Skiving Strips

[Chris623]

I imagine it does a pretty good job.  The one I was looking at was the 3790-00.  I think it would do a good job..............but even at $200 on sale I can't afford it.  I saw enough of it I feel reasonably comfortable that I can make one.

[sonnyboone]

1 minute ago, Chris623 said:

I imagine it does a pretty good job.  The one I was looking at was the 3790-00.  I think it would do a good job..............but even at $200 on sale I can't afford it.  I saw enough of it I feel reasonably comfortable that I can make one.

Yea, I think a small one would be pretty reasonable to make.  I actually started to make the blade for one but work got busy so it made more sense to buy at the time.   If it'd help, let me know and I can send you some pics or a video for reference when it comes time to build.

[toxo]

I have the cheaper black version of this one, although saying that i think I paid a lot more than £46. I must say I didn't hold out much hope but I get more impressed each time I use it. The trick is don't try to take too big a bite.

 

[Chris623]

Thanks for the offer sonnyboone.  Might take you up on it.  I've been making a living making and designing things all my life, so don't think I'll have a problem.  Will probably make something along the lines of this one but with several upgrades.

 

[Hardrada]

https://www.talasonline.com/Scharf-Fix-Paring-Machine

Easily one of the best investments I've ever made.

 

If you buy one, or any other paring machine, take the skiving in stages. Don't try to split a 7 oz to 2 oz in one fell swoop: you're very likely to go through the leather and/or, God forbid, end up in the ER with a swooped felled thumb. Split in stages, from thick to thin, and always present the nail of your thumb to the blade side.

Edited November 13, 2020 by Hardrada

[Matt S]

I have a little lap skiver made by Randy Kildow. It takes standard utility/Stanley knife blades, is about the size of a coke can and only cost about $100. Would be ideal for thinning welts.
 

 

[toxo]

2 hours ago, Matt S said:

I have a little lap skiver made by Randy Kildow. It takes standard utility/Stanley knife blades, is about the size of a coke can and only cost about $100. Would be ideal for thinning welts.
 

 

I like that a lot Matt but it doesn't look like you can do edges with it.

[Matt S]

12 minutes ago, toxo said:

I like that a lot Matt but it doesn't look like you can do edges with it.

You're right, it can't. I call it a lap skiver because I use it primarily for lap skiving turnbacks, at which it excels. Mr Kildow calls it a splitter. Works okay for straps up to 2", but longer than a few inches it suffers from the same issues as any fixed-blade splitter/skiver without any outfeed support (diving and climbing depending on the angle of the output), so straps longer than say a foot need nursing. No good for edges. I used to use a Chinese copy of the Scharffix bookbinders paring tool for skiving edges but lost too much leather and claret to keep going and bought a bell knife skiver. No regrets on that.

[Northmount]

9 hours ago, Hardrada said:

https://www.talasonline.com/Scharf-Fix-Paring-Machine

Easily one of the best investments I've ever made.

I cloned this for my own use.  Works really well for skiving the edges of veg tan leathers.  I also purchased a cheap Chinese made unit that just won't work for me although they have videos showing how easy it works.

[toxo]

2 minutes ago, Northmount said:

I cloned this for my own use.  Works really well for skiving the edges of veg tan leathers.  I also purchased a cheap Chinese made unit that just won't work for me although they have videos showing how easy it works.

These clones are really confusing. I have a black one but I think I paid around £90 for it. Some are sold for a lot less. Are they the same? When I first got mine I struggled but once I found it's limits (and mine) I'm quite pleased with it and the different sized rollers make it quite versatile. I think matching the bade to the work is important. At first I struggled to find the thicker blades that you can actually sharpen because they must have the two holes. Then I found this. Problem solved.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GLASS-CERAMIC-SCRAPER-CLEANER-Replacement/dp/B07BH7CNC3/ref=pd_yo_rr_rp_1/262-3653917-8140800?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07BH7CNC3&pd_rd_r=bb669e5c-56d0-40b4-9ad9-c33f52c38b28&pd_rd_w=BJJ5N&pd_rd_wg=aHcSF&pf_rd_p=8a2b88d0-ae09-45b1-af48-973e10ea57a3&pf_rd_r=97X2XFHGNFKYBVVJ61A0&psc=1&refRID=97X2XFHGNFKYBVVJ61A0