it works great!

- Bill

[Rolandranch]

4 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

I call it sissy juice.

The draw guage has always scared me. Why in the hell is that blade so damn long?

I have a few junk ones that I don't use. One came with a Terry Knipshield blade. I use the blade as one of my knives.

Someone should make a draw guage blade that is similar to a lip knife. Then it wouldn't be quite so dangerous.

The nice thing about the long blades is that when you need a fresh edge to cut with, you can move the blade up or down instead of sharpening it every so often. And I cut myself on the broken blade of a tandy strap cutter... now I'm scared of those more than the draw gauges! I haven't cut myself on the draw gauge yet but when I do, you guys will be the first to know. 

P.s. about two weeks ago I cut my thumb pretty deep with my head knife. Does that mean I'm a real leather worker now? Do I get a purple heart or something? 

Edited March 7, 2019 by Rolandranch

[bikermutt07]

3 hours ago, Rolandranch said:

The nice thing about the long blades is that when you need a fresh edge to cut with, you can move the blade up or down instead of sharpening it every so often. And I cut myself on the broken blade of a tandy strap cutter... now I'm scared of those more than the draw gauges! I haven't cut myself on the draw gauge yet but when I do, you guys will be the first to know. 

P.s. about two weeks ago I cut my thumb pretty deep with my head knife. Does that mean I'm a real leather worker now? Do I get a purple heart or something? 

Knock on wood, I've yet to cut myself with any of my knives.

I have a healthy bit of respect for them. Especially that curved detail knife from Terry.

Anytime that thing is on the bench I'm completely aware of where it is. 

I treat that one like a loaded gun.

Edited March 7, 2019 by bikermutt07

[bermudahwin]

1 minute ago, bikermutt07 said:

Knock on wood, I've yet to cut myself with any of my knives yet. 

Ya next had to go and say it didnt ya.

I'm knocking wood for you too.

I cut my hand badly and went to ER three weeks ago, still not in the workshop, this was in the darn kitchen.

[Northmount]

Haven't cut myself yet with a draw gauge, but have with the wooden strap cutter.  I was squeezing the bars that hold the blade together to fit thinner leather.  The knife came up through the top bar and bit me!  Now there is a piece of leather glued over the top and bottom bars as a warning and for protection in case I didn't learn the lesson the first time.

For the draw gauge, grind the point off, grind it to a good radius.  You won't be using that top 1/4" anyhow and helps prevent accidental cuts if left sit upright.  I've heard of fellows cutting their wrist reaching for something on the other side of the knife.  Mine has a special place in a drawer and sits upside down, point down.

Tom