Thread: Getting a clean cut on Latigo leather... A question for the leather craftsmen

Some latigo is pretty hard - the mexican stuff feels like it is some sort of board when you cut it, and draw gauges and plough guages wander and even head, half round or french half round knives need more than one pass.

Some latigo on the other hand is very soft and almost any craft knife, stanley knife, head knife, etc will do the cut in one pass.

Paying attention to what is under the leather is important - steel or glass will blunt the knife whereas timber or rubber mat will not. I use a very long self-healing cutting matt, but along with specialist gauges and knives, it is quite expensive, so I suppose timber will be best in this situation.

If you are using a steel edge as a guide, you do not want something that has high sides as the body of the knife will contact it. You do not want something with handles that the knife handle will touch, or any protuberances. A simple steel rule is best, better if you stick some anti-skid to the bottom of it. Clamps can hep if you have an extra long straight edge, but make sure the bottom is cushioned with anti-skid mat and that you do not tighten the cramps too much, else the body of the straight edge will get imprinted in the leather. The cramps should be just out of the range of the knife, else they will get in the way - a soft touch in the middle of the rule is all that is needed then.

It really is a simple matter, like Pixelfixed says - don't over-complicate it and just go for it, as you say the strop gets little or no use anyway.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

28 posts on cutting a pce pf leather.You got a straight edge and a sharp blade? will take you 3 mins.
Attachment 201047

Yep, I have a few good straight edges and a couple of knives. The Latigo is pretty thick and hard. No way I am getting through it with one cut. More than one cut is going to look cheesy.

I am sure we're likely to get another 28 posts about using the not-so-flat top of your washing machine as a backer board...

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Yep, I have a few good straight edges and a couple of knives. The Latigo is pretty thick and hard. No way I am getting through it with one cut. More than one cut is going to look cheesy.

I am sure we're likely to get another 28 posts about using the not-so-flat top of your washing machine as a backer board...

Am not very smart but I did not fall out of my Mamas Bottom yesterday.
Using a washing Machine as a backer is insane.
I have cut 12 oz leather with that Knife,No problem (one clean cut)
My backer board is a pce of 1in. thick Honduran Mahogany,Which is clamped to my bench,straight edge is 4 ft long,1/16 thick,you only need one straight to begin to get a perfect pce,scribe the other side,than clamp the straight edge in place,cut it,bevel the edges with the proper tool.
Your done,is truly easy no brainer work.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Am not very smart but I did not fall out of my Mamas Bottom yesterday.
Using a washing Machine as a backer is insane.

We had a giggle over it but nobody took it seriously

Originally Posted by Hart

We had a giggle over it but nobody took it seriously

WE???????????????????? who is we?