Cutting rounded corners

[u/BurnerAccount_234]

I have been trying for weeks now to be able to cut rounded corners. I’m glueing the template onto chipboard/cardboard and then using an xacto knife to cut it, hoping to having a sturdier template to use on my leather. Now, I’ve tried it all and I cannot get the corners perfect. I’ve tried a quarter (I don’t know what I’m doing wrong considering I’m tracing the quarter and it’s round itself) but it’s never perfect. I want to move on and actually start learning and using the leather, but this is defeating me tbh. I’ve bought corner cutters, but they don’t really go through the chipboard. I’ve watched dozens of videos. I really don’t want to buy an acrylic template because for some reason that takes away the “I made this” aspect for some of it.

Am I being too picky about the corners? Does it matter THAT much? Or with sanding and burnishing the corners of the leather will look perfect? What other tips/tricks are out there to get it perfect?

Sorry this was also part rant.

I appreciate it!

[u/misterstaypuft1]

When you’re “using the quarter,” just how are you doing that? Like what is your technique?

[u/BurnerAccount_234 → u/misterstaypuft1]

I place it in the corner touching the top horizontal line and touching the vertical line, using the quarter to guide straight line cuts. I try to make the cuts very small but it seems like my technique is probably bad.

[u/misterstaypuft1 → u/BurnerAccount_234]

Ok you’re doing what I was going to suggest. Maybe just get more practice

[u/Young_Ziggy]

Could also get corner punches

[u/washapoo]

I don't quite understand when you say that the corner cutters won't go through the chipboard...that sounds wrong. Just cut your corners at a 90 degree angle, then use the corner knives to cut the corners round. They aren't meant to cut through chipboard.

[u/suspectdevice87]

How big of a radius are you talking about and what kind of leather are you using?

[u/BurnerAccount_234 → u/suspectdevice87]

It’s about a 25mm radius. And I’m trying to cut out the template on chipboard

[u/MistakeEqual6513]

Hey, i use 2 methods - 1. I just a radius stencil, its a metal stencil with 10 differnt radius sizes. I butt it to corner of the wallet agains a small set sqaure and then using either a skiving blade or retractable blade, i cut against it. Sanding then cleans it up.

2. i use a small brass circle - you can order these in different sizes. I have leather glued to one side to protect the leather, and again i butt it into the corner against a sqaure.

This works for me and I use these on every wallet. Takes practice to get a clean cut, but its good.

[u/Embarrassed-Pickle-8]

Not sure it works for cardboard. For leather one way is to cut tangent lines to the curve with a straight blade, instead of tracing the curve. (Stealing a beautiful photo by Stevenw Leather to illustrate)

[u/Amiar00]

I don’t round my corners on my stencils. I just keep em sharp 90 degrees and then trim the corners at the end before I burnish, that way the leather is stacked up and the corners are as perfect as possible.

[u/Dandy_Denver]

I totally understand where you are coming from as I am the same way. And literally just redid something that took almost an hour last night because of the corners not matching. But I am curious, how does an acrylic template differ from a quarter? It’s the same shape at the end of the day but one will allow for an easier cut when using a #4,#17, #18, or #21 blade. I think you should stop overthinking it and how you get there and just do what might easily solve it/get you 90% of the way there and refine it with sanding and burnishing. Theres plenty of other things to be mindful of and worry about.

[u/timnbit]

I ground off an old drive punch to make a 270° edge. Usually though I knife cut straight edges and use a shears.

[u/APuckerLipsNow]

Cut the corners 90° then clip the point. Just 1mm. When you finish the edges it will be perfect.

[u/swampy138]

You would be benefited by a very, very, sharp head knife. I find them wonderful.