Joe, I tried what you said about how to fix problems with your swivel knife. All the problems you laid out in this video was happening to me. I thought it must be me. Then it must be the leather. Finally it must be the swivel knife blade. Today, I decided to try fixing my swivel knife by sharpening it with Emory Cloth, then load up my strop with green sharpening compound and then work my swivel knife on both sides 0:28 of the strop. The swivel knife cut through the leather like a hot knife through butter. What a difference it made. Yes the swivel knife has to be stropped ever so often to continue the easy cutting. I think the swivel knife blade picks up protein which causes the knife to hang up and skip. As soon as I stropped the swivel knife blade, it was easy going again. I’m so glad I happened on your video. Great information and great video. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate it. Best regards, Richard in upstate New York.
@Robpearceknives3 ай бұрын
I really enjoyed watching your design process. Thank you for sharing!!
@larrycumba27414 ай бұрын
I have a stack of 4” square blanks I use to practice different tooling, staining and paint techniques. Both import and HO all in the same stack. The import is a struggle and the HO is a pleasure. Same knife tells me it’s the leather not the knife.
@maddawgnoll4 ай бұрын
I've been working with Hernan oak only for the past 3 years. I ordered an import because the price was right and I needed something right away. It's such a huge difference. HO makes life so much easier
@JohnTBlock4 ай бұрын
You should strop your swivel knife every time you pick it up! Aut-o-ma-tic!
@maddawgnoll4 ай бұрын
I think I strop more than I use lol. Before and after use regardless of how many cuts I made with it. And sometimes just because I see it there and the strop is in my hand.
@stevem67883 ай бұрын
Great video. Concise & easy to understand. Any suggestions on how to re-establish the correct angle on the swivel knife blade?
@McDistrust4 ай бұрын
Don't know how I got here. Don't know why I can't stop watching.
@pauleyedwin60563 ай бұрын
Joe beginner leather worker. Hopefully will take beginner class this month. My main question is what swivel knife blades to purchase. I’ve heard a wide blade is better for long straight cuts, such as belts. Is a smaller blade better for floral tooling? Can you give me advice on what size of blades to start with and which to get thick or thin or do you just purchase a few different one’s and go from there. Thanks any help appreciated. Enjoyed your video.
@lymanw.-nf8bw4 ай бұрын
Thanks I was wondering what to do with that knife
@timtrax918artisan83 ай бұрын
should one strope the blade in the direction as you shown with the fine sand paper ?
@jarredlong97368 күн бұрын
Do you ever have to re-apply water on a big job?
@islandvoyager70614 ай бұрын
Hello Joe! Dan from "THREE HORSE LEATHER Co." here. I have a new Duane Watts swivel knife. The kind without a yoke that looks like a pencil. Have you used one of these? Any tips because I am having a hard time with it. Thanks, Dan.
@benjammin12124 ай бұрын
I have one of Duane's yokeless knives , i prefer it to a conventional swivel knife for certain unbroken cuts but trying to do cuts where the blade is constantly lifting off the leather is challenging, especially for a noob, the blade swivels so much that trying to place it in the direction you want to cut is tricky unless you actually hold the blade, i also found it a little harder to keep a edge on the blade compared to my other knives. I would like to master it but i feel more confident using a conventional swivel knife.
@samwise4133 ай бұрын
I have a hard time following my pattern line
@Doc-Holliday18514 ай бұрын
What is the benefit of a swivel knife over an xacto?
@maddawgnoll4 ай бұрын
You don't carve with an exacto knife, that's for cutting. Swivel knife isn't meant to cut through the leather, only into it.
@1a1u0g9t4s2u3 ай бұрын
I agree with @maddawgnoll. After over 50+ years of RC model plane building using hobby knives, they are fantastic for straight line cuts. But when I needed to make curved cuts for wing airfoils the swivel knife is the way to go. BTW, take Joe's recommendation about practicing both left and right curved cuts to heart. Your workmanship will thank you.