Cutting 7-8oz

[Dynamik1]

Since safety scissors in 1st grade I havent been a very good cutter. In beginning this exciting new hobby I bought a decent set of shears from TLF and thought I would be in good shape. I have been playing around with some scraps and dont seem to be having much success cutting things straight or on the lines. Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I be using a different tool than shears? My goal is to make pocket holsters as well as IWB and OWB, so the curves arent all that sharp, but I know I am going to have to be able to cut cleanly and precisely to make a quality product.

Any feedback appreciated.

[sodapop]

http://www.springfieldleather.com/WebPage....L=knives_olfa_2...some will say a round/head knife...but the olfa is a good knife, break away blades etc...

darryl

Edited January 7, 2009 by sodapop

[tashabear]

Try a razor knife or box cutter. Shears cause the leather to skew, especially the heavier weights. They're good for rough cuts, but I tend to use a box cutter for the final trimdown.

[MADMAX22]

I use to use box cutter style blades and the regular craft exacto's but since I got a head (round) knife and it is by far the best way Ive tried so far. It may not be for the tight corners and such but for just about everything else it totally rocks (IMHO).

[Dynamik1]

...a head (round) knife ... is by far the best way Ive tried so far ... it totally rocks (IMHO).

Max,

Forgive my Newbie ignorance, but a head knife has a cylindrical wooden handle like an awl, but a 'half-moon' blade on the end right? How is this used? Do you line it up for a straight cut and 'rock' it in a slicing motion?

[Jordan]

I have used a variety of cutters, mostly Gingham shears and have found that as long as they are wicked sharp any of them will do the job. Some, you need a lot of practice and concentration (head knife, yes half moon evil looking thing) to make sure you cut only the leather item you want, not any of the all important body parts!

[Art]

Hi ____?,

I have never found shears to be easy for anything but gross cutting, although I have an electric round (well octagonal) knife from skill that is way better and faster for that. I have many head knives, some would say a collection, and I use them a lot, however a utility knife that is sharp and stropped also works. For really fine work, a surgical scalpel with #11 blade is a dandy little thing. A clicker knife is also very helpful in tight places doing heavy work a scalpel shouldn't be doing, keep it sharp. For outside curves, a head knife is my choice, but a utility knife will do. For inside curves, there is nothing that will do them better than the proper size round punch. I have them in sizes from less than 1/8" to well over 3", they cut a constant curve you can't match with a knife, keep them sharp.

The most important thing with knives is the ability to keep them sharp, more so than which knife you use. I know one leatherworker who uses mostly an old Case pocket knife which is wickedly sharp, and he seems to have been using it for at least 20 years that I know of. Before you buy a new knife, be confident in your ability to sharpen, hone, and strop anything. Different knives do different things better, there is not one "best" overall knife, however there may be an overall best knife for you, of all of your knives, it is the one you grab most often.

Art

Since safety scissors in 1st grade I havent been a very good cutter. In beginning this exciting new hobby I bought a decent set of shears from TLF and thought I would be in good shape. I have been playing around with some scraps and dont seem to be having much success cutting things straight or on the lines. Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I be using a different tool than shears? My goal is to make pocket holsters as well as IWB and OWB, so the curves arent all that sharp, but I know I am going to have to be able to cut cleanly and precisely to make a quality product.

Any feedback appreciated.

[badger]

Cutting tools really are a matter of personal preference.

There isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' way, or tool, if you get the result you need to make your work as good as it can be.

Bottom line is; if your hands can do what your mind wants, and a certain tool allows that to happen safely...it's the right way (for you).

I do 95% of my cutting, even through the thickest leather, with a standard utility knife, the cheap kind, with the blades sharpened and then stropped to a polish. I sold or gave away most of my head knives. The trick is to keep whatever you cut with lethally sharp. I mean the kind of sharp that makes a scalpel look like a wood rasp. John Bianchi says that if you can hear the knife cutting through the leather, it isn't sharp enough.

Keep your tools sharp, your hands clear and cut slowly.

Just my opinion, mind.

Cheers,

Karl

I agree with Jordan, cutting bits off yourself isn't a good way to lose weight

[Rawhide]

How to use a head knife

This is a link to the tips page that shows how to use a head knife. It's a scan of the Al Stohlman instruction on using it.

[hidepounder]

Dynamik 1

All of the responses you have received are good advice. Box knives, scalpels, pocket knives...they all will get the job done nicely! The important issue is learning to sharpen and polish the cutting edges.

I, like Art, have a collection of knives and other wicked cutting instraments...most of which sit in a box, never to be used again. I am a staunch advocate of learning to use a head (round) knife. Once you learn to use them, it is easy to cut a straight line, within the limits of a pencil mark, with no guide...I'm not exaggerating! The properties of the knife make them easy to use. There is definitely a learning curve and I avoided it for a long time because I didn't know how to sharpen properly. Once I learned how to make a head knife wicked sharp, there was no going back!

99% of my cutting is done with a head knife. I use a paring style straight knife to complete an inside corner cut made with the head knife and I use one of those rolling cutters on 2-3 oz leather...it's pretty handy and I use it only because I have it...I don't need it.

If you decide to make the big leap to buy a head or round knife...get a good one...don't compromise...you'll use it for life. So that's my two cents worth of free advice...hope it helps!

Just remember...don't bleed on the leather!

Bob

Edited January 7, 2009 by hidepounder