Are all cheap strap cutters created equal?

[fredk]

Resurrecting this old thread

I made some changes to my strap cutter, sort of in-life upgrades to suit me

1. the inch scale was awkward to see and use so I added a steel ruler on the top of the bar

2. I disliked the big wing headed bolt so I replaced it with a plastic knob. Being metric I also had to change the t-nut inside.

3. I replaced the bolts and nuts that held the cutting blade. The screw-blade slot was getting worn. I fitted flanged hex drive bolts and brass nuts

4. I used a fine saw to widen the blade gap slightly so I could use skiver blades. They are easier and cheaper to get

 

and this; I spotted this plastic strap cutter on ebay. Price is about 1/2 or 1/3 of a wood one

[bruce johnson]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

Resurrecting this old thread

I made some changes to my strap cutter, sort of in-life upgrades to suit me

1. the inch scale was awkward to see and use so I added a steel ruler on the top of the bar

2. I disliked the big wing headed bolt so I replaced it with a plastic knob. Being metric I also had to change the t-nut inside.

3. I replaced the bolts and nuts that held the cutting blade. The screw-blade slot was getting worn. I fitted flanged hex drive bolts and brass nuts

4. I used a fine saw to widen the blade gap slightly so I could use skiver blades. They are easier and cheaper to get

 

and this; I spotted this plastic strap cutter on ebay. Price is about 1/2 or 1/3 of a wood one

Fred - Nice modifications and upgrades on an old trooper. These originals are definitely the way to fly. When the knockoffs first came out I bought a few thinking I could leave them to set widths. It would have been a good plan if they would have been square. Maybe one was. When I get them in sets now, they go on Ms Rundi's Table of Bargains at the leather shows for $5. The more recent ones seem to be more square but once in a while I still get some trash can fillers. 

I set mine up with single edge razor blades too. Those blades will cut softer leather cleanly and I used them up to light skirting before I saw the light with a good plough gauge.