Did I bugger up my splitter blade?

P

paneraica

Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
300
I usually hone the face of my blade and using a strop attached to a wood board. Put a micro bevel on the edge.

Worked OK and was able to split leather down to 1/2 mm

One day I put a heavier angle on the edge tip of about 70 degrees and it split leather with ease, but noticed I had trouble splitting anything past 1 mm.

Blade just wouldn't bite. Even with the roller touching the blade. The leather just pressed the roller down and slid under the blade.

Just spent an hour redoing the main face (400 grit emery paper, 1000/4000 water stone) on the weekend, but didn't remove enough material to affect the tip much.

Found it worked a bit better when piggybacking the leather on top of another firm piece if I need to get under 1 mm

Just wondering if I need to drop down to 250 grit and redo it all over again or get the whole face redon and stick to a lighter 40 degree micro bevel edge?

Thanks

DON
 
In my experience, a splitter blade should be sharpened only on the angled face and should not have a secondary bevel. It does make sharpening a pain if you let it get too dull but if stropped periodically it can last a long time. A secondary bevel elevates the edge and makes it necessary to deform the leather into the secondary bevel get it to bite.
Another problem can also be the positioning of the blade when reinstalling it. If the blade it too far forward, it will most likely overcut and be very difficult to control. If it is too far back. it will be difficult to split thinner leather. I position mine as close to the centerline of the roller as I can, to just slightly back. Hope this helps.
Randy
 
It's a Tandy splitter, so blade can only be positioned in one spot. Roller is half way

Using the strop on the bevel only will take practise as there isn't much of a face. Maybe a 1/2" of bevel, so keeping a board flat against without wobbling will take some practice

Guessing I got some work to do later on and will try and get the face flat

Thanks

DON
 
Don,
If the bevel is only on the angled face it is not as big a problem as having it on both. Just think how the leather approaches the blade and you can see what makes sense.
Randy
 
I have that Tandy splitter too that I cuss at all the time. When it needs a touch up I use a buffer instead of a strop. Pretty quick and easy.
 
Horsewright said:
I have that Tandy splitter too that I cuss at all the time. When it needs a touch up I use a buffer instead of a strop. Pretty quick and easy.
Click to expand...

Thats one thing I didn't want. I work in my basement and didn't want to start with a buffing wheel. I have a dremel and foredom, but only use for small jobs

DON
 
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