strap skiving

[bvc79]

Any recommendations on the best tool to use for skiving straps?  I've been doing it with mixed results with layers of playing cards, and a japanese skiving knife.   After today, I'm fed up with doing it the 'creative' way.

Sorry for the newbie question, but I am after all, a newbie.  :/

 

-Brian

 

Edited January 9, 2018 by bvc79

[fredk]

I presume you are just skiving a bit for the buckle end?

I mainly use a 'Super Skiver', using a 'Safety Beveler' for the edges first

Super Skiver;  https://www.tandyleather.eu/en/product/super-skiver

Safety Beveler;  https://www.tandyleather.eu/en/product/safety-beveler

Recently I bought one of these;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skiving-Machine-New-Black-Handheld-Cut-Leather-Tools-Skiver-Cutting-Splitter-V-/132240769186?hash=item1eca2a00a2

Does the job very well and quickly

 

[Basically Bob]

I would highly recommend that you consider a bench mounted splitter.  I was extremely fortunate, a few years ago to win a small vintage splitter at a local leather workers event.  It is one of those tools, that, as a hobbiest, may seem hard to justify, but I can tell you that I really don't know how I would get along without mine.  

 

Edited January 9, 2018 by Basically Bob

[Matt S]

Are you lap skiving (tapering the end of a strap so it folds round a buckle or loop, or joins another piece of leather neatly) or skiving the entire length of a strap, or skiving the edges of a strap (to created a turned edge)?

Each of these could be done freehand with a skiving knife. I have a symmetrical kiridashi, which I only use for this purpose. For lap skiving I also like a French edger, though TBH I use by benchtop lap-skiver most of the time. Reducing the entire length of a strap I have a crank splitter but a lap-skiver can work if you have a way of locking it off.