Since most of us skive (and most of us don't do it well), this video has great value to me. Correct skiving is a skill most of us don't master right away, because frankly, videos about skiving just don't exist in detail like yours does. Sharpening these knives has also been a mystery to me. Great content..!!!!!
Yeah, skiving is not easy, and I'm not afraid to say that I am among the ones who don't do it well, lol. But one thing I'm sure is the sharpening makes it way more easier. Have a good one Ronald.
I'm just starting into leather crafting - and so far, your vids helped me tremendously, you have no idea. I soak it up like a sponge :) Keep it coming and thanks a lot - packed knowledge empowering the newbie. Thanks a bunch! Greetings from Germany.
I'm new to leather, but I've been woodworking, including hand carving for years. I was taught to sharpen on stones and strops with the pulling motion, with long strokes the length of the stone. The reason for doing that is to minimize the possibility of gouging or scratching the sharpening surface. Some of the higher grit waterstones are pretty soft, and its easy to mess them up if you are grinding back and forth on one area. The pulling motion also helps in keeping the tool a uniform thickness. However, results are the ultimate test. If what you are doing works, it works 😁
@@amyacheson9609 An oil stone will work just fine for the initial sharpening of the blade. The critical point is to maintain a consistent angle while you sharpen. Try for a 25 to 30 degree angle. Also rub the flat back of the blade flat on the stone to flatten and debur the back as well. The stone alone won't get you there though. Get a piece of 3/4" MDF board,about 4" by 8", and glue a piece of veg tanned leather to the face, rough side showing. There's an abrasive paste called honing compound. Put a generous dollop on the leather surface, and pull the blade across the leather maintaining that 25 to 30 degree angle. That will polish the bevel of the blade. Be sure to also rub the flat back of the blade on the leather in that pulling motion to polish up the back as well. The true definition of "sharp" is two mirror polished planes that meet at an angle between 20 and 45 degrees. So get the angle right, and polish both sides mirror bright, and it will cut really well for you. If you want more info search for woodworking videos on how to hand sharpen woodworking chisels. It's the exact same process. A guy who calls himself "the wood whisperer" did a really good hand sharpening video.
Most people strop one direction rather than back and forth, it's both to maintain proper edge alignment with each pass and to extend the life of the stropping medium. Back and forth movements have a higher chance to cut through your strop and require you to find new leather to use. Single direction strokes on the strop let you control your blade easier so you get a nice consistent angle, and the edge never travels in the direction of the strop, so you won't cut your strop by mistake. The back and forth movement is good if you're re-profiling a knife's edge on a hard stone if you were to chip or break the edge somehow, since that sort of motion removes a lot of material from the blade quickly.
He is using scrap as a strip, not a razor strip, which you do use in both directions anyway with an X stroke. So not really sure what point you are trying to make
Not going to criticize anyone else’s thoughts on this one…because I don’t go out of my way just to be a dick to strangers. But I was always taught that stropping is a one-direction activity meant to remove the microscopic burr that rolls up on the cutting edge of the blade. So to remove it, yo drag the blade away from the edge, never into the edge as doing so would defeat the purpose by cutting into the leather strop if the edge is laying flat against the strip as it should be. Tilting the cutting edge back just the tiniest little bit necessary to avoid the edge catching would elevate the cutting edge off of the strop slightly, meaning you’re not touching the burr on the edge, which is the whole point of your mission. The process also polishes the beveled cutting edge, keeping the bevel flat and smooth while honing that cutting edge as it meets the flat underside of the blade. To my understanding, flipping this blade over and trying to cut with the bevel down is a bit like jerkin it with the back of your hand or writing your name with your elbow…. Ya might be able to make it work but it’s gonna be clumsy, inefficient, and just ain’t the right way of doing things. Things are made a certain way for a reason. With the bevel up, you can control the depth of your cut. If you put the bevel down, you can really only cut deep and will likely take a big gouge out of your work if anything. In order to get anything like a consistent cut, you’d almost have to grind a bevel on the flat side of the blade as well, wouldn’t you? At that point, just use your pocket knife. A chisel grind knife is made that way for a purpose. If you add a grind on the flat side, you’re changing your edge geometry, making the grind finer which means more maintenance and probably the need to run it over a stone progression every time to straighten your edge, remove scratches, fine tune it, and THEN strop it instead of just stropping it. And if you’re not someone who knows how to properly sharpen blades, or someone who loves to constantly sharpen and maintain blades, it may not be a good idea. …in my opinion. Jus sayin.
OLD LEATHER SMITH here, very good Eric, sorry I was taught 2 use a ROUND KNIFE 2 Skive but all of the tools you showed work well 2. GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃
Stropping side to side will remove a lot of burs that you don't need to lose. The other way aligns them more without removing them. Think of a blade like a comb. You don't want to remove the bristles of the comb if they get bent. You just want to realign them. Magnified a blade looks like a jagged serrated blade. You don't want to remove the serrations but to realign them.
Had to skive for the first time today and while it wasn't bad it still wasn't great.... Now is see Your demo and it will be a big help on my next project
Stropping does make your knives sharper plus you don't have to sharpen them as often. If your using compound as you should be, it is an abrasive so it obviously will sharpen a bit to some extent. I'll even strop my exactos and scalpel blades a bit and they last a bit longer. I only strop in one direction and try to keep the angles constant. Great vids. Thanks for your tips and experience. Have a crap ton of leather from a warehouse find and thinking of making some things for myself.
I cant say which stropping technique works best, but even cheaper knives can get devilishly sharp with just a pull stroke! 😄 Always helpful guys, thanks!
How do you guys always know what I need to know for my next project? Excellent video. Even the sharpening tips are useful. Back to the Weaver shopping cart!
I was convinced I needed a motorized skiving machine before finding your tutorial! Thank you for showing me that developing handtooling skills is a better investment.
With leather strops which are soft unlike sharpening stones there’s a greater chance of rounding your edge by doing pushing or sideways motions while sharpening. You’re also more likely to gouge into your leather strop. You can also round your edge with a pulling motion if you press too hard, which is something for new sharpeners to keep in mind. Whatever works, works though. Consistency is key and if you’re able to get a consistently sharp edge then don’t worry too much about “best practices”
Eric, on a serious note, I wrote the previous post way before watching the whole video. So... you asked the question about if anyone could give you a reason not to rub back and forth. I can't. But I can tell you that the leather crafters from Japan and Korea i watch do not rub that knife back and forth and sometimes they use a wet stone with oil. Same thing with those particular French skivers. Most americans (primarily midwesterners) don't use that knife. They use the moon knife. Only those of us like you and i who have lived, or immersed ourselves into asiatic cultures, have expanded to using tools in their trade. If I find the video I'm thinking of, I'll post it separately. And you are correct. Skiving the edges and leather properly brings your projects to a whole nother level. And finishing edges with dye or tokonole gives it a clean look. It really depends on the look your going for also is the difference between being paid $30.00 for a simple veg tan wallet and $75.00 for the same pattern where someone takes their time and pays attention to detail. 🤑🤗😉
Just coming across this video, as I'm shopping for a straight skiving knife...funny how that happens! Great tutorial and generous information that is so well presented! Thank you!
I definitely learned something today. I like videos like these as they are very objective and with simple examples they are able to send the message across. I am new to leather craft and just started practicing saddle stitch on scrap leathers and will continue to work on those basic skills, stitching, skiving, burnishing, etc... before I go on a particular project. Thanks so much the video!
This was a very good teaching video. Thank you for taking such care in your presentation and explanations. So far the only skiving I've done is to thin thick leather spots for snap locations, or to create small patches of leather to cover snaps/rivets. Just had an "Ah ha!" moment while watching, and you didn't even cover this. But I realized when creating those small patches, I should skive a bigger piece first and then cut the patch from it. LoL Doah! Many thanks. :)
There actually is a reason to strop one direction instead of back and forth. Stroping is just like using a stone, except it's much more precise. Stroping back and forth the way you do is creating scratch marks horizontally, which makes it easier for the blade to break. Think about it like the grain of wood. It's much easier to break wood if you break it along the grain instead of going against it. You won't notice a difference on leather since it's a relatively easy thing to cut, but if you sharpened a knife with horisontal scratches and used it for whittling dry wood, you'll probably get some chipping at least on the microscopic level.
Thank you for your informative detailed explanation on skiving leather, sharpening with the white (course)/red(medium)/ green (fine) rouge before using any tool and for detail and thinning the leather for stitching. Now I have to go, practice skiving. Great job, keep up the great videos.
Great video. Learned another couple "small" points, even though I already have some experience. You really do well as an instructor. Keep up the good work!
Best tutorial ive seen, im new to this becaus im redoing leather for an old camera and getting custom about it. This will hel because i have great quality albeit thick leather to work with. Thanks for posting, now i have more tools to aquire 😅 🎉❤
Funny thing is, while i am finishing wallet, I am watching this and keep nodded my head because that is what I have learned from your other videos. Great info.
I work with chrome tanned leather. I sharpening the knife before each skives but it only stay sharp for a little, it dull very quick and i need re-sharpening very often. My sharpening gear: 400-800 grit double side stone, 1000 grit natural stone for polishing the knife.
I skive the edge in one continuous motion on an angle. I also like an olfa snap knife that is super stropped and a Japanese skiver. The hard smooth glass/granite is not optional, honestly it is more important than the knife.
So stroping back and forth can cause some crowning ..if you want to do something similar that will keep it flat and even do light figuret 8s pulling back only...whenever you do side to side like that the pressure dosnt stay even and as you pull across to the other direction it presses harder on the lead side and lighter on the drag side eventually creating a slight arch ...if you put the blade cut edge at 90 on the that block you have you can see if it's worn at the side ...dose it matter for skiving ...probably not ...I've made a lot of knives and in the beginning I would do that and get these little dips and hills (it would make me crazy) in the blade until someone explained to me what was happening..
Working with it side to side makes it harder to maintain the angle of beveled edge. Generally you'd want to pull the knife down the strop because it's easier to control the angle of the bevel. Also, the Japanese skiving knives have a slight curve to the edge so mind the corners... additionally, don't press to hard, let the polishing rouge do the work.
ahhhhhh, see I knew there was a reason :) thank you! I'll try to change my habits too, that makes a lot of sense. Pressure is a big one, not pressing too hard sharpening and not pushing too hard skiving are very important - let the knife do the work!
1:35 why would you skive it all the way down instead of using a lower weight leather, like 1-2oz? I'm brand new to this so wondering if it's just because it's all you had or if there's a technical reason for it
Just discovered your channel. Great videos you're making of your beautiful work, so clear and helpful with your explanations. You break down the craft into its most fundamental steps and techniques, with videos that focus on each skill. I especially appreciate your guidance on practicing, again and again. Practice makes perfect. Plus, you're a fellow Bay Stater living on Cape Cod. Just wonderful and Many thanks.
I'm planning to buy French skiver but I'm not sure whether I'll get the 8mm or 10mm. Any tip you can give? When to use 8 or 10mm? I'm planning to use it on creating wallets.
I love skiving 🤪. I know your trying to reduce your footprint but I hope to get a bell skiver next year. That will change my life. Come on "E", cave with me. 😋
A reason that I don't like to strop side to side is because if you use too steep of an angle by even just a little bit the blade will dig into the strop and I always feel like when it "cuts" through the compound it gets really dull
So the chartermade skivers is designed more towards the way you skive ? The rounded corner.. ive seen lapskives where the blade is bent at an angle so u have better control i guess..
yes they are but they're also 10 times the price. I haven't found any cheap skiving knives that have the rounded corner but I also haven't really looked
Most excellent, always enjoy your videos. I am slowly replacing my Chinese "tools" with more professional equipment. Just bought the skiving knife and French edger using your link. Thanks...
Hello ..thank you so much for your videos ... Could you please make a video about what is the kind of leather do you use for wallet and tote bags and what is the best thikness for projects
Your videos are so inspiring and fun to watch !! i don't work with leather; i am an artist but i enjoy watching your videos and the way you teach unique techniques :))
You can strop(like pop) any way you like...or say it the way you like lol.... but as knife guy who has made and sharpened knives I can say this. aside from possibly cutting the strop leather....like Rai said below....most important is... you are creating that micro bir at microscopic level. by you going back and forth like you do the edge of the blade is getting groves from the paste along the edge (parallel) this will give you a sharp edge yes but not as razor sharp as it can be. what you want to accomplish is the micro bir/edge in the same direction by pulling the blade toward you then turning the blade over and doing the same. the birr become so small and eventually gets removed thus creating the smallest of edges. (razors edge)
It's not to polish the blade. It's to re-apex the blade. Think of the letter V as a blade point. When you cut your causing the the point of the blade to form a bur and blunt. Going from a V to a U but with a very fine and small wire of steel called the burr. When you sharpen on a stone or your intentionally moving the burr from one side to another going higher in grit to get a smaller burr. Stroping is the final step and removes that burr causing the point of your blade back to a perfect apex or V. With A blade that's well managed stropping just touches it up and removes any new burr.
Hey brother quick question I’m new to the whole leather crafting and I’m a welder and equipment operator by trade so I was thinking all man I got this won’t be no problem ha ha slicing is pretty tough so I got mad and pulled out the angle grinder 🥴But let’s say over the last week I have learned there is no substitute for a sharp blade and I think anybody trying to learn the technique of hand skiving while you’re learning I believe a sharp blade and patients will make or break how well someone learns this trade. Just throwing that out there and how often do you go through Blades if someone was to use an X-Acto knife? God bless take care
I see that Good Skiving is all about control... and different skiving tools offer different levels of control... so one does have a need for a variety of skiving tools... which tools do you consider a good starting set?
the main reason for drawing the blade is to draw out the metal on a minute level. this creates a super fine edge. where possible you should strop both side of the edge. this removes any minute burring. you should also strop on the plain leather flesh side without and abrasive to polish.
Great video. I made a sheath pretty simillar to this one, but my skiving knife is not as fancy as yours.. lol.. and I do just the same way you do to skive the edges, the "diagonal style". But I really need the french one, it seems to be really handy. Well, thanks for all the effort on making this video. Loved it. Cheers.
Since most of us skive (and most of us don't do it well), this video has great value to me. Correct skiving is a skill most of us don't master right away, because frankly, videos about skiving just don't exist in detail like yours does. Sharpening these knives has also been a mystery to me. Great content..!!!!!
Skiving is what's make me wanna quit leathercraft sometimes...
Yeah, skiving is not easy, and I'm not afraid to say that I am among the ones who don't do it well, lol. But one thing I'm sure is the sharpening makes it way more easier. Have a good one Ronald.
I don’t even work with leather , but I still enjoy your videos.
Hehe same here, just enjoy watching someone that's good in their profession :)
I'm so happy to hear :) you should give it a go sometime, it's fun!
@@Corter my friend made a simple leather wallet. Now im tempted to make one myself, or a belt.
Me too. My dad was a bookbinder though and so I’ve always been interested in leatherwork.
I'm just starting into leather crafting - and so far, your vids helped me tremendously, you have no idea. I soak it up like a sponge :) Keep it coming and thanks a lot - packed knowledge empowering the newbie. Thanks a bunch! Greetings from Germany.
I'm new to leather, but I've been woodworking, including hand carving for years. I was taught to sharpen on stones and strops with the pulling motion, with long strokes the length of the stone. The reason for doing that is to minimize the possibility of gouging or scratching the sharpening surface. Some of the higher grit waterstones are pretty soft, and its easy to mess them up if you are grinding back and forth on one area. The pulling motion also helps in keeping the tool a uniform thickness.
However, results are the ultimate test. If what you are doing works, it works 😁
Pretty sure he has lots more scrap leather if this piece gets damaged.
Hello. I have Arkansas oil stones. What do you recommend for sharpening a skiver? I have the flat knife skiver not the french
@@charlesjones1535 what method do you recommend if you are using Arkansas stone? I have the oil not the compound. I need to sharpen desperately
@@amyacheson9609 An oil stone will work just fine for the initial sharpening of the blade. The critical point is to maintain a consistent angle while you sharpen. Try for a 25 to 30 degree angle. Also rub the flat back of the blade flat on the stone to flatten and debur the back as well. The stone alone won't get you there though.
Get a piece of 3/4" MDF board,about 4" by 8", and glue a piece of veg tanned leather to the face, rough side showing. There's an abrasive paste called honing compound. Put a generous dollop on the leather surface, and pull the blade across the leather maintaining that 25 to 30 degree angle. That will polish the bevel of the blade. Be sure to also rub the flat back of the blade on the leather in that pulling motion to polish up the back as well.
The true definition of "sharp" is two mirror polished planes that meet at an angle between 20 and 45 degrees. So get the angle right, and polish both sides mirror bright, and it will cut really well for you.
If you want more info search for woodworking videos on how to hand sharpen woodworking chisels. It's the exact same process. A guy who calls himself "the wood whisperer" did a really good hand sharpening video.
Thank you
Absolute best video tutorial on skiving and the reason to skive your leather edges.
Most people strop one direction rather than back and forth, it's both to maintain proper edge alignment with each pass and to extend the life of the stropping medium. Back and forth movements have a higher chance to cut through your strop and require you to find new leather to use. Single direction strokes on the strop let you control your blade easier so you get a nice consistent angle, and the edge never travels in the direction of the strop, so you won't cut your strop by mistake. The back and forth movement is good if you're re-profiling a knife's edge on a hard stone if you were to chip or break the edge somehow, since that sort of motion removes a lot of material from the blade quickly.
He is using scrap as a strip, not a razor strip, which you do use in both directions anyway with an X stroke. So not really sure what point you are trying to make
@@charlesjones1535 I thought his point was quite clear. Whether I agree with it or not is another question, but his point is clear.
Not going to criticize anyone else’s thoughts on this one…because I don’t go out of my way just to be a dick to strangers. But I was always taught that stropping is a one-direction activity meant to remove the microscopic burr that rolls up on the cutting edge of the blade. So to remove it, yo drag the blade away from the edge, never into the edge as doing so would defeat the purpose by cutting into the leather strop if the edge is laying flat against the strip as it should be. Tilting the cutting edge back just the tiniest little bit necessary to avoid the edge catching would elevate the cutting edge off of the strop slightly, meaning you’re not touching the burr on the edge, which is the whole point of your mission. The process also polishes the beveled cutting edge, keeping the bevel flat and smooth while honing that cutting edge as it meets the flat underside of the blade. To my understanding, flipping this blade over and trying to cut with the bevel down is a bit like jerkin it with the back of your hand or writing your name with your elbow…. Ya might be able to make it work but it’s gonna be clumsy, inefficient, and just ain’t the right way of doing things. Things are made a certain way for a reason. With the bevel up, you can control the depth of your cut. If you put the bevel down, you can really only cut deep and will likely take a big gouge out of your work if anything. In order to get anything like a consistent cut, you’d almost have to grind a bevel on the flat side of the blade as well, wouldn’t you? At that point, just use your pocket knife. A chisel grind knife is made that way for a purpose. If you add a grind on the flat side, you’re changing your edge geometry, making the grind finer which means more maintenance and probably the need to run it over a stone progression every time to straighten your edge, remove scratches, fine tune it, and THEN strop it instead of just stropping it. And if you’re not someone who knows how to properly sharpen blades, or someone who loves to constantly sharpen and maintain blades, it may not be a good idea. …in my opinion. Jus sayin.
I thought that you were supposed to use the suede side of the leather too
He was just doing the top grain side because it’s easier to see on video, he normally dose the flesh side. :)
OLD LEATHER SMITH here, very good Eric, sorry I was taught 2 use a ROUND KNIFE 2 Skive but all of the tools you showed work well 2. GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃
You are SUCH a fantastic teacher
Stropping side to side will remove a lot of burs that you don't need to lose. The other way aligns them more without removing them. Think of a blade like a comb. You don't want to remove the bristles of the comb if they get bent. You just want to realign them. Magnified a blade looks like a jagged serrated blade. You don't want to remove the serrations but to realign them.
Had to skive for the first time today and while it wasn't bad it still wasn't great.... Now is see Your demo and it will be a big help on my next project
Stropping does make your knives sharper plus you don't have to sharpen them as often. If your using compound as you should be, it is an abrasive so it obviously will sharpen a bit to some extent. I'll even strop my exactos and scalpel blades a bit and they last a bit longer. I only strop in one direction and try to keep the angles constant. Great vids. Thanks for your tips and experience. Have a crap ton of leather from a warehouse find and thinking of making some things for myself.
Awesome advise. I learn something new today. Really appreciate it.
God bless
Good tips. I like how you used the wing divider to show where to start your skive.
I cant say which stropping technique works best, but even cheaper knives can get devilishly sharp with just a pull stroke! 😄
Always helpful guys, thanks!
How do you guys always know what I need to know for my next project? Excellent video. Even the sharpening tips are useful.
Back to the Weaver shopping cart!
I was convinced I needed a motorized skiving machine before finding your tutorial! Thank you for showing me that developing handtooling skills is a better investment.
With leather strops which are soft unlike sharpening stones there’s a greater chance of rounding your edge by doing pushing or sideways motions while sharpening. You’re also more likely to gouge into your leather strop. You can also round your edge with a pulling motion if you press too hard, which is something for new sharpeners to keep in mind.
Whatever works, works though. Consistency is key and if you’re able to get a consistently sharp edge then don’t worry too much about “best practices”
That piece of leather that keeps the blade from cutting the stitching is called a "welt."
Here in Brazil we call it "alma", or the "soul" of the sheath. It makes kind of sense.
Eric, on a serious note, I wrote the previous post way before watching the whole video.
So... you asked the question about if anyone could give you a reason not to rub back and forth. I can't. But I can tell you that the leather crafters from Japan and Korea i watch do not rub that knife back and forth and sometimes they use a wet stone with oil. Same thing with those particular French skivers.
Most americans (primarily midwesterners) don't use that knife. They use the moon knife.
Only those of us like you and i who have lived, or immersed ourselves into asiatic cultures, have expanded to using tools in their trade.
If I find the video I'm thinking of, I'll post it separately. And you are correct. Skiving the edges and leather properly brings your projects to a whole nother level. And finishing edges with dye or tokonole gives it a clean look. It really depends on the look your going for also is the difference between being paid $30.00 for a simple veg tan wallet and $75.00 for the same pattern where someone takes their time and pays attention to detail. 🤑🤗😉
Best skiving video on you tube. Period.
This is a great video. I'm just earning to make leather creations and I've learned so much about skiving. Thank you.
Very good tutorial. Thank you for being so thorough.
Just coming across this video, as I'm shopping for a straight skiving knife...funny how that happens! Great tutorial and generous information that is so well presented! Thank you!
I definitely learned something today. I like videos like these as they are very objective and with simple examples they are able to send the message across.
I am new to leather craft and just started practicing saddle stitch on scrap leathers and will continue to work on those basic skills, stitching, skiving, burnishing, etc... before I go on a particular project.
Thanks so much the video!
Awesome Awesome Awesome video! Dont have any words different then this! Thanks so much!
This was a very good teaching video. Thank you for taking such care in your presentation and explanations. So far the only skiving I've done is to thin thick leather spots for snap locations, or to create small patches of leather to cover snaps/rivets. Just had an "Ah ha!" moment while watching, and you didn't even cover this. But I realized when creating those small patches, I should skive a bigger piece first and then cut the patch from it. LoL Doah! Many thanks. :)
You can use a flat knife to thin leather by flipping it over and riding the bevel, which I learned from woodworking with chisels.
Just bought some skiving tools. Your video explains them. Great video
There actually is a reason to strop one direction instead of back and forth. Stroping is just like using a stone, except it's much more precise. Stroping back and forth the way you do is creating scratch marks horizontally, which makes it easier for the blade to break. Think about it like the grain of wood. It's much easier to break wood if you break it along the grain instead of going against it. You won't notice a difference on leather since it's a relatively easy thing to cut, but if you sharpened a knife with horisontal scratches and used it for whittling dry wood, you'll probably get some chipping at least on the microscopic level.
Thank you for your informative detailed explanation on skiving leather, sharpening with the white (course)/red(medium)/ green (fine) rouge before using any tool and for detail and thinning the leather for stitching. Now I have to go, practice skiving. Great job, keep up the great videos.
Great tutorial for a beginner like me. This is one technique or skill I would love to master and you explained this skill very well. Thank you.
Thank you for the education and for keeping me company during the pandemic. I have learned a lot and am grateful for you and your videos.
Felicidades, por la "masterclass" un video muy instructivo. Estoy deseando el siguiente. Gracias por compartir tus conocimientos
Hola amigo. Disculpa..
Como se llama esta técnica en español?
@@femipajo3309 Se llama rebajar cuero ;l
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am also a blacksmith and have made my own skiving knives. I am in the process of making another one.
Great video. Learned another couple "small" points, even though I already have some experience. You really do well as an instructor. Keep up the good work!
Best tutorial ive seen, im new to this becaus im redoing leather for an old camera and getting custom about it. This will hel because i have great quality albeit thick leather to work with. Thanks for posting, now i have more tools to aquire 😅 🎉❤
Funny thing is, while i am finishing wallet, I am watching this and keep nodded my head because that is what I have learned from your other videos. Great info.
Extremely well explained! Thank you very much!
20:29 Thinning out already thinned leather is the most difficult part. I'm a beginner in leatherwork and always screw it up at skiving thin pieces.
Everybody that’s good at skiving was also bad at it!
Thanks for all these videos. Your explanations are really helpful for a newby like me. Much appreciated.
Excellent video! This will help me big time!
Thank you for sharing your expertise..incredibly helpful!
A great job of explaining how to skive.
Thank you. Always great information from you.
I work with chrome tanned leather. I sharpening the knife before each skives but it only stay sharp for a little, it dull very quick and i need re-sharpening very often. My sharpening gear: 400-800 grit double side stone, 1000 grit natural stone for polishing the knife.
I skive the edge in one continuous motion on an angle. I also like an olfa snap knife that is super stropped and a Japanese skiver. The hard smooth glass/granite is not optional, honestly it is more important than the knife.
What about using a smooth piece of plate steel? Or is this not as good as glass and marble?
I haven't watched this video, and I already know I will appreciate this... Some parts of skiving has been a bit of a mystery to me
Loved this video. Sharing techniques, insights and learnings! That you so much for doing this!!!!
Awesome video. Love your work, glad to see this one
Great video. Just getting into leather crafting. Great teaching!
22:28 I'm pretty sure this one point is stated 40 times in one video
Amazing skills and video dude I learned a ton thanks
👍🏿
So stroping back and forth can cause some crowning ..if you want to do something similar that will keep it flat and even do light figuret 8s pulling back only...whenever you do side to side like that the pressure dosnt stay even and as you pull across to the other direction it presses harder on the lead side and lighter on the drag side eventually creating a slight arch ...if you put the blade cut edge at 90 on the that block you have you can see if it's worn at the side ...dose it matter for skiving ...probably not ...I've made a lot of knives and in the beginning I would do that and get these little dips and hills (it would make me crazy) in the blade until someone explained to me what was happening..
I love your method and will be using it, but first a lot of practice. THanks for sharing!
Just the information I was looking for, explained beautifully. Thank you so much!
Thank you for the video, you are a very good instructor !!!
Ahhh so thankful to find this video! I can't wait to go practice. This was exactly what I was looking for!
Working with it side to side makes it harder to maintain the angle of beveled edge. Generally you'd want to pull the knife down the strop because it's easier to control the angle of the bevel. Also, the Japanese skiving knives have a slight curve to the edge so mind the corners... additionally, don't press to hard, let the polishing rouge do the work.
ahhhhhh, see I knew there was a reason :) thank you! I'll try to change my habits too, that makes a lot of sense.
Pressure is a big one, not pressing too hard sharpening and not pushing too hard skiving are very important - let the knife do the work!
WOW! You covered that very well. Thanks, you clarified my questions and doubts.
1:35 why would you skive it all the way down instead of using a lower weight leather, like 1-2oz? I'm brand new to this so wondering if it's just because it's all you had or if there's a technical reason for it
Excellent, top notch! Thank you for your help.
Hi there from NYC. Thank you very much. Very very helpful, informative and simply put.
Very cool! We appreciate all of all your hard work on all of these! Can’t wait to print them. I use the older versions everyday.
Great video. I really enjoy watching your in-depth instruction vids
Thank you so much, it is a clear video and helpful tools. Where could I buy the tools?
Just discovered your channel. Great videos you're making of your beautiful work, so clear and helpful with your explanations. You break down the craft into its most fundamental steps and techniques, with videos that focus on each skill. I especially appreciate your guidance on practicing, again and again. Practice makes perfect. Plus, you're a fellow Bay Stater living on Cape Cod. Just wonderful and Many thanks.
Thank you, it's very helpful!
so many questions answered thank you!
do you have a video of how to not get stitch punches stuck in the leather?
Everyone learns the same technique's in their own unique way. Good training information and video. Subscriber
I'm planning to buy French skiver but I'm not sure whether I'll get the 8mm or 10mm. Any tip you can give? When to use 8 or 10mm? I'm planning to use it on creating wallets.
great video though thanks for explaining the french skive
I love skiving 🤪.
I know your trying to reduce your footprint but I hope to get a bell skiver next year. That will change my life. Come on "E", cave with me. 😋
A reason that I don't like to strop side to side is because if you use too steep of an angle by even just a little bit the blade will dig into the strop and I always feel like when it "cuts" through the compound it gets really dull
So the chartermade skivers is designed more towards the way you skive ? The rounded corner.. ive seen lapskives where the blade is bent at an angle so u have better control i guess..
Theres one you pull and it has a razor blade that works like a plane ... I suck at skiving no matter what I use , so I use me bench belt sander
yes they are but they're also 10 times the price. I haven't found any cheap skiving knives that have the rounded corner but I also haven't really looked
What if you razor edged a carrot peeler lmao
Thank you. What kind of "compound" did you use for the strahp?
I wonder if those french skivers work the same in soft chrome tanned leather or they are just for hard vegetal tanned ones?
Most excellent, always enjoy your videos. I am slowly replacing my Chinese "tools" with more professional equipment. Just bought the skiving knife and French edger using your link. Thanks...
supercool tips , bought a tool set and I was wondering what both those tools were for, thanks for the useful info dude.
Hello ..thank you so much for your videos ... Could you please make a video about what is the kind of leather do you use for wallet and tote bags and what is the best thikness for projects
Absolutely love your teaching videos!
Your videos are so inspiring and fun to watch !! i don't work with leather; i am an artist but i enjoy watching your videos and the way you teach unique techniques :))
What is the rounded corner of the shank of the blade by the handle for?
You can strop(like pop) any way you like...or say it the way you like lol.... but as knife guy who has made and sharpened knives I can say this.
aside from possibly cutting the strop leather....like Rai said below....most important is... you are creating that micro bir at microscopic level. by you going back and forth like you do the edge of the blade is getting groves from the paste along the edge (parallel) this will give you a sharp edge yes but not as razor sharp as it can be.
what you want to accomplish is the micro bir/edge in the same direction by pulling the blade toward you then turning the blade over and doing the same. the birr become so small and eventually gets removed thus creating the smallest of edges. (razors edge)
Anyone know why the skiving knives are shaped with a curve on one back edge and the handle off center? Thanks
Great block of instruction, thank you for this
Very good video and great teacher, I have learned a lot!
It's not to polish the blade. It's to re-apex the blade. Think of the letter V as a blade point. When you cut your causing the the point of the blade to form a bur and blunt. Going from a V to a U but with a very fine and small wire of steel called the burr. When you sharpen on a stone or your intentionally moving the burr from one side to another going higher in grit to get a smaller burr. Stroping is the final step and removes that burr causing the point of your blade back to a perfect apex or V. With A blade that's well managed stropping just touches it up and removes any new burr.
Your videos are the best! You've inspired me to try and build a card wallet!
:D
Hey brother quick question I’m new to the whole leather crafting and I’m a welder and equipment operator by trade so I was thinking all man I got this won’t be no problem ha ha slicing is pretty tough so I got mad and pulled out the angle grinder 🥴But let’s say over the last week I have learned there is no substitute for a sharp blade and I think anybody trying to learn the technique of hand skiving while you’re learning I believe a sharp blade and patients will make or break how well someone learns this trade. Just throwing that out there and how often do you go through Blades if someone was to use an X-Acto knife? God bless take care
Does anyone know what angle the skiving knife are?? I found one at a yard sale but it's rounded so not sure what angle to sharpen.. thanks!
I see that Good Skiving is all about control... and different skiving tools offer different levels of control... so one does have a need for a variety of skiving tools... which tools do you consider a good starting set?
Outstanding tutorial. Thank you.
the main reason for drawing the blade is to draw out the metal on a minute level. this creates a super fine edge. where possible you should strop both side of the edge. this removes any minute burring. you should also strop on the plain leather flesh side without and abrasive to polish.
this is how to get a beautiful edge that cuts with ease
This was a great video. I've been doing it all wrong with my knife and I really suck at skiving. Thanks..
What set of knifes and edgers would one recommend? Something from amazon work?
You are such a great teacher!!! Thank you :)
What if my skiving tool is not that sharp when 1st bought... Is there any way to make it sharper
Thank you. Very helpful and great tips.
Great video. I made a sheath pretty simillar to this one, but my skiving knife is not as fancy as yours.. lol.. and I do just the same way you do to skive the edges, the "diagonal style". But I really need the french one, it seems to be really handy. Well, thanks for all the effort on making this video. Loved it. Cheers.
Informative is an under statement. Thank you!