The Upholstery Forum

I would like to have a go at recovering a classic 3 spoke steering wheel.

I need to create an invisible join at the spokes, where the short wrap around piece meets the actual circular wheel.

I have tried shaving the leather with a razor, but it doesn't seem to do anything !! I saw 'Contrado' on Youtube, using a press machine to make a really thin edge. Is that the only way to do it ???

Thanks

Apologies it's "Cechaflo".....not Contrado !!

I don’t think it was a press. The machine he is using is called a skiver. It shaves a beveled thin slice off the leather at the edges. I know there are hand skivers, but I don’t work with leather really to help enough with how they work.

A hand beveler or a hand Skiver might work https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/safety-beveler or https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/super-skiver and here is a video or how to use the beveler https://www.youtube.com/embed/N7XsI-lokGw?rel=0 and one on the Skiver https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jHHxT3lqLU?rel=0 hope this helps

Thanks guys. I'll give the beveller a go.

@Kra z Bill , Do you have any opinions on the Sundance 9079-51 leather? I am thinking of doing some seats with this for industrial and not worried about look or feel so much.

@ Big Rig
I have never worked with it. I typed that info into google and what came up looked like good stuff. I may have to convince my boss (The Wife) to let me get some so and play with it so that I can give a better answer.

Right then.

I had a look into the bevellers, but I don't think they'll work so well on very thin leather. So, I bought some new razors off Fleabay and tried again, using an old scraper and viola !! Just needed a new sharp blade.

Use a forward shallow crosscut action and it works a treat. Cheers guys.

Before

I have a pint scraper on hand for that. @Kra z Bill , I dont think the price is bad on this leather and it is just a tad thicker than the leather on this denali seat I am doing a repair on. Price wise and knowing it is tough as a cow hide I may go for it.