Randal and Osborne Splitters

[Rossr]

Two splitters i got over the years.   Never played around with them I should clean em up and see how they do.   They are neat old pieces.  Thought some others might like to see

 

Ross

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dragonhawke]

Absolutely you should clean them up, sharpen the blade and take them out for a test drive. The one with the cast handle looks like you slide it in/out for depth adjustment and lock knob on the left to retain the setting, maybe? Would also love to get my hands on it to completely measure, draw, 3d model and cast it in aluminium or brass.

Edited November 13, 2017 by dragonhawke

[bruce johnson]

I refurbish these quite a bit. Feel free to ask questions as you go. The wood bottom splitters are very simple and some people really like them. The Randall Chase is a great splitter, and one of my personal favorites as a user. They can be a little trickier to break down and clean, then rebuild and adjust but once you've got them figured out it is intuitive. 

 

[YinTx]

Count yourself lucky, I've been on the hunt for a nice Randall type splitter for some time.  Nice collection you have going! 

YinTx

[Rossr]

My curiosity as I own a bell skiver is there a use for these types of manual machine? Seems to me with the Bell skiver around these aren't needed.  That being said I like em and think they are a neat!    I am going to go over the Randal for sure The osborne I don't know what I will do with it yet.  But it isn't hurting anything sitting in my shop. 

 

I dont know about lucky Yin,   More of I spent the money and here they are...

 

Ross

 

R

[bruce johnson]

They will go wider than your bell knife, they will  both level skive/level split the ends of straps. The wood bottom can do an infinite tapered or lap skive.  

[YinTx]

3 hours ago, Rossr said:

I dont know about lucky Yin,   More of I spent the money and here they are...

 

Ross R

Yes, I get that, but also a part of it is finding the one you are willing to spend the $ on.  I have seen several for sale, but not one I have been willing to shell out the asking amount for.  When I find that one, I'll consider myself lucky as well.

Do you use your bell skiver for strap ends, belt buckle ends and to thin down wider strips of leather for wallet interiors?  I've been wanting the splitter for that, ...and I wasn't sure a bell skiver would do it...

YinTx

[Rossr]

Yin,

 

I cant say I have used the bell skiver that much, I got it with the shop I bought out.  The straps and belt ends for sure.   The wallet interior I dont know depends on width.   I have a 6 inch landis model 30 I have used to split leather down too.

 

Bruce,

 

I have checked out your site and lot of information on both those machines. I can see your point about the width.  guess I havent had anything that wide I needed done too yet.  but new projects every day!

 

 

Ross

[Rossr]

Well I cleaned up the wood bottomed one.  The Blade still needs sharpened more.    and based on the pitting it clear was around water in its life.  but still functional I think.   I do notice that one side is slightly higher than the other if you look across the roller from left to right in relation to the blade.   I am wondering if the work around is to shim underone of the legs?

 

Also wondering best way to sharpen the blade.

 

Thanks

 

Ross

[bruce johnson]

Looks good. Shim between the blade and frame to raise the low side up. Sharpen with your fine abrasive of choice going through the grits to end  with a clean mirror finish. Flat on the bottom, follow the bevel on top. Blades don't have to be around water to pit. Acids in leather can do it, hand carboned steel will pit some, Work it until you have a clean edge with not pitting on the edge or just behind it. Pits further up usually are worked out before they get to be an edge.