Hello all! Have some of you tried skiving chrome tanned leather with a woodworking block plane like this ?
(Lie Nielsen No. 101 Violin Maker's Plane)
I know some cheap leather planes exist but they are nowhere near the quality of a proper woodworking block plane.
Some people successfully tried, but they had to heavily sharpen the blade because of its angle i guess (block planes exist in low and standard angle depending on the task) :
here :
here also :
https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/56645-block-plane/ And a very interesting DIY project here : https://jeffpeachey.com/2011/09/05/razor-blade-planes-a-new-plane-designed-for-leather/ What do you guys think?
some bookbinders use a modified stanley 151 spoke shave for thinning leather. i have one, just got to finish off the blade to about 13 degrees. waiting for some things coming from veritas so i can make sure they are at the right angle. they have been on order for 6 months now.
Thank you! News here.. I've found this post where a guitar maker (George Wilson) talks about using woodwork block planes for chrome leather skiving, according to him, only W1 blades can do this impossible job (called T10 in its Chinese designation, which is the blade used in the above video): https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?219830-Lie-Nielsen-A2-issue And this Etsy page recommend M390 blades for their block plane : https://www.etsy.com/fr/listing/531399102/flat-cuir-incurve-skiver-plane-wood?ref=landingpage_similar_listing_bot-2&pro=1&variation0=1480808566 What do you guys think? Is it just a question of blade type? So A2 is to avoid here?
Thank you for your answers guys! @Doug Have you tried using your woodworking block plane for skiving? If yes with no success, maybe the blade wasn't sharp enough or the depth control wasn't that great on your block plane?.. @Fadi Ahahaha!!!! You're right, leather block planes are not meant to be used for skiving, but i was talking about woodworking block planes, these are way more sophisticated tools with depth control and precise adjustments, like this tiny one : https://www.lie-nielsen.com/products/violin-makers-plane?path=block-planes&node=4072 Here is a cheap woodworking block plane being used on leather, that seems to work like a charm, a high end one would be great i guess..
Hey man,
The leather planes that exist are not made for skiving. They are for "equalizing" the edges if you did not glue them 100% spot on.
I shudder to think of using one to skive. I am just imagining a soft sully goat stretching and stretching and turning from a goat hide to a mini mamoth one,
I tried a Razor blade plane and didn't really have much success, the blade angle was too steep and the blade holding wasn't secure enough. I sometimes use a small woodworking block plane to do edge work and it does an ok job on veg tan but its not great on anything soft. I think a low angle plane would be a better option for leather work. I would actually like to have a go at making a little plane.
Cheers