DIY Leather Strap Cutter

I'm making a leather handbag and I needed a way to cut straps. I didn't want the hand held type, I wanted to be able to keep both hands on the leather so I made one that would work with my twin screw vise and a holdfast. Since this was a small project I also thought I'd let it stand as my entry into the contest on the "Get Hands Dirty" channel. If you haven't yet seen her videos, go check them out: • Wooden Box With Slidin...
Music licensed through Epidemic Sound: player.epidemi...
Western Call - Cody Francis
Blossoming Tree - Wanderer's Trove
Trouble by the Quarry - River Foxcroft

[@Mikhandmaker]

I like it! It is perfect for cutting belts

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks!!!! I like that I can keep two hands on the leather.

[@jean-marclabonte2844]

Simple and Slightly Dangerous. I like it !! Nice Job.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

lol, indeed! I still have most of all 10 fingers so, I guess its been ok so far ;)

[@larryweeks9165]

love the music. thank you for the instructions

[@MakeBrooklyn]

You are welcome! It works great, just be super careful. Razor blades sticking up from your bench are definitely dangerous!

[@chuckb5012]

you can buy strap cutter at any leather supply store or on the internet. I think they now cost $15- $20;. they work well and can be adjusted up to 4 in. How much did that piece off oak board cost?? as I glance at the pictures to the right, I see those cutters in 4-5 photos. some provide instruction to make the same tool that can be bought anywhere. even if you just must make your own, none seem tio use the expensive wood used in example. if you just have to, go ahead but there are easier, cheaper ways to do the same thing only better

[@notwrkn2mch]

so simple and it works.....Large portion of my family live in the Bensonhurst section....
How i wound up in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is beyond me :)

[@MakeBrooklyn]

It does work as long as your careful about the razor blade sticking up from your bench! If my family lived in Brooklyn, I might well move to Arizona so, it makes sense to me! Cheers!

[@Bricoleando]

Buena idea compañero. Gracias por compartir. Saludos.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks!!!!

[@grandadz_forge]

Wow. Fun video. Clever design!

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks!! It does the job.

[@MyroCraft]

You are doing a very interesting job! I like!

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks!!

[@heyimamaker]

Nice work! I'm going to do some leatherwork soon for sure!

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks! Leather is a load of fun to work with!

[@historygradstu]

so how do you drag a 100 inch long cow hide of about 11 oz thickness through there straight? I think thats why strap cutters are usually held in the hand and walked down the entire length

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Well, it's not the ideal solution for every circumstance. I generally don't need straps longer than about a meter and I've usually broken down my raw material into appropriately sized pieces for the space I work in and the type of work that I do. this is what works for me. It sounds like you have a better solution for the way you work already.

[@RedSmithLeatherwork]

Nice!!

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks Red!!

[@UrraSergio]

0:51 That was really funny. Thanks for sharing :)

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Its funny now. I was less amused at the time :*)

[@UrraSergio]

@@MakeBrooklyn
Anyway, the end result was great.

[@benniehoskins4745]

For the Mercy of the lord, please don't ad music to your videos. They would be much better with just the natural sound.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

I kind of like it, hope it doesn't detract too much. Most of the time it's covering parts where my girlfriend is talking to me or the tv is on (hazzard of working in a small apartment) or there's some other noise going on. Cheers.

[@dick0biggy]

It's a great project but I'll use power tools thanks :D

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks, and you do what works best for you!

[@rhybeka]

Cool! How does it do on less than 4 oz leather? I need something that will work well on 2oz

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Not positive, I think I used it on some lighter material at one point but I can't be certain. The thing I would be cautious of, apart from the razor blade sticking up out of your bench, is that thinner material may be more elastic so you might want to place some wood or other material that will prevent stretching on top of the leather between the blade and the guide. Hope that helps and good luck!!! Cheers!

[@scubytube]

Nice job! I only cringed a little when you bench dogged that beautiful piece of red oak.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Thanks. You cant get to precious about the materials, it's part of a shop jig so it's job is to take a bit of a beating. Think of it as stunt oak ;)

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Intolerable presumptions of ancillary tooling = 1 BAD DESIGN.