Cutting Curves?

[zuludog]

31 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Thanks very much for that link!

Can you possibly point me to what a "flat bladed Japanese" knife looks like?  A Google search shows up hundreds of Japanese knives.  I'm not sure what you mean by "flat bladed".

 

Search Google and YouTube for 'Japanese leather knife' and 'Japanese skiving knife'; --two names for the same thing; there are several videos

Note that there are left - & right - handed versions. For cutting you hold them more or less vertically in your fist, sometimes with your thumb on the top of the handle, so that the bevel faces away from your palm, and the trailing edge of the asymmetric blade faces away from your body. This might seem odd, but it is actually a bit of a strain to hold the knife perfectly vertically, if you hold your hand & wrist in a normal relaxed manner  the top of the knife will slope outwards, which makes the bevel vertical  - just watch a few videos of one in use

I'm sure other forum members can suggest a supplier in the USA or Canada; or you could try Etsy 

Edited September 8, 2021 by zuludog

[PastorBob]

38 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Thanks very much for that link!

Can you possibly point me to what a "flat bladed Japanese" knife looks like?  A Google search shows up hundreds of Japanese knives.  I'm not sure what you mean by "flat bladed".

 

This is the exact one i purchased...yep, $10 and it was sharp when it arrived.  Have only stropped it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/BANYOUR-Leather-Cutting-Working-Leathercraft/dp/B07LD4PC2D/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=leather+knife&qid=1631115906&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUzFJN1BQSzZMTDVKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzQ0MTIyMlA3NE5ISTI3RTU3TSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzAzMzQzMTdWNEdaWTRGVU1VSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[zuludog]

39 minutes ago, PastorBob said:

This is the exact one i purchased...yep, $10 and it was sharp when it arrived.  Have only stropped it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/BANYOUR-Leather-Cutting-Working-Leathercraft/dp/B07LD4PC2D/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=leather+knife&qid=1631115906&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUzFJN1BQSzZMTDVKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzQ0MTIyMlA3NE5ISTI3RTU3TSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzAzMzQzMTdWNEdaWTRGVU1VSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I have one of those knives, and it's surprisingly good for the price, but I have improved it by scraping & sanding the paint off the handle, back to the wood, which is more comfortable and, I think, more attractive. Also sharpening the blade on a couple of oilstones then a strop to give a longer bevel, about 5mm .

Edited September 8, 2021 by zuludog

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, PastorBob said:

This is the exact one i purchased...yep, $10 and it was sharp when it arrived.  Have only stropped it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/BANYOUR-Leather-Cutting-Working-Leathercraft/dp/B07LD4PC2D/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=leather+knife&qid=1631115906&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUzFJN1BQSzZMTDVKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzQ0MTIyMlA3NE5ISTI3RTU3TSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzAzMzQzMTdWNEdaWTRGVU1VSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Thank you!  I found that exact same knife on the Amazon Canada website but it says delivery estimated to be Nov 5th to 18th!!!  (But I want it NOW!!!  )

The search goes on...

 I found a supplier (not quite local but in Canada) which has two different Osborne knives... one is called a 5" Round Blade and the other 4 1/2" Head Knife.  From the photos (especially as a novice) both knives look extremely similar.  Can you or someone else tells me what the difference might be and which you'd recommend?  Both are the same price.

They also have an Osborne Skiving Knife but the width isn't specified.  Their product code (might not be Osborne's) is MR-469a.  The website is: Cuir Desrochers

[fredk]

I mark the curve on the flesh side with a ball-point ink pen then I cut the curve with my leather scissors. They'll cut at least up to 4mm nicely. If necessary a swipe or wee bit of sanding with a coarse grade sand piper tidies the cut

[jcuk]

He are a couple of videos showing how to use the single head and a round knife they maybe of interest to notice how easy it is to cut curves yes it does take some practice but worth it in the end. As you will also hear the round knife can do so much more.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkEXU-RYrjg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUgZjMPw0AA

He is a link to Aaron Martin they are in Canada.

https://aaronmartin.com/product.php?cat_id=935&submit=View&catview=20&s=Harness Maker Tools & More&catview2=&catview3=&s2=&s3=

This is a member on here selling a single head made by Vergez Blanchard, i know he says only shipping within America but might be wort giving him a shout after all he is your side of the pond.

I can give you some links over here if you want but sounds like time is a factor, also the single head knife has an easier learning curve than the round knife but can do everything a round knife can do. 

Hope this helps

JCUK

[PastorBob]

1 hour ago, MtlBiker said:

Thank you!  I found that exact same knife on the Amazon Canada website but it says delivery estimated to be Nov 5th to 18th!!!  (But I want it NOW!!!  )

The search goes on...

 I found a supplier (not quite local but in Canada) which has two different Osborne knives... one is called a 5" Round Blade and the other 4 1/2" Head Knife.  From the photos (especially as a novice) both knives look extremely similar.  Can you or someone else tells me what the difference might be and which you'd recommend?  Both are the same price.

They also have an Osborne Skiving Knife but the width isn't specified.  Their product code (might not be Osborne's) is MR-469a.  The website is: Cuir Desrochers

I have the round knife.  I have seen videos of folks cutting curves, but I have not mastered it yet.  For me, the skiving knife by Osborne would be the one I would get.

 

I did find one in stock at Weaver Leather supply...a lot cheaper (I Think...not sure on the conversion rate CDN to USD)

https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/catalog/item-detail/65-2864-36/flat-leather-knife/pr_58899

[PastorBob]

Here is a video I had my granddaughter film while using the knife.  Apologies for the messy workbench.  And yes, I am a southpaw :-)

 

 

[MtlBiker]

29 minutes ago, jcuk said:

He are a couple of videos showing how to use the single head and a round knife they maybe of interest to notice how easy it is to cut curves yes it does take some practice but worth it in the end. As you will also hear the round knife can do so much more.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkEXU-RYrjg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUgZjMPw0AA

He is a link to Aaron Martin they are in Canada.

https://aaronmartin.com/product.php?cat_id=935&submit=View&catview=20&s=Harness Maker Tools & More&catview2=&catview3=&s2=&s3=

This is a member on here selling a single head made by Vergez Blanchard, i know he says only shipping within America but might be wort giving him a shout after all he is your side of the pond.

I can give you some links over here if you want but sounds like time is a factor, also the single head knife has an easier learning curve than the round knife but can do everything a round knife can do. 

Hope this helps

JCUK

Yes it helps.  Thank you.

Time isn't really a factor... but two months for delivery is pushing it.  A week, no problem, even two, but two months??

I found the Osborne round knife in Canada (Quebec) and I linked the site a couple of posts up.  Aaron Martin wants 50% more for the knife PLUS shipping than Cuir Desrochers.  I was going to order that, plus the skiving knife, but they're out of stock on the skiving knife so I'm holding off ordering for a week (still better than two months!) until their supply arrives.

 

@PastorBob - That's really great!  Thanks very much.

 

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

I mark the curve on the flesh side with a ball-point ink pen then I cut the curve with my leather scissors. They'll cut at least up to 4mm nicely. If necessary a swipe or wee bit of sanding with a coarse grade sand piper tidies the cut

I've got really good Gingher fabric scissors which I've been afraid to use on leather in fear of ruining them.  I guess leather scissors are different.

To get my curve pattern I use a drawing program on the computer and form a bezier curve exactly as I need and print it out.  Then cut it out (using paper scissors ) and position it carefully on the flesh side of the leather.  I don't use a pen to mark it but rather just an awl, which leaves an easy to see line.  Follow the line to cut however, has been challenging for me.  Scissors would probably be easier.