Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 I've always found that accurate cutting, for me, might just be THE biggest challenge in leather work. I have tried many knives, but had avoided the round knife ONLY BECAUSE of all the comments I've seen online, talking about the difficulty of learning to use one, (essentially) due to a relatively steep learning curve. WRONG!!! I LOVE this knife! It does most everything that other knives do, and does it better in most cases. Learning curve? Well, sure...every new type of tool has a skill set to be developed, BUT - right off the bat, I was kicking myself for listening to the "it's too hard to learn" crowd. Almost immediately, it became my favorite knife of all. I should have known that such a unique tool with such a long history, had good reasons behind its continuing popularity with leather workers. DOH!! (forehead slap) So don't shy away from the head knife...if you don't have one yet, make it next on your list of tools. You won't be sorry - it's not THAT difficult to learn, and it's worth its weight in gold IMHO. I can't say enough about this great tool. Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:18 PM, JazzBass said: I've always found that accurate cutting, for me, might just be THE biggest challenge in leather work. I have tried many knives, but had avoided the round knife ONLY BECAUSE of all the comments I've seen online, talking about the difficulty of learning to use one, (essentially) due to a relatively steep learning curve. WRONG!!! I LOVE this knife! It does most everything that other knives do, and does it better in most cases. Learning curve? Well, sure...every new type of tool has a skill set to be developed, BUT - right off the bat, I was kicking myself for listening to the "it's too hard to learn" crowd. Almost immediately, it became my favorite knife of all. I should have known that such a unique tool with such a long history, had good reasons behind its continuing popularity with leather workers. DOH!! (forehead slap) So don't shy away from the head knife...if you don't have one yet, make it next on your list of tools. You won't be sorry - it's not THAT difficult to learn, and it's worth its weight in gold IMHO. I can't say enough about this great tool. Expand Good for you, I am pleased that it works for you. I am great with half head knife but round knife is only for specific tasks for me. Don't have any issues with it, but years of using clickers knife and half head leave me rerely using the round knife. Horses for courses. H Quote
Members TomG Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 My problem with the round/head knife is it digs into the cutting surface. I'm usually cutting on a long pine board. What do you guys cut on? Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:30 PM, hwinbermuda said: Don't have any issues with it, but years of using clickers knife and half head leave me rerely using the round knife. Expand Interesting... I DO like the clicker's knife, as it's the knife my grandfather used for years at Endicott-Johnson shoes. I can certainly see the half-round knife as being wonderfully useful. Remember...I'm still a relative newcomer - it's just nice to find that I was wrong about this tool. re: the clicker's knife - do you resharpen the blades, or just replace them? I found that the ones from Tandy need at least stropping, right out of the package. Nonetheless, it's probably the best knife for really tight curves. On 3/21/2019 at 8:35 PM, TomG said: What do you guys cut on? Expand Poly board...I found that poundo board was too soft, resulting in what you mentioned - digging in too much. For skiving, I use the slab so the point can glide. Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:37 PM, JazzBass said: the clicker's knife - do you resharpen the blades, or just replace them? I found that the ones from Tandy need at least stropping, right out of the package. Nonetheless, it's probably the best knife for really tight curves. Expand I make my own blades out of hacksaw blades, sharpen, strop, use, strop and so on. One of my blades is 30 years old, and still very sharp. H Quote
Members Grumpymann Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:35 PM, TomG said: My problem with the round/head knife is it digs into the cutting surface. I'm usually cutting on a long pine board. What do you guys cut on? Expand Just picked up some new conveyor belt the last one I had lasted me a good decade. If there is a company that makes equipment drop in ask for some cast offs, keep a few bucks in hand but it's rarely needed. Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:53 PM, hwinbermuda said: I make my own blades out of hacksaw blades, sharpen, strop, use, strop and so on. One of my blades is 30 years old, and still very sharp. Expand WOW...that's EXACTLY what my grandfather used to do too! Quote
Members jcuk Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 Good for you, would not be without mine I use it for various jobs - no need to to buy to many fancy specific knives for those jobs. Hope this helps JCUK Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 I find it holds the edge better, and is certainly a better use of funds. Sensible man, your grandfather. H Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:58 PM, hwinbermuda said: Sensible man, your grandfather. Expand Haha! Folks from the Depression era were EXTREMELY good at saving, improvising, and repurposing just about everything! Quote
Members jcuk Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 8:35 PM, TomG said: My problem with the round/head knife is it digs into the cutting surface. I'm usually cutting on a long pine board. What do you guys cut on? Expand MDF Hope this helps JCUK Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 9:07 PM, jcuk said: MDF Expand Never thought of that one...AND it's cheap. One could cover an entire benchtop for the cost of a decent small cutting board. The other surface I use, is a type-specific, 2'x3' cutting mat. 5 ply pvc, self sealing. Good product, but I'll remember MDF for my next bench! https://www.amazon.com/US-Art-Supply-Professional-Scrapbooking/dp/B00L5I8RTW/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=US+Art+Supply+24"+x+36"+GREEN%2FBLACK+Professional+Self+Healing+5-Ply+Double+Sided+Durable+Non-Slip+PVC+Cutting+Mat&qid=1553202875&s=arts-crafts&sr=1-1-fkmrnull Quote
bikermutt07 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 I find myself using a wide variety of knives. I love my round knife, my clicker, after learning the application for the bevel point knife, I really like it too. And I have I think six more knives on order at the moment. Hi, I'm Matt, and I have a problem with knives.... Quote
bikermutt07 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 I find myself using a wide variety of knives. I love my round knife, my clicker, after learning the application for the bevel point knife, I really like it too. And I have I think six more knives on order at the moment. Hi, I'm Matt, and I have a problem with knives.... Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 10:38 PM, bikermutt07 said: Hi, I'm Matt, and I have a problem with knives.... Expand That's only the start of the problem though, we all have that, and dividers, calipers, stitching wheels, makers,irons punches. And on and on and on. @Matt S Collects old BIG machinery (ok I am jealous of the splitting machine) Dont even try to work out the ratio of sewing machines to forum members, I have 6 and don't think I have a problem. There are others on here that have way more. I have so many rulers, squares and straight edges its scary. Do you ever give yourself the feeling that you are a hoarder? I just have. OK Hi I'm Harry and I have a problem with ALL tools... Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 @bikermutt07 and @hwinbermuda: We're all "friends of Bill W" when it comes to tools. Maybe there's a "Friends of Tim Allen 12 Step Program" somewhere... Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 11:21 PM, JazzBass said: Friends of Tim Allen 12 Step Program Expand Few in the UK would get that reference, but I was hooked when it was shown at stupid o'clock in the morning over here. Loved the unseen neighbour. H Quote
Members Sanch Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 10:45 PM, bikermutt07 said: I find myself using a wide variety of knives. I love my round knife, my clicker, after learning the application for the bevel point knife, I really like it too. And I have I think six more knives on order at the moment. Hi, I'm Matt, and I have a problem with knives.... Expand Me too... Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 We might all crash the server as every member unburdens themselves with such an admission. Tim Allen got it right...we love our tools!! Quote
Members Matt S Posted March 21, 2019 Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 10:48 PM, hwinbermuda said: @Matt S Collects old BIG machinery (ok I am jealous of the splitting machine) Dont even try to work out the ratio of sewing machines to forum members, I have 6 and don't think I have a problem. There are others on here that have way more. Expand Harry, you've just forced me to count how many sewing machines I have. It's stayed in the single digits for now if I stick just to industrials. Might be time to thin the herd. I've at least been strict with myself and resisted the temptation of a "real" clicker press. It may or may not have something to do with the fact I've got over 1000Kg of iron in the shed already. My splitter's not that big, it's only a 12"er. On 3/21/2019 at 10:45 PM, bikermutt07 said: Hi, I'm Matt, and I have a problem with knives.... Expand I'm also Matt and I have... a few tools. How many? Always one too few. Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 @bikermutt07 You (and others) should read the introduction to the very first "Poor Richard's Almanac" by Benjamin Franklin, 1738. He humorously indicates a similar problem with his wife. I guess that nothing is new... I should copy/paste it here. Quote
bikermutt07 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 11:40 PM, JazzBass said: @bikermutt07 You (and others) should read the introduction to the very first "Poor Richard's Almanac" by Benjamin Franklin, 1738. He humorously indicates a similar problem with his wife. I guess that nothing is new... I should copy/paste it here. Expand You should. Quote
Members JazzBass Posted March 21, 2019 Author Members Report Posted March 21, 2019 Ben Franklin, 1738 Quote
bermudahwin Posted March 21, 2019 Report Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 11:39 PM, Matt S said: My splitter's not that big, it's only a 12"er. Expand But its electric, mines manual is 1.2 " or the bookbinding technique with a spokeshave and lots of bad language H On 3/21/2019 at 11:42 PM, JazzBass said: Ben Franklin, 1738 Expand Oh Yes, been there, H Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.