Classic Leather Skiving Machine

Using to bevel for sewing. Works well.

Very easy to use. Does exactly what I need it to do.

the little machine is efficient and easy to use, although after watching a You tube Video, I took the machine apart and tightened all the "joints" and removed the "play" in the machine. this ensures that the blade does not wobble, the only issue I have encountered is the fact that the blade had a chunk chipped out to the flat edge, but I turned the blade around and used the other end.

Good quality skiving machine. Great delivery, very happy.

My wife surprised me with this as a birthday present, and considering it's from China, it's surprisingly well-made. I didn't have high expectations initially. I've been searching for a good way to skive chrome-tanned leather for sewing preparation for quite some time.

I was almost set on purchasing the Schärffix skiver or even considering a bell skiver. I already own an old cast iron hand-crank gear-driven American skiver that works exceptionally well with vegetable-tanned leather. It's great for thicker leather but not ideal for chrome-tanned leather since it wasn't designed with that in mind. I have a variety of hand skiving tools including round knives, head knives, dexter knives, Tandy skivers, and various handmade tools for paring/skiving. However, this YaeTek Manual Leather Skiver seems to be the best fit for my current needs. While a bell skiver would be ideal for full-time skiving of chrome-tanned leather, this tool meets my needs perfectly. It's a step up from hand skiving tools but not as productive as a bell skiver.

My initial impression was not great - the parts seemed loose and sloppy. I had to tighten the turnbuckles, adjust the slop, and lock down the lock nuts. After adding a drop of sewing oil to the threads and pivot points, and a dab of grease to the cam lever, everything operates smoothly with minimal backlash. It was refreshing to only need to make a few adjustments, unlike many Chinese tools I've dealt with in the past. The machining on the blade holder could be better, and the included blades are terrible.

Adjustment is quick, and with some common sense, you can achieve repeatable results. I haven't experienced the deflection mentioned by Jeff Peachey with the Schärffix-style paring/skiving machine, but it's possible it may become an issue with long-term use. So far, I've dulled half a dozen double-sided blades, but the skiver is still working well.

The 18 blades included with this skiver were junk, but Schärffix blades fit and hold a good edge. Standard double-edged razor blades also fit and are a good option. I recommend buying a sample pack from Amazon to try different manufacturers before purchasing a box of 100.

Overall, the YaeTek Manual Leather Skiver works well on soft leather and thin veg-tan, but heavy veg-tanned leather will likely damage the tool quickly. For heavy veg-tanned leather, a sturdier machine like the Landis or American type skiver is recommended.

It's a great tool, and I would have purchased it myself if my wife hadn't gotten it for me first.