Skiving Strips

[Chris623]

How can I skive long strips of Veg-Tan uniformly?  I've never used any kind of "fixed" tool, so I'm not quite convinced how well it would go.

[fredk]

If you have a lot to do invest in a 6 inch bench mounted skiver or one of these, if the straps are narrow

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leather-Paring-Machine-Edge-Skiving-Peeler-Manual-Leather-Splitter-Skiver-Blade/274310614756?hash=item3fde2fcee4:g:oaQAAOSwj~VcyAYC

or one of these, which will do up to about 2.5 inches wide

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handheld-Manual-Leather-Skiving-Machine-Skiver-DIY-Leather-Splitter-Leather-Tool-/373107824448

[Chris623]

Would be nice to have either one of those tools, fredk.  But I'm wanting it to occasionally adjust the thickness of a welt for a sheath.   May end up having to make my own splitter.

[jcuk]

Any of these will do it, pricey i know but worth their weight in gold, check Osborne leather tools your side of the pond. There are other makes out there cheaper ones made in the far east don't know how good they are, i have these two happy with both of them.

https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/osborne-86-leather-splitting-machine/ 

https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/leather-splitting-machine/

Never used this one but seems pretty good to me also check the videos out first because they may not be for you.

https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/leather-splitting-machine-skiver/

Also American made plus they are cheaper your side of the pond as i said to me worth their weight in gold.

Hope this helps

JCUK

 

[zuludog]

Search YouTube and Google for a mini leather plane; also play around with the Search for leather skiving plane, japanese leather plane and similar combinations. Find them via Google, Etsy, Amazon and so on

Not as good as a bench mounted skiving machine but you can get them for about £10 if you shop around, and it should be OK for skiving a welt

I have one - get the blade sharp enough and they are surprisingly handy

Or Search for a razor plane; a bit bigger and more expensive than a mini plane, but still cheaper than a bench skiver

[Chris623]

Just got back from Tandy.  Went to Tandy to look at their #3790-00 High Tech Leather Splitter to test it out.  What a waste of time.  Looked like a good piece of equipment, but the clerk showing it to me took my 8-9 oz leather and tried to cut it down to 2-3 oz in one cut.  Of course, it wouldn't work.  I tried, politely, to get him to take it down about a 1/16" at a time but he huffily said "That would take far too long!"  After he walked away, I decided to try it myself and he came up and said "I told you it would take too much time" and took my piece out of the cutter and handed it to me.  I walked out of the store.  If I had the $200 to spare, I'd buy their splitter.  Well made and looks as if it would do a nice job.

I'll make my own.   I've found a good one to copy on Youtube.   I just don't get the "I know it all" attitude of some people.

[zuludog]

14 minutes ago, Chris623 said:

Just got back from Tandy.  Went to Tandy to look at their #3790-00 High Tech Leather Splitter to test it out.  What a waste of time.  Looked like a good piece of equipment, but the clerk showing it to me took my 8-9 oz leather and tried to cut it down to 2-3 oz in one cut.  Of course, it wouldn't work.  I tried, politely, to get him to take it down about a 1/16" at a time but he huffily said "That would take far too long!"  After he walked away, I decided to try it myself and he came up and said "I told you it would take too much time" and took my piece out of the cutter and handed it to me.  I walked out of the store.  If I had the $200 to spare, I'd buy their splitter.  Well made and looks as if it would do a nice job.

I'll make my own.   I've found a good one to copy on Youtube.   I just don't get the "I know it all" attitude of some people.

He's obviously never heard of that well known shopkeeper's adage -- the customer is always right

[Rahere]

Also look at violin-makers planes.

[Chris623]

I have violin maker's planes...........................used to be a repairman.  But not so sure they would give me the precision thickness's I'd need.

I'm going to look into making a splitter...............or an attachment to put on my 2x72 grinder to "surface" the leather down to a desired thickness.

 

[sonnyboone]

I bought a Tandy Craftool Deluxe splitter when it was on discount.  It's the 3795-00  I'd say it's okay if it's bought on sale.  There isn't any info on the blade steel or heat treat so I have no idea how long it will hold up, but it does the job for now.  Even though the blade is quite wide at 5.75" you can probably only get away with 1.5"-ish wide leather on it.