Frustrated with trying to cut perfectly straight edges along your leather? I have been there. Through many tests and trials, I have come up with 9 tips for cutting perfectly straight edges every time. Read on to find out more.
Cutting leather at a 45 degree angle creates a natural movement that produces that straightest line. Minimal pressure should be applied to a properly secured cutting guide to reduce inconsistent cuts due to hand tension. Additionally, the blade angle should be decreased on subsequent cuts when making multiple cuts along the same line.
Table of Contents
Use non slip guides for cutting straight lines
A common issue that is often reported when cutting leather is inconsistent lines due to the movement of the measuring device. The measuring device slips for a few reasons. Some of them include
- Applying too much weight to one area of the measuring device
- Holding the measuring device down at the wrong angle
- Applying too much pressure to the side of the measuring device while cutting
So how do you stop the guide from moving?
Use a measuring device with cork on the backside
Measuring devices tend to slide when across the topside of the leather surface when you press down too hard on them. So in order to get around this, many people use measuring devices that have non slip backing.
The most common non slip backing is cork. These measuring devices can be found in pretty much any craft store.
I have tried using these, but I still feel like they slip too much. It just seems like the pre-attached cork is too smooth.
If you want to use cork, I suggest that you purchase your own sheet of cork. This cork will be a little more coarse.
It is coarse enough to stick to the leather, but not coarse enough to scratch the surface of the leather. You’ll want to purchase something that is about 1 – 2 millimeters thick.
Cut a piece of the cork that is about 1 kilometer shorter than the length and width of the measuring device. Attach the cork to the back of the measuring device.
Use a device with non slip tape on the backside
Another option for preventing the movement of the measuring device is non slip tape.
If you want to use this option you will have to get this specially ordered. Some leather crafting companies such as Weaver Leather Craft sell their measuring device with the non-slip tape already attached.
They also sell the non-slip tape separately so that you can apply it to your own measuring devices.
You can buy a roll of it, cut it to fit the length of the measuring device. Place the table lengthwise in the middle between the two numbers.
Use a heavy straight edge
Another good option for preventing the slippage of measuring devices is the use of a straight edge. This is probably the best option for accuracy for a couple of reasons.
Straight edges are generally a little heavier than standard measuring devices and guides.
And they are cut to a very accurate measurement. Some of them are accurate to 1/1000 of an inch. So you get a very straight edge and its heavy enough to stay in place while you cut
Pacific Arc has some that are reasonably priced. I will be purchasing several different sizes and I highly suggest that you purchase one from Pacific Arc if you are serious about cutting straight and accurate lines.
Prevent your measuring device from wobbling
There will come a time when the piece of leather you are cutting is much smaller than your measuring device.
This doesn’t seem like a big issue, but putting your measuring device on the smaller piece of leather may lead to wobbling.
Try it out for yourself.
Take a pencil and try to balance it sideways on your finger. Pushing down on either side will cause it to move up and down.
This is what happens when your measuring device is much larger than the leather that you are cutting.
To prevent this put a piece of leather behind the excess pieces of the straight edges so that its level. This will prevent it from wobbling as you try to hold it down during the cut.
Secure the leather to prevent movement during cutting
Leather stretches and moves during the cutting process. In order to avoid having this affect your cuts, you will need to secure it down to the table.
This should naturally occur as you apply pressure down on the measuring device while you are cutting.
But if you feel that you really need to secure the leather, you can use small C-clamps to hold the leather down to the table. So that it doesn’t move.
Sharpen and strop the blade before cutting
Lets face it. Cutting leather requires a really sharp blade.
I mean it should be so sharp that you could shave with it. When you pull the blade across the leather it should cut through like butter.
I highly suggest that you use the best knife that you possibly can for cutting leather. And then invest some time in learning how to sharpen and maintain your blade.
Cut the leather at a 45 degree angle
This is a tip that I picked up from Niel Armitage at Armitage leather. In the beginning when I used to cut leather, I would cut by pulling my arm straight back.
I would make a line and rotate the leather so that the straight edge made a 90-degree angle with my body. At this angle, I had to pull the blade straight back towards my body.
Most of the time I would get a straight line, but far too often I would get a slight curve in my cut.
I tried multiple rulers, straight edges and different knives, but I continued to get these little cures in my cuts.
Niel suggested that leather should be cut at a 45 degree angle from the body.
What do you mean 45 degree angle?
Try this while you’re sitting.
Make a 90-degree angle with your forearm and shoulder. Kind of like when you are running. Now move your arms back and forth so that your hands come right up underneath your chin. That’s the 45-degree movement.
Now try to move your arms back and forth simultaneously so that your arms go back and forth. Thats the 90 degree angle. Which feels more natural? I bet it’s when they move across your body.
He stated that this angle provides the most natural movement for your arms. A 45-degree angle forces you to pull your arm across your body when you are cutting.
This natural movement will allow you to create the straightest lines.
Most cutting mats have a 45-degree angle markings on them that will help you with this.
If using a cutting mat with 45-degree markings on it is not an option for you, I have also written a post entitled The Best Measuring Device for Leather Work.
In that post, you will find suggestions for measuring devices that have the 45-degree marking
Cutting should be done while standing to increase accuracy
This allows you to look straight down on what you are cutting. I also found that it is easier to concentrate when doing this
Keep the blade vertical while cutting
When cutting the leather avoid applying a lot of pressure to the side of the measuring device.
It is so easy to push firmly against the measuring device while your cutting. You feel like this helps you keep the blade vertical, but it has a negative effect on your cutting.
Applying pressure causes tension in your hands and it pushes the measuring device away from the cut. Both of these lead to inconsistent lines.
When cutting the blade should be just touching the side of the straight edge. It should be touching just enough to stay vertical.
Cut through the leather by using multiple cuts
You dont have to cut the leather all the way through in one cut.
Remember how we talked about how a blade should cut through leather like butter? And how learning how to sharpen and maintain your blade was important?
The better your blade the easier it will be to cut through the leather.
But what if your still learning how to sharpen a blade? Or what if your blade is not that great?
You can still get accurate cuts. You dont have to cut the leather all the way through in one cut. You can make an very accurate cuts by making multiple cuts along the same line.
For the first cut, hold the blade at a high angle. Make a light cut down the side of the straight edge of a measuring device. This should create a should create a groove that is about ⅓ of the way through the leather.
On the next pass remove the measuring device. Place the blade in the groove of the cut and lower the blade angle. Slowly follow the line and cut through the leather.
Continue doing this until you have cut all the way through the leather.
Mark beginning and ending points with the knife
Avoid using an awl or writing utensils to make marks where you plan on cutting the leather.
Aligning your measuring device and cutting off of awl marks may lead to inconsistencies. You will achieve more accurate cuts if you make your marks with your knife.
