In the early days when I was just starting with leathercraft I made some of my own tools. It was partly out of trying to minimise my expenses and partly out of a desire to make things myself. I had a bit more time then than I do now and I had been learning and practicing wood craft for a couple of years on and off. The wood craft only went as far as making a bits and bobs for myself which still happens. Basic, simple, functional. Nothing fancy. Yet the satisfaction of making and using something one has made is quite nice.
One of the tools I found a need for early on was a strap cutter. The one I would have liked was outside my budget at the time and the ones that were within my budget looked simple enough to make myself. So that is what happened and the results are shown in the photographs below. The wood came from old pallets, the blade is off an sharpened surgical knife and is held in place with a screw on one side of the blade and a half dowel on the other to keep it straight. The cross member slides along the slot in the handle and the whole thing is held in place by either a clamp or a bench vice. I had thought about adding a paper ruler from IKEA so that I can easily set the strap width. The thing has its limitations of course but at the time it enabled me to do something that otherwise was taking a lot of time.
I remind myself when seeing these old tools that although it is nice to have quality tools, sometimes things can be done in a simpler and cheaper way. No doubt good tools help. They may be easier to use, give better results, save time and just be really nice to use. Then there are advantages such as the materials used being fit for purpose and the tools being designed in a way that the user experiences little fatigue. These are important considerations. However, for someone on a budget, like I was in the early days, it may not be necessary. Money spent on materials was definitely of greater benefit at the time than expensive tools. Having said that, who doesn’t like some well made tools with a long history and a well refined design.
As for my bespoke, handmade, upcycled simple strap cutter, it still gets used from time to time. The thing just works and I love it!
