Cutting Leather

[Cutfingers]

Has anyone out there tried cutting heavy leather with a scroll saw? Pros and cons?

 

[Black Hand]

No, but that sounds messy. You would need to trim the ragged/fuzzy edge. I prefer shears or a utility knife.

 

[LaBonte]

A scroll saw won't work well or at all due to up and down movement of the blades - a bandsaw on the other can work and work very well, provided you get the knife type blades made for various indutries inlcuding the leather industry.
It also depends on the leather - thicker veg/bark tan works with a bandsaw but thinner or more flexible type hides do not.

 

[Birdman]

I've seen folks use a sharpened pizza cutter(those wheel shaped gizmos) on real thin stuff, when cutting fringe n the like, don't know how it might work on thicker stuff but if ya got some scrap it might be fun to try YMHS Birdman

 

[gmarc]

I have used a bandsaw successfully to cut 9oz. & double butt leather

 

[ohio ramrod]

Won't work! been there done that big mess :idunno: I have had good luck cutting raw hides with a fine tooth band saw blade. :idunno:

 

[SpottedBull]

I have found that an exacto knife, or a really sharp hooked-point pocket knife I have, works the best, especially when you have a good hard straight edge to run it along side of. Repeated patient cuts make smoother cleaner edges.

 

[Cutfingers]

Want to thank all of yoy for answers. I've been using a razor knife by Sheffield for years and was simply looking for an easier way to make my detailed cuts. Guess I'll have to stick to the razor.

 

[Rifleman1776]

A scroll saw won't work well or at all due to up and down movement of the blades - a bandsaw on the other can work and work very well, provided you get the knife type blades made for various indutries inlcuding the leather industry.
It also depends on the leather - thicker veg/bark tan works with a bandsaw but thinner or more flexible type hides do not.

I'll ditto that. Bandsaw would work fine.
I do use my drill press to make stitching holes. Easy to get even spacing. Make small and they don't show up in finished project.