Hilly Report post Posted February 3, 2008 I got a couple of Barry King tools (smooth beveler and a couple liners) and I must say that IMO, the beveler totally blows away my bevelers from Tandy. I was never really able to "walk" the beveler across my work before, but this one slides like butter on a hot skillet. It also leaves less choppy marks in the leather. For those of you just beginning in the craft (like me), it's really worth your extra $$$ to get some good tools when you can afford them. You won't believe the difference! I also ordered myself a head knife, cuz I'm hoping it will be easier for cutting heavy leather than my utility knife. Can't wait to get it and try not to cut off all my fingers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hidemechanic Report post Posted February 3, 2008 Just a quick note about knives. 1.Learn to sharpen them correctly. 2.When using them keep your free hand behind the blade. I was taught(as a right hander) to keep me fingers curled on my left hand while holding the leather while cutting This puts the tops of my finger nails down on the leather and makes less of a 'target' for the knife. If you use put your free hand down with your finger tips on the leather they are more exposed. Sometimes you forget but you will quckly learn the nicking knuckles is less damaging than nicking finger tips. Be safe-have fun. GH Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yaklady Report post Posted February 3, 2008 Isn't it amazing what a good tool does? I own a number of Barry's tools, and love every one of them. They are worth the money. I also have some Bob Beard tools and some Chuck Smith tools that I can't live without. Today, I made a trip down to Tandy's and they showed me a camouflage that they hit a total fo twice. You might be able to use it to reach into those hard to tool areas! The thing was twisted so badly, you could hardly tell what it was for. Those tools don't have enough steel in them. If you must buy tools from Tandy's, take a magnet to determine if it's really steel. If the magnet doesn't stick, don't buy it!!! That wasn't the first tool that bent on them. Kathy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted February 3, 2008 what head knife did you order? marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilly Report post Posted February 3, 2008 what head knife did you order?marlon This one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjbleather Report post Posted February 3, 2008 Hilly, I have never bought an Osborne directly (I have purchased a couple of previously owned Osbornes); but, I have heard from those that did. They claim that it does not come sharp, ready to cut. You will have to sharpewn it. That concerned me. So, I bought a round (Head?) knife from Bill Buchman. In fact, after I bought one, I bought a second skiving knife from him. His knives come sharpened and you do not have to do anything. Carl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted February 4, 2008 Hilly, I have never bought an Osborne directly (I have purchased a couple of previously owned Osbornes); but, I have heard from those that did. They claim that it does not come sharp, ready to cut. You will have to sharpewn it. That concerned me. So, I bought a round (Head?) knife from Bill Buchman. In fact, after I bought one, I bought a second skiving knife from him. His knives come sharpened and you do not have to do anything. Carl This is very true. Osborne assumes that you want to define the blade angle yourself, so they don't come sharpened. However, it is very easy to sharpen a head knife. If you have Al Stohlman's book on Leathercraft Tools, you can sharpen them yourself. It doesn't take too long and is very rewarding when you get it right. Once I got it right, I began to sharpen all my tools, and boy what a difference. It makes everything effortless. Marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
