New kilt belt

[Llama]

I didn't have a skiver on hand for my first belt, so I just used my Merkur Safety Razor. It worked well enough, though it needed to be cleaned out every so often.

[frank_a]

Great idea!

[Tobus]

Thanks Tobus, that's the info I was looking for. What's a "round knife"?

A round knife is a half-moon shaped knife that has all kinds of uses for leather work. They generally need to be kept very sharp to do their job well (using a strop and jeweler's rouge regularly during use). But you can use it for cutting, trimming, skiving, etc.

Tandy sells a couple of models, though they aren't necessarily the best quality (like most things Tandy sells). We have several round knives, but most of them are older 'vintage' ones. The only one I have from Tandy is the Al Stohlman version: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../35014-00.aspx



It's only so-so in quality. It really needs to be heavier and larger in my opinion, but everybody has different preferences.

You can see some good examples of a round knife in use by watching the video that Jamie posted of a sporran being made. See this thread.

[frank_a]

I took a look on the web Tobus. Even the Tandy ones are out of my price range for now. I'll have to limp by with what I have, and determine whether I'm going to keep doing enough leather work to rationalize buying a decent round knife. Thanks!

Frank

[Llama]

Tandy sells a couple of models, though they aren't necessarily the best quality (like most things Tandy sells).

I've noticed that about Tandy, too. They have a lot of stuff at decent prices, but much of it is only "good enough" quality. Is there a good resource for better quality tools and materials? (I assume if there was, you would have posted it, but it never hurts to ask)

[Tobus]

I've noticed that about Tandy, too. They have a lot of stuff at decent prices, but much of it is only "good enough" quality. Is there a good resource for better quality tools and materials? (I assume if there was, you would have posted it, but it never hurts to ask)

Yeah, there are other sources out there, depending on what it is you're wanting to buy. But some of them only sell to official leather shops, not to hobbyists. For example, my wife prefers only to use Hermann Oak leather, as it's far better for tooling, but you cannot buy directly from them unless you're set up in their system as a business (with a tax ID number). And you have to order a LOT of leather at a time, like an entire roll of hides. If you just want one hide, you have to go to one of their distributors.

There's also Weaver, which sells better quality tools and such than Tandy does. There are some others that are much higher on the quality scale, but their names escape me at the moment.

[frank_a]

I tried out a new buckle I got yesterday, but it will require a new belt strap. It seems a bit under 3", the bar in the middle is much thicker (makes getting the rivets in a challenge), and the round part interferes with the keeper. I like it more that the rectangular ones though, so soon I will make a new belt using tips Tobus has suggested I may wait till I get my hand skiver though and do a bit of practice. I need a finished black belt for our party Saturday.

newbuckle.JPG

Frank

[Richrail]

Very nice belts and sporran strap.

[frank_a]

Thanks Richard! Been busy with leather work. I might make a home-made skiver to get my belts done a bit better. I think my next one will be the charm, but I also may need more leather!

Frank

[frank_a]

Did not have any luck last night and/or this morning trying to cobble up a leather splitter, but came up with a great idea for a skiver - a long handled inspection sticker scraper like this one:

stickerscraper.jpg

I tried it on some scrap 8-9 oz leather this morning, and turned over from the position you would normally use it to scrape a sticker off, it works great, gentle and with very good control. I skived a piece of leather done to 1/2 just quickly testing it before I had to leave for work. Right now I just want to get one 3" kilt belt done for Saturday, and then I can play around with other stuff. I have some ideas for inexpensive spillters, I just need time!

Of course, a bag of 50's would be helpful...

Frank