Members jrny4wrd Posted January 11, 2020 Members Report Posted January 11, 2020 I need a small splitter that will work well for wallet backs. Needs to split at least 4”. I had seen bench top splitters, and wondering if they are worth the price. I would like to use the same leather for the back as the insides m, so need to split down to 2oz. Any advice on a decent one that works? Does any of Tandy’s work? Quote
CFM Hardrada Posted January 11, 2020 CFM Report Posted January 11, 2020 I'd avoid Tandy's splitters. Looks like someone here got a hernia trying to pull a 4" stripe through one: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/83495-craftool-deluxe-leather-splitter/?tab=comments#comment-563569 I'd look elsewhere. Maybe Weaver's Heritage splitters? The CS Osbornes are another option, but they are quite pricey. Quote
terrymac Posted January 11, 2020 Report Posted January 11, 2020 Unless you have the sharpest splitter blade in the country, you aren't going to split 4" without distorting and stretching the leather. I guess it is possible if the blade is sharp enough. Best solution is to buy the weight you need. Rocky Mountain Supply has a band splitter and they will split at no charge. Terry Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted January 12, 2020 Contributing Member Report Posted January 12, 2020 NONE of the splitters I've seen for under $500 (granted I haven't seen that many) arrive sharp and ready to cut. I'm pretty stuck on that.. I know I have to sharpen cutting tools, but it irritates me to no end when I have to sharpen a NEW tool before I can use it. Unless you're doing lap skives, I don't think splitters are worth the cost. Granted, if you're one who likes to buy tools so you can say you have 'em, there's that. Each his own. But ... $500 NOT spent on a bench splitter will get you enough leather already wallet weight to make about 200 wallets. $2500-3k for a "powered" stationery blade splitter costs the same as FIFTEEN SIDES of leather. And for "billfold" style wallet backs, figure 60-70 of them per side, or roughly 1000 wallet backs. So the question then, would I be willing to trade roughly 1000 wallet backs to have a "splitter", but still need leather? Again, there is a place for them. Maybe a benefit to some to reduce inventory - you could just buy ONE weight and split what you need from that. I'm not that guy, personally... doesn't pay to save that space and a few extra minutes of inventory counting/ordering but then have to split something every time you start a project, provide space to keep and use the splitter, sharpen the splitter (or have it sharpened), .... It is nice to be able to cut a belt strip from say 8 oz leather, then cut the keeper loop from the same leather for the color/texture match, then split to about 4/4.5 oz for function. Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members BigSiouxSaddlery Posted January 12, 2020 Members Report Posted January 12, 2020 (edited) I probably have more splitters than just about anyone else reading this, and for the weight of leather you are asking about, I STILL buy that weight. To split 4" width down to wallet weight, consistently, you are going to need a band knife splitter. I don't even have one, because good ones are hellish expensive, take a lot of room, and like JLS said, I can buy a LOT of leather for the $10k or so that one of those is going to cost me. Do I dream of having one? Well hell yeah!! Edited January 12, 2020 by BigSiouxSaddlery Quote
Members arashikage Posted January 16, 2020 Members Report Posted January 16, 2020 Like BigSioux said, for consistency you would need a band knife cutter. I have a 6" Sutton crank splitter that I can easily get down to 2oz but I have to start with at least an 8-9oz piece. If I try splitting 4oz to 2 it will essentially stall out and not feed. I can appreciate the idea of wanting to use what you have and have things match but it may not be financially the best choice. I have heard good things as far as getting consistent splitting with something like a Cobra Class 14 but like JLS said, that's an almost $3k machine. Going to take a lot of wallets to recoup that. Quote
Members chrisash Posted January 16, 2020 Members Report Posted January 16, 2020 JLS talks a lot of good sence, just buy the thickness you require Quote Mi omputer is ot ood at speeling , it's not me
Members sbrownn Posted March 2, 2020 Members Report Posted March 2, 2020 On 1/11/2020 at 9:52 AM, jrny4wrd said: I need a small splitter that will work well for wallet backs. Needs to split at least 4”. I had seen bench top splitters, and wondering if they are worth the price. I would like to use the same leather for the back as the insides m, so need to split down to 2oz. Any advice on a decent one that works? Does any of Tandy’s work? I guess I'm the odd man out here but a splitter is one of the first leather machines I would buy. I work almost exclusively in bridle leather and my projects require lots of colors and differing thicknesses. Just keeping all the colors in inventory takes a lot of space and having a set of thicknesses in each color would be ridiculous. Almost any old 6" splitter with a sharp blade will split 4" wide down to 2oz with no problem. I purchased an old Champion cheap on eBay because it wouldn't split but all it needed was to have it's blade sharpened and now it works like a champ. Any splitter blade can be sharpened on a granite block using automotive wet paper and a home made jig. Just the other day I ran across an ad for a nice Landis 6" splitter for sale on Craigslist for $100. I was too late but they are out there. Quote
Contributing Member LatigoAmigo Posted March 3, 2020 Contributing Member Report Posted March 3, 2020 4 hours ago, sbrownn said: Almost any old 6" splitter with a sharp blade will split 4" wide down to 2oz with no problem ... as long as you're not splitting chrome-tanned leather ... then it is quite a different story, one I learned the hard ($$$) way. Quote
Members sbrownn Posted March 4, 2020 Members Report Posted March 4, 2020 On 3/2/2020 at 7:59 PM, LatigoAmigo said: ... as long as you're not splitting chrome-tanned leather ... then it is quite a different story, one I learned the hard ($$$) way. I haven't split chrome-tanned down to 2oz but I have split chrome-tanned. What happens when you try to split down to 2oz? Quote
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