Making a splitter from a leather press...

[alexitbe]

Has anyone tried it?

Since leather presses are relatively cheap and splitters not, I was thinking of attempting this.

The leather press has almost everything necessary to be a splitter apart from the blade.  It has a driven top roller, an adjustable top roller (How precise I don't know).

If one can tap and thread some holes in to the front of the machine (I think the press I am interested in already has holes there-see pic) somewhere near where the two rollers meet.  Use a simple L bracket reaching from oneside to the other, with slits to adjust height and to mount a blade on.  Then find a blade or make one..  I think it is possible and reasonable thing to do...  yes?

The leather press:

 

So that I would end up with something like this, with the blade across the front...

 

Edited November 29, 2017 by alexitbe

[Matt S]

There is a lot more work there than the cost of a splitter would justify. What are you splitting? I bought my Cowboy lap skiver for £150. Clamped the handle down and used it to split 100mm wide strips of bridle leather. There's a 2" splitter for sale on eBay right now that takes utility knife blades that I'm tempted by for a similar price. If you need/want something like the crank splitter in the photo you can get Chinesium ones for under €/$1000. My vintage British one was about £250.

[alexitbe]

Well I would happily pay 250 for a crank handle splitter...  I think you got lucky there...

 

I can get the leather press for 50 Euros, so I am willing to spend another 150 on converting it... If and only if it would work well...

 

I am looking to be able to skive upto 6 inch strips of leather.. .No more than that..

 

I have been waiting a long time for a splitter to come available and nothing has turned up as yet, so I thought I might give this a go...

 

Cheers

ALex

[Matt S]

2 hours ago, alexitbe said:

Well I would happily pay 250 for a crank handle splitter...  I think you got lucky there...

I did, but there is an identical one on eBay UK for £350 right now. Shipping to the Continent would be expensive (50Kg) -- if they'll arrange it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hand-Splitting-Machine/272939511687?hash=item3f8c766f87:g:seAAAOSwb69Z15lM Bloody good machine, though like all British machinery it leaks oil like the Exxon Valdez. The big wheel is handy in that it stores a lot of energy. I've seen similar splitters come and go at less £/$/€.

<quote=alexitbe">I can get the leather press for 50 Euros, so I am willing to spend another 150 on converting it... If and only if it would work well...</quote>

Ironically I'm having trouble finding a leather press for a reasonable price. I'm making do with a pasta machine that I can't even find.

Thing is, fine tuning my splitter has given me an appreciation of how surprisingly exacting they are. I wouldn't feel confident converting a roller press to a splitter, even with one to compare with. Mind you, I'm no toolmaker.

<quote=alexitbe">I am looking to be able to skive upto 6 inch strips of leather.. .No more than that..</quote>

That's a wide piece of leather. What sort?

[mikesc]

If you do buy from the UK..look into parcelhero for shipping to Germany..

[alexitbe]

Thanks for the ebay link... I am watching it and will see how it goes.  Although I am not convinced parcelhero will ship 50kgs... I'll check.

 

With regard to presses, I have found that beeswax presses or laminating machines are cheap and could be a good alternative.

 

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Manuell-Laminator-Rollenlaminator-Kaltlaminator-Roller-25-5-650mm/272645659016?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649