Need help cutting lace, soft leather

[Bigdog]

I’ve got some very soft calf leather, when I cut lace it’s not cutting smooth. I need info on cutting the best possible lace. I’ve got a Aussie lace cutter. Works great and firmer leather . I’m using 2-3 oz. any help is appreciated 

[fredk]

How much do you need to cut at any one time?

You could just put your leather on your cutting area, use a long straight edge and cut with a rotary knife. That's what I do if I just need a short length from a soft leather

Or you could make up a special cutting block; basically a block of wood with a straight edge glued on, a razor blade embedded to the side, and beyond that another small length of wood. Glue a piece of wood onto the two pieces as a roof, the height being just the thickness of your leather. This makes a tunnel with a blade. Cut a strip of of your leather and pull thru the tunnel. The roof piece keeps the leather down and the razor cuts. 

An elaborate version of this it to have two or more blades and cut multiple strips at the one time

Tandy used to sell a tool using this idea. Oddly enuf they called it a 'lace maker' 

https://tandyleather.com/products/table-top-lace-cutter

It costs about $50. I got mine in one of their sales, cost me about $20 / £18

Its better with firm leather but with softer leather a sacrificial wood stick can be used to hold the leather tighter to the blades

 

[jcuk]

Does take a bit of practice at first but it does work.

https://tandyleather.com/collections/tools/products/craftool-lace-maker

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwyOL2YVpwM

Hope this helps

JCUK

Edited September 24, 2021 by jcuk

[Danne]

I would put it on the edge of my desk, use a long ruler and a clamp to hold down the ruler at the start (and if you feel like you need too, a clamp at the end also. Then there are two choices. Make a secondary shallow cut and a primary cut, or use a rotary cutter. When you are cutting follow along with your hand and put pressure on the ruler right in front of where you are cutting.

[LatigoAmigo]

4 hours ago, fredk said:

An elaborate version of this it to have two or more blades and cut multiple strips at the one time

Tandy used to sell a tool using this idea. Oddly enuf they called it a 'lace maker' 

https://tandyleather.com/products/table-top-lace-cutter

It costs about $50. I got mine in one of their sales, cost me about $20 / £18

Given that your leather is so soft, my only suggestion is that when using this devise make sure your blades are very sharp.