hand tools leather2

[Spyros]

3 hours ago, chrisash said:

although you will never get someone who pays $200 for a stitching chisel to agree that a $50 makes just as good slit in leather. 

Except me probably LOL

I bought the KS Blades, absolutely nothing wrong with them, except I found in the end that cheap diamond chisels actually work better for my kind of stitching because the shape of the hole is simply more convenient.   And for some bags where I need to count holes, or I don't want to worry if I end up with layers of leather with holes facing opposite directions, I use round chisels.  Again fairly cheap because they're so easy to sharpen on a drill that's it's just not worth paying top dollar for top steel or pre-sharpened tools.  I can see KS offer diamond shaped ones now, but not when I bought mine.

Edited June 2, 2021 by Spyros

[zuludog]

3 hours ago, Klara said:

By the way, would scalpels work for leather? Could I scrounge used ones from the vet? Something to find out...

 

Have a look here, you can see the sort of things that are available

https://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/

Blades that have been used in operations are probably still sharp enough for leatherwork, or you can re sharpen them on a strop. You can re - sharpen disposable blades from Stanley & Xacto knives, and scalpels if you're keen enough. Sometimes they seem to work better than new, probably because you reduce the shoulder of the bevel and polish the cutting edge; in fact even new Stanley knife blades  seem to work better if they've been stropped

If you use secondhand blades from the vet or similar, sterilise them by storing them in alcohol then flaming them

I think, though, that a scalpel would be too light for anything but the thinnest leather.......still, there's only one way to find out

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by zuludog

[chrisash]

I often use my Swann Morton super tool on leather, much thicker blade than medical scalpels and the Xacto knives, so don't bend see  https://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/range_23_swann-morton-supatool-blades-and-handles.php

[Klara]

Thanks for this link, I see they have blades with different shapes Now I'm tempted... Pity that the UK isn't in the EU any more...