Leather skiver/splitter recommendations?

[Zeego]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to get a skiver to taper off belt ends. Current looking at these:

https://www.campbell-randall.com/product/campbells-keystone-splitter-skiver

https://tandyleather.com/products/deluxe-leather-splitter?_pos=2&_sid=83b704ef3&_ss=r

Any other's I should be looing at? Thanks for your help!

 

 

 

[TomE]

The Osborne 84 splitter is a classic model.  I have an Asian knock off that was previously sold by Tandy as their Pro model.  It keeps an edge and came with a spare blade.  I think most of these splitters require sharpening when new.  The Campbell-Randall looks like a nice unit.

[Spyros]

I have the Asian knock off too, it looks almost exactly like the Tandy one except it's white and half the price.  It works just fine for me, it's pretty accurate and reliable actually, and it holds the settings very well.

It's a pain to sharpen though because it has a secondary bevel and the blade is too big for my sharpening stone, so I have to glue some sandpaper on a flat stone or glass to do it properly.  But this is probably the case with all of them.

[bruce johnson]

I've used and handled the above two linked versions plus the CS Osborne #84 new and old versions plus a lot of others.. I'll limit these comments to the handled splitters referred to here.  For casual use and if you don't mind possibly sharpening more often, the Tandy one will do the job. For the $200 difference and If you are wanting a work horse,  the Campbell-Randall Keystone or the CSO #84 will be a better choice both in mechanics and blade life. 

[Zeego]

Thanks a lot for the responses everyone. So far the Campbell-Randall is looking good. Weaver has one as well but I think its overpriced. 

9 hours ago, bruce johnson said:

I've used and handled the above two linked versions plus the CS Osborne #84 new and old versions plus a lot of others.. I'll limit these comments to the handled splitters referred to here.  For casual use and if you don't mind possibly sharpening more often, the Tandy one will do the job. For the $200 difference and If you are wanting a work horse,  the Campbell-Randall Keystone or the CSO #84 will be a better choice both in mechanics and blade life. 

Bruce - do you like the CS Osborne #84 compared to the Campbell? 

[jcuk]

If it was me it would be the Campbell-Randall if i did not have funds i would still wait until i had enough, much better investment in the long run it will hold its value a lot more than the Tandy one as some have already said here they have got cheaper knock off versions that may have been made by the same people as the Tandy one. The Campbell-Randell is a much better tool for doing lap skives look at the video of the Tandy one where they attempt a lap skive and  judge for your self, it has more usable cutting area meaning if you don't split every thing on the same part of the the blade every time, less time sharpening and stropping although the max i have split in one go is 4'' and thats only after i have given it a sharpen and good strop. I have a Osborne 84 and a 86 like them both yes have split 4'' on both.  

Hope this helps

JCUK

[bruce johnson]

On 12/30/2021 at 5:32 AM, Zeego said:

Thanks a lot for the responses everyone. So far the Campbell-Randall is looking good. Weaver has one as well but I think its overpriced. 

Bruce - do you like the CS Osborne #84 compared to the Campbell? 

It is a toss up really. Not a lot of difference in use between the original Randall Keystone, Dan's newer version of it, and the Osborne #84 now and old versions. Osborne did change out a few things on the repop of theirs. The handle thread is on smaller stock and the bolt spacing on the blade hole is different than the original 84..