What's your favorite skiving tool?

[strathmoredesigns]

Ok, so I'll admit it. Skiving is not my strong point and I haven't invested a ton of time in getting better at it, but I know I need to. I have invested a little money bouncing between tools/ideas though. So far I have Tandy's Super Skiver and their Saftey Beveler. I also have sandpaper disks for my dremel and a small trimming plane, but nothing's really clicked yet. I watch videos and people make it look easy and I attempt it and I'm either tearing up my project or like barely taking anything off. I was sort of most hopeful that I'd be able to master the Safety Beveler and so I brought it to a tooling class the other week. Well, imagine my surprise when the instructor told me I was using it the wrong way (I was skiving away from myself) and then gasped and said "Oh, you're left-handed!"  No one told me the tool was right-handed and I never realized it! I spent the rest of the class trying to use it with my right-hand and cursing Tandy's lack of labeling. 

I came home determined to find a left-handed Safety Beveler. Needless to say, I've found some lovely metallic colored ones, but no left-handed versions. I did however see more videos of people using knives and other tools to effortlessly and perfectly skive their edges. So, I figured I'd ask you guys. If you were going to invest the time in mastering one skiving tool, what would your go to be?

[bermudahwin]

Standard English Paring Knife.

Its what I have used since 1983. Same knife too.

[zuludog]

Similar to hwinbermuda

I have a home made kiridashi - cum - english paring knife; made from a piece of 25mm wide industrial hacksaw blade. I'm sure you could find someone to make something similar, otherwise Search the Net for 'kiridashi' and 'leather paring knife'

George Barnsley was a traditional tool maker in Sheffield, England. They ceased trading years ago, but their old stock is still available from www.gandmtools.co.uk. Look through their website, they have various skiving  & paring knives, including a George Barnsley 10" L/H Paring knife, for £15  = $19-70

Search YouTube to see how they are used

 

Edited March 4, 2019 by zuludog

[terrymac]

For a skiver that won't break the bank is the one Lisa Sorrel sells.  It comes sharp and the key to any skiver is keeping it sharp.  Lisa advertises on this site or she used to

Hope this helps

Terry

[zuludog]

I also use a Japanese style leather knife for both cutting and some skiving. Once you've got the hang of it there's no problem with the asymmetric blade. Again, Search YouTube to see how they're used

www.goodsjapan.com sell left handed versions, so the bevel of the cutting edge is on the correct side for left handers

Whatever you settle on, you'll need to keep it absolutely razor sharp

[D28]

I use a Stohlman and an Osborne English paring knife. I have most of the other blade types as well but rarely use them.

I feather edge of books with them and feel that I have more control than the razor blade types. They just need to be super sharp.....

Edited March 5, 2019 by D28

[bikermutt07]

This thread got me motivated.....

So, I just ordered one from Lisa Sorrell.

[Aven]

1+  on Lisa's skiving knives. 

I have both sizes even though I find myself grabbing the smaller one most of the time, I'm glad I got the larger one as well.  Keeping them sharp has been easy, just strop them. Easy to use too, but if you dig through Lisa's youtube videos, she does one on skiving that is worth the watch if you struggle with skiving.

[Sheilajeanne]

I just watched the video of the safety beveler. And you know what...it reminds me of the parer I use for paring vegetables! Hm...wonder if that would work? My aunt was left-handed, so her parer was wicked sharp on the right side, and right-handed people couldn't get it to pare for them at all. 

The more you use them the sharper the blade gets. My mom managed to amputate a very large piece of her baby finger while peeling potatoes one night! :D

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/rsvp-endurance-reg-vegetable-peeler/1046705327?skuId=46705327&&enginename=google&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand__&adpos=1o1&creative=259324461247&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&product_id=46705327CA&mrkgadid=612922151&mrkgcl=610&rkg_id=0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoNWQvZbq4AIVAbjACh1uKwfmEAkYASABEgITivD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[YinTx]

I use a variety of knives for skiving, it really depends on the situation.  And as I get used to certain tools, I begin to use them more.  For instance, I hadn't really used the safety skiver I have, but when I learned to properly sharpen the blade, it became really useful.  But I'm not so good with the super skiver I have.  For some instances, the round knife does wonders for me.  I have a Barnsley paring/skiving knife, sometimes it works well, sometimes I have to use something different.  Also, my splitter works great for lap skiving belts/straps etc.

YinTx