Video - Using and sharpening the abat-carre - Dictionary of leather goods

Abat-carrer or chamfering a leather : the abat-edge is a leather goods / saddlery tool that allows you to break the sharp edge of a piece of leather in order to make the edges more rounded. After having squared the edges it is necessary to sand them and work them with a finishing eraser or edge paint.

The square shade is used:

• For comfort: reduce friction and make the touch of a piece of leather (e.g. a belt) more pleasant.
• For aesthetics: give a more accomplished finish to your creations (round the corners).

Attention :
When you have 2 pieces to assemble, you should not tear down the split side of the leather. If there is no assembly we recommend the grain and split side of the leather.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR LAMP?

The larger the tool size, the wider the chamfer. The size should be chosen based on the thickness of the leather and your preference .

The table below is given for information purposes only - it does not concern French bissonnettes and abat-carres.

Lampshade size	Size 0	Size 1	Size 2	Size 3	Size 4	Size 5	Size 6
Cutting width - Chamfer	≈ 1.1 mm	≈ 1.3mm	≈ 1.5mm	≈ 1.8mm	≈ 2mm	≈ 2.3mm
Cutting width - Vergez Blanchard and Deco Cuir	0.4mm	0.6mm	0.8mm	1mm	1.2mm _	1.6mm _	2mm _
Leather thickness (for information only)	Very fine leather	Fine leather	Between 1 and 2 mm	Between 2 and 2.5mm	Between 2.5 and 3 mm	More than 3mm

THE LAMP-SQUARE FAMILY

The French abat-carre also makes it possible to thin (trim) the crust of the leather. The bissonette lampshade is used with a “push” or “pull” gesture.

HOW TO SHARPEN YOUR SHARP?

The edge must be sharpened regularly and especially for chamfering fine leathers. An 800 grit abrasive sheet will be needed to sharpen the tool. For EASY edge holders, you can use the sharpening template to help you!
VIEW TEMPLATE >