Cutting Thick Leather

[RollingThunder]

Considering the graphic design background I come from, it's always been funny how many people don't know to properly handle an X-acto knife, and especially how many people don't know how to use a cutting ruler.

Tip 1 - Do not cut directly towards yourself. Cut at an angle towards your side. And cut slowly. Know what you're cutting and how far. And do not get distracted. And always pay special attention to the area an inch or two in front of your cut. Sometimes fingers sneak into that area unnoticed. (Sounds funny, but I've seen a lot of people slice into their own fingers this way, one severed finger tip, and twice someone cut their own finger past the second knuckle -- same person, same knuckle, two months apart).

Tip 2 - Do not hang your fingertips over the edge of the ruler while holding the ruler flat during cutting.

Tip 3 - On a cutting ruler, there is a groove in the middle. This is where your fingertips go, pointing down (like when they are on the home row of your keyboard). If the knife "walks up" onto the ruler, your only exposed part is your fingernail, which is harder to slice through.

Tip 4 - You measure and draw on the long shallow side of this part of the ruler, and you cut on the steep side. If you get this backwards, it's not a matter of IF but WHEN your blade will find a tooth on that cutting edge and walk straight up it and slice either a finger or a knuckle.

As my first supervisor said to me more than 20 years ago, "Knives are sharp. Don't be dull-headed around them. Pay attention."

[Buffalo]

Let your wife use the utility knife and x-acto for makin crafts. Buy a good head knife and learn how to use it. Your leather work will improve dramatically and you will never look at a utility knife again. The finest gun leather and saddles ever made buy old timers were all made with head and round knives.
Your mileage may vary: Buff

[Don Nix]

I am new to these forums but I had to comment on this knife issue.
I have been a saddlermaker for thirty some od years and there is a diference in head and round knives. It has to do with the shape.

  I never use utility knives or xacto knives because honestly they arent sharp enough.  A goog round knife takes a little to get used to but when you learn to use it it becomes an all purpose tool ,I cut with it ,skive with it use it as an edger then flip it round and use the handle to burnish with.
But the secret to these knives is keeping them sharp. When they are properly sharpened they wil lcut the thickest harness leather like a hot knife though butter. I usually spend more time stropping the blades than I do cutting.
I agree with the writer who said get a god round knife and learn how to use it. You wont be sorry.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for the good input, Don. I've never used a round knife. I suppose I should try one eventually. The saddlemaker I learned from showed me how to make a knife like the one he used and I made two. I've been using those since. As to stropping, that's the most important part of a good knife.