Carving leather and designing it according to the trend is the primary step in making something great and fashionable in the leather industry. Using the best swivel knife and many others will serve you for this purpose. Besides industrial use, you can buy swivel knives and carve your favorite leather items according to your preferred designs.
If you’re wondering what swivel knives are? Let me tell you. Swivel Knives are carving tools. They have a sharp, chiseled part on one end. Everyone mainly works with that part. There is a saddle-like part to hold the tool.
Grab the swivel knife using your index finger and middle finger around the base, which connects with the saddle-like shape. There is a pivot in the middle for adjusting the length of the body.
There are many kinds of swivel knives on the market. Choosing the best knife for leather can be troublesome for you without prior knowledge or experience. So, in this article, I will review the 6 best leather knives for leather and the proper buying guide for them.
Here Is The List Of The Top 6 Best Swivel Knife for Leather
If you have less time, this section is for you if you don’t want to read the entire article.
- OWDEN Professional Leather swivel knives
- Tandy Deluxe 8002-00 swivel knives
- Tandy Leather Craftool swivel knives
- AMPSEVEN 20pcs swivel knives
- Master Tools swivel knives
- Caydo Leather Working swivel knives
Here are the top 6 best swivel knives for leather for your reviews
- Features: The swivel knife handle comes in different sizes. The small size has a diameter of 10 mm, and it increases accordingly.
- The blades are made of heat-treated stainless steel, which has a high hardness.
- The shank can suit any blade with a diameter of 5.5 mm.
- You can adjust the handle height.
- Along with two blades, it comes with a hex key.
- This swivel knife measures 3.98” x 2.87” x 0.47” and weighs 0.18 lbs.
You can think of the OWDEN professional leather tool swivel knife as the best knife for leather. It has a size variation for different types of palm sizes. It comes with two blades of two sizes for various types of work. You can use it not only for any leather-related work but also for any clay-carving work.
- The knife is sturdier than you can expect.
- The price is relatively reasonable in comparison to the included items.
- Easy to sharpen the blades.
- The shipping is quick, and the customer service is excellent.
- The cuts are uniform and very easy.
- The adjustable height makes it easier to handle and convenient to use.
- Sometimes, the cradle needs repeated fixing.
- The hex key might not fit the set screws. To use it, you might want to consider polishing it before using it.
- Two extra indented or angular blades come with the original straight ones.
- Since the blades are thinner, it is easy to work on finer designs and carve smaller leather pieces.
- The handle is ergonomic and adequately adjustable. Its adjustability is second to none.
- The dimensions of this swivel knife are 4” x 0.5” x 4”.
- This swivel knife weighs about 0.15 lbs. It is so light that working with it feels very convenient and easy. It also has high mobility and control over the knife while working.
Tandy Deluxe 8002-00 with Extra Angle and Filigree Blades is the best for its easy and simple adjustability. Who doesn’t love a good, hassle-free, adjustable tool for working? I’m sure you do, too. Tandy Deluxe 8002-00 comes with angle and filigree blades, which are very convenient for any leatherwork you will do.
The blades are fragile and have a diameter of 1.1 mm. This swivel knife model has three blades: two angular blades and a straight blade. These blades can work on superfine designs and projects.
- Since it comes with 3 different blades with different angles, working with it will be very convenient.
- It can cover a wide range of tasks. Because of its inclined nature, a fine corner design becomes possible.
- The customer service of Tandy is excellent. So, you’ll get your swivel knife quickly.
- It has a great price and is a quality product. So, it works for everyone.
- The blades are made of stainless steel, making them rust-free and easy to resharpen.
- The knives might need sharpening, a swivel knife right out of the box.
- Though it has ball bearings, sometimes, spinning the yoke feels hindered.
- This swivel knife has a dimension of about 5” x 1.8” x 0.2”
- The weight of the Tandy Leather Craftool – Pro Swivel Knife is less than 0.15 lbs. Which makes it ideal for moving around the leather and designing it precisely.
- The small swivel knife’s barrel diameter is 9.5 mm, and its wide-angle blade diameter is 6.3mm.
- The large version of this swivel knife has a barrel diameter of 12.77 mm and a hollow-ground blade diameter of 9.5 mm.
- There are some small ball bearers for the smooth movement of the yoke.
This model of the Tandy Leathercraft tool pro swivel knife is for swivel knife experts and professional crafters. So, if you need a sharp, high-quality swivel knife, then the Tandy Leather Craftool is the item to buy. The whole knife is made of stainless steel. It is designed for heavy and extensive use. So, even if you use it regularly and much more, its sturdiness won’t budge.
Some smooth-surfaced ball bearings are attached to the yoke of the swivel knife, making the yoke move faster and more smoothly. This smooth movement and mobility make this model preferable and perfect for professional leather crafting.
- It can be used extensively and regularly for a long time without damage.
- The blade is easy to sharpen and can be crafted around leather without hindrance.
- The handle is ergonomic and thus very comfortable.
- The Tangy Leather Craftool is very advanced and appropriate for any professional wanting to carve any leather piece.
- Since it is a professional swivel knife, it is highly sharp, so you must exercise extra caution while using it.
- Beginners may have a harder time controlling this knife, so this knife is not appropriate for beginners.
- This set is affordable and made for beginners. Though it may not be up to the mark for professionals, it will serve every purpose if you’re a beginner.
- It has 20 different stamps, enhancing design accuracy once you start designing.
- The package includes 1 hammer, 1 carving knife or swivel knife, and 5 tracing pens in addition to the stamps.
- The package containing this set measures about 5.7” x 3” x 10.3”.
- The package weighs almost 2lbs.
AMPSEVEN 20-piece leather carving working saddle making toolset – DIY Hammer Swivel Knife is a complete set for any beginner to start working on leather carving. It has everything that is required for a beginner to start right off the bat. This set is appropriate if you want to create your design logo out of leather.
There are 20 different stamps to make any design possible. In addition to saddle marking tools, a hammer, a curving swivel knife for leather, and tracing pens.
Since it is a complete tool made only for beginners, it might not wholly satisfy perfectionists and experienced leathercrafters.
You can work on any leather, regardless of the size of that leather item or piece. It is affordable, and this set is like an all-in-one package. Don’t miss it.
- There are more tools than necessary. You might not use all the given items, but the AMPSEVEN swivel knife set ensures you have everything you need.
- The whole set is affordable and budget-friendly. Buying all the parts separately might’ve cost you a fortune, but with this set, you get all the items at a reasonable price.
- The tools are accurate and very easy to use.
- The quality of the materials used to make the set is as good as it gets, but you might need to upgrade soon.
- The items might get oxidized if not cared for properly.
- The dimensions of this product are 6” x 2” x 0.5”
- It weighs just a little over 0.1 lbs.
- Barry King Productions manufactured this tool, the Master Tool Swivel Knife.
- The barrel texture is non-slippery and of length three-eighths of an inch.
- The barrel body is made of solid brass. So, its body is more durable than any other brass-made swivel knife.
- There are ball-bearers to ensure a free-spinning on the barrel-like item over the swivel knife.
- There are no blades included in the package.
Primary Tools The Barry King Swivel Knife is the only knife on this list that Barry King designed. You might know Barry King Swivel Knives for its extraordinary swivel knife designs. The Master Tools Knife has a barrel-like design and is 3/8 inches long. It has a rough texture to prevent slipping.
The knife is constructed ergonomically, so you’ll have complete control while ensuring comfort during work. This brass swivel knife has a ball-bearing configuration for a free-spinning design.
Though it is all a leather carver could ask for, it doesn’t come with a blade. You need to buy blades separately.
- Very durable design.
- There are very few swivel knives that are made of solid brass.
- It gives a lifetime of quality service.
- The customer service is excellent. So you’ll get your product delivered as soon as possible.
- The Barry King design is unique in its way.
- Not having any specific blades allows you to use any blade with it.
- It is too expensive for just a swivel knife tool without blades.
- There are no blades provided with the swivel knife tool.
- The complete kit comes in a package weighing 8.32 lbs.
- The dimensions of that package are 15.6” x 12.9” x 3.78”
- It comes with 200 pieces of leather crafting tools.
- You can use 15 different shapes to punch holes in the leather piece and cut a shape out of it.
- The swivel knife set is well-designed for any leather carving.
- There are a few sewing tools, including the adjustable stitching groover.
- It is perfect for a beginner to work with.
Caydo Leatherworking kit with professional instructions for beginners is another one of the beginners’ Swivel Knife working tools. You can think of it as the best swivel knife for beginners. It contains everything for a beginner to start right away. There are 200 items in this swivel knife set.
You can punch holes, sew, carve leather, design, color, and so on with this kit. There are some primary shapes according to which you can punch holes in the leather item of the piece you’ll be working with. There are other basic tools you’ll need if you’re working on carving leather.
Apart from all these, there are many leather stamping tools. These help beginners design the appropriate shapes while carving the leather.
- It contains over 200 tools for carving, stitching, and other works.
- Comes with a user manual if you don’t know how to use the tools.
- The kit includes finger cots to protect your fingers from minor injuries.
- Better quality items in comparison with the price.
- The manufacturers sell this kit at a relatively reasonable price, within everyone’s budget.
- It is a lot cheaper than buying all the items individually.
- Since many items come at a lesser price, the sharpness of a few hole punchers dulls quickly.
- Though the items are of better quality, you might still need an upgrade or exchange soon.
Important of a Swivel Knife
The blade, body, and handle are compulsory components for a perfect swivel knife. Most importantly, its pencil-shaped handle is necessary for leather carving. A sharp, stainless steel blade with a comfortable thumb spot is also important.
How To Use a Swivel Knife
There are a few things you should know about using swivel knives. If you’re a beginner, go with any Kit. It comes with a manual to help you understand how to use a knife.
Second, you need to keep your swivel knife clean and sharp. Otherwise, no matter how good the material, it will soon deteriorate.
Hold your swivel knife properly. The proper way to hold is by using your index finger and the middle finger to keep the saddle part of the knife with your thumb supporting it. That way, you can work comfortably. If you don’t grab the handle properly, there’s a chance it might slip, and accidents occur.
Finally, always use the blade of the swivel knife vertically. This better positions the grip and makes the cutting more precise.
If you keep these basics in mind before buying the perfect swivel knife for leather, you can determine the best knife, and how to use it even if you’re a beginner.
A Complete Buying Guide: Swivel Knife for Leather
If you want to buy the perfect swivel knives for leather, you must know a few things, like what to consider when buying a swivel knife or how to use it once you’ve purchased it.
Considering Factors:
A swivel knife has three parts: the blade, the body, and the handle. If you want to use a swivel knife properly, you need to know about all three.
While buying, check whether the grip is comfortable for you. Then you can check the material of the swivel knife. The material determines whether or not your knife will be durable—and, finally, the sharpness of the blade. If the blade is dull, you must sharpen it properly before using it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Before I conclude this review and buying guide for the best swivel knives for leather, there are some common questions you might have in your mind.
How To Sharpen a Swivel Knife?
The swivel knives are not known as normal knives for retaining their sharpness. So, you might need to sharpen them occasionally. Though I just said they are not like normal knives, they can be sharpened like normal knives. It is better to use an oiled whetstone to sharpen the edge of the swivel knife. Repeated rubbing on a rough surface like that will quickly sharpen your swivel knife because of its low surface area.
How much and how often should I sharpen my swivel knife?
You should sharpen the blade until you can smoothly cut through the leather. The sharper, the better. There are leathers of different thicknesses and materials. Some are easy to carve, and some are not. Sharpen your knife blade to carve any leather with no problem.
Now, if you have trouble knowing how often you should sharpen the knife blade, I’d say you’ll know when to sharpen. There is no necessary specific regularity for sharpening the swivel knife blades. However, it will give you better performance if you still sharpen it regularly. But if you’re lazy, sharpen your swivel knife blade whenever it gets dull.
Is sharpening my swivel knife blade important?
Sharpening is essential for recycling the knife you use for a long time. If you don’t know how to sharpen your swivel knife, it might be a problem. You’ll have to buy swivel knife blades repeatedly. For this reason, you should know how to sharpen a swivel blade.
Final Verdict
Swivel knives are rather rare. But once you know how to choose one, or you follow my recommendation or guide, you’ll not have any trouble choosing or using one.
In this article, I gave you a shortlist of the best swivel knives. You can use them for different purposes. Whether you’re a beginner, expert, or professional, it works for you. This recommendation serves all purposes.
If you become confused about how and what to do or if the instructions in the user manual become too complex for you to understand, there is a relatively simple buying guide for you to follow. So, now you can rest easy, considering your purchase of the best swivel knives.