Efficiently making straps from two layers

[fredk]

48 minutes ago, Arturomex said:

Gotcha. I've never seen the Olfa DX in the wild. 

My 60mm is a Fiskars, like this one; 

 

Push the orange thing on the top and it pushes the blade out to the cutting position, it also makes the orange button on the side pop out. Press that button and the blade snaps back in to the safe position

I'm not sure what make my 28mm is now, its got no name on it. I thought it was an Olfa. I've had it for several years now. Its got a head on I can set at any angle, in line with the handle. I store it so its in-line and set the head/blade at about 30 to 45 degrees for cutting

57 minutes ago, Arturomex said:

 What do you like about that better than one where the blade is fixed and the guard moves?

I cannot compare the two as I've only ever owned these ones

[johnv474]

Glue the leather first: two layers.  Ideally, slightly on a curve but ignore that for now.  Use something like contact cement or white glue like Leathercraft cement.  Glue is friendlier than cement.

Then, you have a few approaches.  Poke three dots for the width of each strap, which you line up along a straightedge to cut them out. Mark out all straps at once ans cut them at once.

A head knife, razor knife with a new blade, or a rotary cutter will make fast work of them.

If you use veg tan and tou use white glue then burnishing will be easier, but you do want the glue to dry under pressure for an hour or two.  I put a piece of glass over mine and then added weight, like books.

Big tip: when cutting along a straight edge, do not ever let your knife go past the fingertips of the hand holding down the ruler. Pause, move your holddown hand, continue cutting, and repeat.  If you got past your othwr hand you will wander from the line or will push hard enough against the straight edge to push it off your line.  Cut within the borders of your holddown hand, and avoid that forever.

[Zac]

Thanks for all the tips guys, I made some more straps tonight and using some of your advice it was much more efficient!