Thank you for your videos Sir. I have been re-binding and re-backing my Bible and your videos helped greatly. I will be making a video of what I have done because there were many problems I faced when I took upon this challenge. There is very few videos that specifically teach the proper way for Bibles. I would appreciate if you could make a video how how to size the cardboard for the cover. You are the only UA-camr that covers this type of video.
It would be great to see a video on how to sharpen and strop the knife from TALAS. I just bought one and I cannot find any videos to show me how to properly sharpen it.
Hey brother is it easier to skive with a tool or machine ? And I bought a skiver machine for about 145 dollars on Amazon and I'm having a difficult time skiving the leather.
I used one of those in class, and yes it was tricky. I found you need to check the blade is still sharp, if not change it, and that pulling the leather through under the blade can cause it to dig in, so adjust the angle you hold the leather at. I tried a hold like a shoe shiner would use with his duster over your shoe, rather than flat or upwards, but be careful still! I was alarmed by the degree of stretching it caused, but at least some of that worked back flat when the leather was glued down.
have you ever recycled leather from car seats obtained from the car wreckers. Some of the Italian leathers used in car seats look interesting to apply to Bible leather covers.
Thank you for your videos! The part with the corners in this one was particularly helpful for me. The way you work down the corners is amazing! And if you don't mind me asking what do you use as the basis for the soft cover?
I am very interested in finding out what kind of stone you use to sharpen your knife and for the preparation of your leather strop. Also, what material are you using to pare the leather on?
Nickalih, first thank for subscribing to my channel! I hope the videos will be of some help to you. Sharpening of the paring knife is important and, to me, a bit difficult. I am using a wet rock sharpening stone. I try to use it only as much as necessary and then strop it good. Stropping regularly keeps it sharp too. I really don't do anything special to the leather I use for stropping. Knife sharpening remains one of those areas I continue to work at. Whenever that knife is super sharp the paring job is so much easier. But when the edge is lost, it is tough (for me) to get it back like I like it. You asked about what kind of stone it is that I am working on. It is a piece of granite, I think. I stopped by a shop that makes marble or granite counter tops and this small piece was lying there. He gave me the stone but to smooth up the edges for me he charged $10. A good deal if you ask me. Traditionally bookbinders use slabs of marble. Thanks for the questions! Have a great year and good luck with your binding projects. Alex
thanks so much for the information. I am a young bookbinder and am now trying to get into using leather so I want all the information I can get. I do love your videos and I learn so much. Keep up the good job
nickalih I remember so well back in the '80s when I was learning how to work on books from some longtime binders. It was time to learn about how to work with leather and the thought scared me to death. I knew leather was expensive and knew it would take some practice to learn. But in the end I learned what to do and now I rarely mess up a piece of leather. Stick with it and you will master it. My next video will be all about leather so stay tuned!
Got the same pairing knife and can't get it to cut nicely. I've tried sharpening it and it got better but again nowhere near as nice as in this video. Does it come perfectly blunt so you have to do an initial extensive sharpening or...?
Yes! Seems that way. You need to learn to sharpen, and to hone. I’m still trying to learn to hold the bevel consistently against the sharpening surface as I sharpen. It looks easy but it’s not until you build some muscle memory. Careful too that you don’t round the blade after carefully putting an edge on it by drawing your stroke in an arc as you take it off the surface. Just lift straight off. Keep at the coarser grits to get the angle you want. The finer ones don’t shape the blade much but are to polish and get a nice finish. Learn about achieving a burr on the edge. Lots of good videos on UA-cam about sharpening. I reckon it’s an art. Another bookbinder who shows good stuff is DAS Bookbinding. Darryn’s a good guy, and shows a cheap way to start with different grits of sandpaper stuck to his paring surface, good enough for paring.
I am always so thankful to craftsman as yourself for taking the time to produce a video for UA-cam. Best wishes to you and yours. JJ.
I learned how to make leather bible covers watching your videos.. in case you care to know 👍thankful for your videos
Thank you for your videos Sir. I have been re-binding and re-backing my Bible and your videos helped greatly. I will be making a video of what I have done because there were many problems I faced when I took upon this challenge. There is very few videos that specifically teach the proper way for Bibles.
I would appreciate if you could make a video how how to size the cardboard for the cover. You are the only UA-camr that covers this type of video.
One of the most excellent pieces of craftsmanship I have seen! Very inspiring, thank you for uploading!
It would be great to see a video on how to sharpen and strop the knife from TALAS. I just bought one and I cannot find any videos to show me how to properly sharpen it.
Thank you so much for sharing! I really appreciate all of your videos. I've been teaching myself binding and they have been very helpful.
Very nicely done; thanks for sharing, Alex.
Now that's the best skiving knive. I subscribe from New Zealand
Purchased through Talas.
It’s not the knife.....it’s Gerald. He makes it look easy. Take it from me, I’ve messed up quite a few edges!!
Thank you Alex this video was very helpful. I do have a small awl similar to your leather cornering tool so will try with that first.
Thanks again
What kind of board are you using for the soft cover? Thank you for posting your videos they have been so helpful.
absolutely beautiful corners - perfecto!
Impressive with that paring knife 👍
Thank you much!
Brother which paring knife do you like the best ?
Nice job,clean and crisp.
Hey brother is it easier to skive with a tool or machine ? And I bought a skiver machine for about 145 dollars on Amazon and I'm having a difficult time skiving the leather.
I used one of those in class, and yes it was tricky. I found you need to check the blade is still sharp, if not change it, and that pulling the leather through under the blade can cause it to dig in, so adjust the angle you hold the leather at. I tried a hold like a shoe shiner would use with his duster over your shoe, rather than flat or upwards, but be careful still!
I was alarmed by the degree of stretching it caused, but at least some of that worked back flat when the leather was glued down.
Where do you get pairing knife
nice i was looking for this for a long time!!! its hard to find help about leather... thank you
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge!
Отличное детальное видео! Спасибо!
Thank you!
have you ever recycled leather from car seats obtained from the car wreckers. Some of the Italian leathers used in car seats look interesting to apply to Bible leather covers.
No I haven't. Not sure that such leather would be suitable for books.
Excellent craftsmanship! Thanks for the video, and I have just subscribed:-)
How do you do leather lined covers?
Thank you for your videos! The part with the corners in this one was particularly helpful for me. The way you work down the corners is amazing! And if you don't mind me asking what do you use as the basis for the soft cover?
Ilya Gudovich it’s probably goat skin for the leather...easiest to work with. Check out the river grain goat from Seigal leather.
Excellent! Thank you for sharing.
I would suggest a Scalpel and associated blades for skiving leather.
Suggest all you like but from my experience you would be far more likely to mutilate the leather.
Thank you for this video, very nice!
Could the blades that came with it not be very good?
I am very interested in finding out what kind of stone you use to sharpen your knife and for the preparation of your leather strop. Also, what material are you using to pare the leather on?
Nickalih, first thank for subscribing to my channel! I hope the videos will be of some help to you.
Sharpening of the paring knife is important and, to me, a bit difficult. I am using a wet rock sharpening stone. I try to use it only as much as necessary and then strop it good. Stropping regularly keeps it sharp too. I really don't do anything special to the leather I use for stropping. Knife sharpening remains one of those areas I continue to work at. Whenever that knife is super sharp the paring job is so much easier. But when the edge is lost, it is tough (for me) to get it back like I like it.
You asked about what kind of stone it is that I am working on. It is a piece of granite, I think. I stopped by a shop that makes marble or granite counter tops and this small piece was lying there. He gave me the stone but to smooth up the edges for me he charged $10. A good deal if you ask me. Traditionally bookbinders use slabs of marble.
Thanks for the questions! Have a great year and good luck with your binding projects.
Alex
thanks so much for the information. I am a young bookbinder and am now trying to get into using leather so I want all the information I can get. I do love your videos and I learn so much. Keep up the good job
nickalih I remember so well back in the '80s when I was learning how to work on books from some longtime binders. It was time to learn about how to work with leather and the thought scared me to death. I knew leather was expensive and knew it would take some practice to learn. But in the end I learned what to do and now I rarely mess up a piece of leather. Stick with it and you will master it.
My next video will be all about leather so stay tuned!
Great video. Thank you
Got the same pairing knife and can't get it to cut nicely. I've tried sharpening it and it got better but again nowhere near as nice as in this video.
Does it come perfectly blunt so you have to do an initial extensive sharpening or...?
Yes! Seems that way. You need to learn to sharpen, and to hone. I’m still trying to learn to hold the bevel consistently against the sharpening surface as I sharpen. It looks easy but it’s not until you build some muscle memory. Careful too that you don’t round the blade after carefully putting an edge on it by drawing your stroke in an arc as you take it off the surface. Just lift straight off. Keep at the coarser grits to get the angle you want. The finer ones don’t shape the blade much but are to polish and get a nice finish. Learn about achieving a burr on the edge. Lots of good videos on UA-cam about sharpening. I reckon it’s an art. Another bookbinder who shows good stuff is DAS Bookbinding. Darryn’s a good guy, and shows a cheap way to start with different grits of sandpaper stuck to his paring surface, good enough for paring.
how do you skive a leather to half size? Let's say the leather is 4-5oz and you want to skive down to 2-3oz?
Which type of hide do you use?
Bookbinders will use a variety of hides from cowhide to sheep to even kangaroo, but most of the time it is goat skin.
Can't find tha slicing knife at Talas... Please send list info... Thanks
Gerald,
The knife I use is the English Paring Knife found here: apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=18112
+Gerald Reed Found it for GBP4 on other website, much better looking
Its either to thin and I get holes and I cut the leather or its not thin enough.
Very skillful
Beautiful
is the stone required?
Lovely work... Just saying...
Skills!
good skill
I would like to see this tip in a wallet or bag
The ONLY leather work I do is for Bibles and Books. Sorry, no wallets or bags.