Sharpening leather cutting tools. Which type do you use?

[beauharlan]

Hello, Is there anyone here who has worked with leather that can share with me their experience? I'm learning to make leather accessories and would like to know what kind of jig you guys use to sharpen your tools.

This helps me reduce some costs. Thank.

[John Hancock Sr]

what kind of jig you guys use to sharpen your tools

Good question. I have been sharpening my skiving knives by hand. I have not yet found a way to sharpen it on the Tormek. Having said that, the knives rarely get chipped or blunt since I keep them pretty sharp and strop them regularly. For general cutting I use a scalpel and Stanley knife with disposable blades. I do strop them occasionally.

As for the edgers I strop them before each use.

[RichColvin]

For the skiving knives, you should be able to use:

• The platform approach (e.g., using the SVD-110).  I use this approach when sharpening my Alan Lacer skew which has a similar profile with part straight and part rounded.  I've outlined a process for that at https://sharpeninghandbook.info/WW-SkewLacer.html.

• A straight-edge jig.  I use the SVH-60 to sharpen my beekeeping hive tool which has a similar profile with a straight edge.  The SE-77 will probably also work well.  I've outlined a process for that at https://sharpeninghandbook.info/GT-HiveTools.html.

For the edgers, this is similar to sharpening smaller wood carving tools like veining tools.  I use a simple collar for that.  I've outlined a process for that at https://sharpeninghandbook.info/WW-VeiningTool.html.

For the pattern knives, a platform approach is also probably best.

[John Hancock Sr]

The platform approach

A straight-edge jig

Neither of these work with the skiving knife. It will not fit on the platform and is too short for the straight edge jig.

The only way really is to rest the handle on the support to assist in getting the correct angle.