splitting tool

[Tpc]

Hi, Has anyone made there own leather splitting tool? They are so expensive, I can't justify the cost. Thanks. T

[bikermutt07]

Just start saving and wait for a deal. I found a perfect condition heritage splitter for 250.00 on Craigslist.

The deals come along and you just have to be ready to pounce. That one deal turned out about 3,000.00 worth of tools for 350.00. Maybe more.

[Matt S]

I looked into making my own a while ago for cost and availability reasons. At the time I had access to a very well equipped machine shop and a tame engineer/machinist. Every way I looked at it, it would have cost me more to manufacture one than to import a Chinese one, and I couldn't afford that. And that was assuming my first attempt would have worked, which is doubtful considering how little information is available on them.

In the end I waited and, like biker mutt, pounced on a deal on an old English crank splitter. In the mean time my £100 Cowboy lap skiver sort of did the job (with a lot of swearing and ruined leather).

[Dwight]

I waited for Tandy to do their Black Friday special, . . . got a small one for $199, . . . no way I could have engineered and manufactured something that works as well as that little jewel.

Be warned up front though, . . . while it is "sharp" from the factory, . . . the blade needs a good 100 stroke dressing from a home made "strop on a board".

Oh, . . . and that is 100 strokes on the top, . . . AND, . . . 100 strokes on the bottom, . . . + / -, . . . to get that razor edge that lets you cut really well.

While for the most part, it is only used for belt blanks, . . . I have cleaned up holster parts with it, . . .  

Watch a couple of Youtubes on how to sharpen the thing, . . . it is a good investment IMHO.

May God bless,

Dwight

[cowboycolonel]

I agree with Dwight.  I have and 8" and a simpler 6" model, and There's no way I could envision making a similar product for anywhere the cost of those.  I regret that I am not religious about stropping these blades, as I have never been able to strop them innn situ, and it's a pain to remove them and then to re-set the splitter.  I do take them out to a professional sharpening service every other month or so and then go to work.  Couldn't live without them.

[bikermutt07]

Also FWIW, even a with a well sharpened manufactured machine it is no joy to pull a 4" wide piece thru. It's tough. Almost impossible with horween cxl.

[Dwight]

8 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

Also FWIW, even a with a well sharpened manufactured machine it is no joy to pull a 4" wide piece thru. It's tough. Almost impossible with horween cxl.

Vice grips and Cheerios there bikermutt07, . . . , . . . actually I have a time with mine as well, . . . but when it is done, . . . it is so, so, so much easier than trying to thin down a piece of leather with hand tools.

I'm too old to spend the money that would get me a machine that would do an 8 or 10 inch piece, . . . cannot justify it, . . . but it sure would be nice to have one.  Put the leather in, push the button, . . . catch it so it don't hit the floor and get dirty, . . .  yep, I'd love that.

May God bless,

Dwight

[bikermutt07]

Me too, Dwight. I would love a big cowboy or cobra splitter. It's not anymore in my future than winning the Powerball.

[Tpc]

Thanks for the comments guys. If I come up with something I'll let you know. T