Leather Cutting Machine Restoration - Early 1900s Shoemakers Machine!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hi folks! After almost a month of working on this restoration project, it is finally here! I loved working on it; For me, it is one of my best videos! I hope you will like it too and give it a thumbs up! Cheers! Johhny!

[@WitchidWitchid]

When I was a child back in the late 1950's / early 1960's there were a lot of shoemaker and shoe repair shops all over the place. Many of them were around since the turn of the century or earlier. Back in those days every one of those old shops had one of these machines. I always used to wonder what they were for. I had a feeling that they were used for cutting or shaping leather for shoes but I was never 100% certain. This video cleared up the mystery, Very nice restoration work.

[@thomasspooren2183]

I never guessed that it would be a leather cutter. You always surprise me, Johnny even with the amazing amount of time and effort that you put into these projects

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you for your kind words and for watching my videos! 🙂

[@bhhenry]

Hey, Rusty Shades Restoration! Just stumbled upon your video "Leather Cutting Machine Restoration - Early 1900s Shoemakers Machine!" and boy, oh boy, what a rollercoaster of rust and revelation it was! Watching you breathe new life into that ancient Frobana leather-cutter was like witnessing a magician at work, only instead of pulling rabbits out of hats, you're yanking history out of oblivion! The whole disassembly dance had me on the edge of my seat, man. I mean, every creak and groan of those rusty bolts was like a cry from the past, begging to be saved. And that chipped blade? Felt like I could feel the centuries of wear and tear on my own skin. You've got the patience of a saint and the skills of a master, no two ways about it. I'm itching to know more about the nitty-gritty of the process, though. Like, how did you tackle that stubborn rust without erasing the machine's soul? And that blade - getting it back to its former glory must've been a saga in its own right! Also, gotta say, learning about the machine's roots was a treat. A leather splitter and skiver, huh? Can't help but imagine all the shoemakers back in the day, toiling away with one of these beauties by their side. It's not just a machine; it's a slice of history, a testament to craftsmanship that's stood the test of time. Keep up the fantastic work, my friend. You're not just restoring machines; you're preserving stories, memories, and a bit of magic, too. Can't wait to see what piece of history you'll save next. Cheers!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hi Henry! I am delighted to read such a beautiful comment, especially on the day my channel hit 70k subscribers. Thank you so much for your kind words and for your time! Comments like this are giving me the power to do more and better! Best wishes! Johnny

[@asbestosfiber]

I'm always impressed with how much thought and effort went into making these types of things. Many custom made parts, way before they had autocad

[@mskayla7747]

Some old items are best just refreshed, especially if its rare or unique. Just a bit of TLC to bring it back to its former glory. Nicely done. 👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That's right! Thank you!

[@donaldwycoff4154]

The ASMR sound of the restored machine was thoroughly enjoyable. Wonderful restore!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you for your feedback! 🙂 I just changed the microphone, and I was curious if someone would notice.

[@jamesfield5346]

Every video I watch of yours the antique ends up so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Always a pleasure watching. My apologies for not becoming a patreon member. I was layed off last week and am struggling. Your videos help get my mind off the stress, lol

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Don't worry about it! Get better! 🙂

[@Atlantismonkey40]

I liked the way you changed up the assembling. Nice well done

[@arragor_0013]

I love these restorations. They tell us a lot about the past and the history that the object has.

[@Austeration]

*Stunning Job. Even though it took so long it I bet it was an enjoyable project. Well worth the time and effort. You are a true master my friend*

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much, buddy! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I have to check your last video, too! Cheers

[@thechronicleminder]

Sometimes I feel that how can someone be so patient while working on these rusty machines from past...... Respect!!! ❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@AmericanMilitia]

Very soothing I’m sure

[@marlenneespinoza6403]

Me emociona pensar en cuantas creaciones realizó el artesano con esta máquina. Excelente trabajo. Saludos desde Valdivia al sur de Chile 🇨🇱

[@RestorationVideo]

*_Never thought anyone could recover. The most incredible work of the best_*

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you!

[@julienghanadan8311]

GREAT JOB ON LEATHER CUTTING MACHINE RESTORATION -1900S SHOEMAKERS MACHINE! RUSTY SHADES RESTORATION ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Julien!

[@andrewmiller8182]

Known as a "skiver". Used to cut the leather making it thinner for items such as belts (and shoes where two pieces need to be stitched together without the join ending up thicker than a single thickness of the leather). I have restored a couple of these to sell on, but I have never gone to as much trouble as you have gone to with this one. They work just as well after a basic clean-up, sharpening the cutting blade and a drop of oil on the moving surfaces.

[@jaredini]

Skiving machine. It's used to thin out edges of leather to ease bulk when sewing. Still used to this day but in a slightly different way.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Nice! I would love to see how a modern one works.

[@pbysome]

​@@rustyshadesrestorationthere's an eye jaguar company that uses one of these, exactly the same, it's used to thin the edge of the leather so the seam is not so bulky. Saw it the other day.

[@ct6502c]

I just found your channel tonight. Good work! It looks beautiful! I really like antique machines, and I'm so glad to see you brought it back to good condition.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Welcome aboard and thank you for watching my work!

[@mikegreco8451]

I swear the sounds in these videos are as soothing as bob ross.

[@johnemmett2969]

I enjoyed that, no dramas, just good clean professional work…no bull…t. I have subscribed

[@fabianamartins3443]

Seriously, which one of us has the most fun: me (who's only watching and enjoying the show) or you (who's restoring these beauties and getting to test them)?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hahaha. Good question! 👍

[@Handeling]

I always love watching the save of old findes. Thank You ❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like them! 🙂

[@lisapino6739]

Amazing restoration. You always find the most interesting items and bring them back to life. 😊 You truly are a fantastic Craftsman Craftsman. I really enjoy watching you work your magic. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing your next one. Greetings from Fairfield California USA 🇺🇸

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you very much! Greetings from Poland! 🙂

[@lisapino6739]

@@rustyshadesrestoration Where at in Poland? My Grandma was born in Krakow. So I'm Polish 😁

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

🤯 One hour from Kraków now, but I lived there for five years. So, interesting! How did your grandmother go to the US, and when?

[@lisapino6739]

@@rustyshadesrestoration She came over on the Boat when she was a young girl. Small world we live in

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, wow! That's a fascinating story to hear. My first videos from this channel were filmed in Krakow in a small basement in the Kazimierz neighbourhood. The building was built before WW1.

[@LeannaRuthJensen]

If I tried to do something like this I might get it apart and might get it half as clean as you do, but then I would have a pile of parts and no idea how to put it back together😂 so it's fun to see to do such a great job beginning to end.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed the restoration process and I'm sure you can do the puzzle too. 😉

[@CalSister]

Wonderfully done! I just gave away a new leather cutter I bought last year and didn't use...it is almost exactly the same unit except for the turning wheel! Great site..new fan!!

[@ЭдуардМихайлов-д1х]

спасибо за познавательное видео. удачи Вам в новых проектах

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you also for watching! 🙂

[@cynthiablanton9106]

Attention to detail is fascinating.

[@ianknight2053]

Thank you. I own a similar but later one of these machines. The chipped blade, which you had to shorten and sharpen needs to be the full length otherwise it won’t skive the leather as intended. It should extend to just between the serrated rollers.

[@Wishbone1977]

Do you know the purpose of the blade on the side? It seems to be intended to cut the leather into strips while the other blade skives the end of the strip. Is this mainly a belt making tool?

[@ianknight2053]

@@Wishbone1977 I believe these machine were intended for cobblers. Instead of a blade my machine has a rotary type cutter for cutting strips of leather. I’m trying to adapt my machine to skive a 2cm wide piece off the edge of any piece of leather, much in the way that a bell skiver does. It works, but needs further tinkering.

[@Wishbone1977]

@@ianknight2053 Yes, but the way this particular machine works, it seems to be designed explicitly to cut a strip of leather while skiving the end of it head-on. If it were to do what you describe, the side blade would have to be removed, and the front blade would have to be set at an angle against the leather coming out of the rollers. That functionality seems useful to a cobbler, while the functionality this machine actually has does not. Hence my assumption that this is actually intended for belt making.

[@nineteenandfortyone]

Great job! It looks like it would be valuable in harness work.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@ВикторГалянин]

Реставрация шикарная, итог потрясающий. Спасибо за видос, лайкаю.

[@Oleg-yf2lz]

Hi! Thanks for the really great work! As always nicely done. My respect and admiration.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@Oleg-yf2lz]

@@rustyshadesrestoration In one of the comments was a Russian word - Круто. It means Cool

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Nice to know! Thank you for the translation! 🙂

[@nicholascurto2093]

Excellent restoration 10/10!!!! 👍👍👍 Looks great and fully functional. Nice work...

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Nicholas!

[@PamelaVidler]

You find and restore such interesting pieces. I've never seen anything like this. Great job!! Love your channel!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! 🙂 I'm glad you enjoy my videos!

[@ZenZen-bf5xh]

Thank you for your great video. Very interesting find this machine is. You made it look good, and it was fun to watch. You made it look like a thousand bucks. 😃👍 However, if you would pay more attention to details, it would look like a million bucks. For example, more sanding, more use of fillers to make it smooth, water sanding, and buffing to rise the look to the perfection and eye candy 🤩✨️

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you for your kind words and your tips. 🥰

[@-x-dx7295]

Very good Indeed.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks!

[@TripleLSupreme]

Love you left most of the casting marks. I feel removing them takes away from the original feel of the item.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks. Many are thinking the opposite way. I usually remove the nasty ones, especially the ones that can harm you while operating the machine. The most minor marks for me are like wrinkles on an old face and that's also some sort of beauty.

[@WowTalent-sk3eg]

Wow Amazing Restoration

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@MASI_forging]

Well done, you did a great work. It looks real good after renovation 😍😍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it! Cheers! 🙂

[@grahamturner5963]

Brilliant video, as always 👏 Your care and attention to detail is amazing

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much for watching my videos and for your kind words, Graham. 🙂

[@andee997]

Robisz naprawdę dobry kontent. Chociaż jako renowator, może nie tej klasy mógłbym się przyczepić do kilku rzeczy ;). Ale duży plus!

[@vinceianni4026]

Hello mister beautiful restoration beautifully restored well done

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@MrsIsmena]

10:26 so satisfying sound 😮

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

🫠

[@willaiml]

I love your craftsmanship! I do have one comment, I believe you should have had a local blade-smith make a new blade so the hone is correct and it’s the proper hardness. The blade determines how well the machine works and the quality of the product.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I could make one myself, but it wasn't the case because the blade could be saved. I'll keep that for another video, where it will be necessary to make one from zero. I do not like replacing everything just to show off. 🙂

[@willaiml]

@@rustyshadesrestoration honestly the fix you showed was sub-par at best. The hone was definitely different from the original and nowhere close to straight. But if you feel it was good that’s all that matters, it’s yours after all. Again besides the blade beautiful craftsman.

[@Broadcastrix]

It looks to me like the blade, when longer originally, would have split the grain where it met the leather end as it emerged from the rollers. The finer quality, supple top grain and the thick, lower layer have different uses; as in glove leather versus suede. I agree with @willaiml, it needs a new blade, if full function is to be restored. @rustyshadesrestoration, thank you for the great videos, they are fascinating!

[@brycecrousore1985]

10 stars! Cheers from Minnesota ... this has me in the mood, so off to nicks Handmade Boots to watch a video!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@jmsmom67]

I don’t know how you remember where all the parts go! Blows my mind every time! I like that you don’t file and fill and polish the age off of a piece. I also always go to the description first to see what information you have put about the piece you will be working on! Thank you for sharing

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I'm happy that you appreciate that I'm not making things newer than they ever were. I appreciate that you read the description many times I explain decisions there regarding the process. If I have to deal with a historical piece or unique, I'm removing only sharp casting marks, those that can hurt your hands/fingers while working, but that's all. If I work with a mass-produced item more vintage than antique, I may try to make it better or as it went out from the factory gates. Best wishes! Johnny

[@danross344]

I think this machine is actually made to cut on the shoe itself after you apply the soul to it. You actually turn the shoe upside down and run it through this machine to trim the soul and it actually puts that texture on the top of the soul where you see it. Watch some of these shoe repair places like Bedos Leatherwork

[@Bl0ckfett]

Nice had nearby the same cutter. Mine is from 1878

[@yahorsadounikau9612]

Witam Pana z Krakowa

[@samanthadean1083]

Amazing job!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️❤️

[@djevo3441]

Amazing job my friend congratulations

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks buddy! ✊️

[@HoaNguyen-ow5fc]

Look A New Great job

[@danross344]

Did you ever try water-based clearcoat when you’re spinning a wooden part on a lathe it dries instantly with a little bit of cheese cloth when you apply it.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I must try that.

[@foxwhiskey]

Great job ! Looks very nice and the restoration was a lot of work ! 😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you liked the result. Indeed, a lot of work.

[@ryc4803]

Hola que tal me encanta el liquido para oscurecer el metal podrias decirme que usas o si es posible un link para el producto

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Se denomina solución de pavonado en frío. Buscar en Google y debe aparecer algunos resultados.

[@wilcleno1866]

I think you may have missed the broken role pin in the top cover going into the hinge pin.

[@sallyweiner4180]

Beautiful!!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it!

[@frazzledhaloz3184]

Beautiful job!❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like it! 🙂

[@matthewkorch2762]

What type of paint marker brand do you use cause it always turns out amazing on any surface?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, Matthew, if I know, I'll tell you, but it is kind of impossible because the markers aren't a brand or something; I just bought them in a Lidl shop. Not sure if you have them in your country.

[@matthewkorch2762]

@rustyshadesrestoration Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep looking around to see if I can find something similar.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I hope you'll find it! Cheers

[@LUKEDASKYWALKA82]

Preety nice idea with shaking eyes :D

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

👀

[@atomvirginia5706]

Glad you remembered how it went back together cause I sure didn’t

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

😅

[@skeetermaniax]

I have to believe these guys take a bunch of pictures as they disassemble

[@dyllanridpath8079]

Me personally I would forget the first two things I took off of it

[@JanuszKowalik58]

How was this piece of material cut? Something doesn't seem right to me. 22:03

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That's skiving, the machine is a cutter and skiver. Google it. Cheers

[@JanuszKowalik58]

@@rustyshadesrestoration Now I see it, thanks!

[@davesmith5656]

Relaxing video, not having to do all that work)! I have a knife sharpening hobby, and if you put dabs of heat sensitive paint on an edge, then use a belt sander as you did, you'll see that it raises the temperature above the lowest temper. Reference, Australian Knife Grinders. I'm unclear about how that may affect the hardness and brittleness. And I'm unclear about how much of the edge is affected. I do not know if re-heated steel can be re-tempered (without re-quenching). Opinions on using grinders and sanders vary. Some say it's all perfectly OK, while others scream that it ruins the heat-treat, but opinions aren't facts.

[@jacobproctor8608]

Where those hex bolts from a repair or did they just hold up very well?

[@jacobproctor8608]

Love your work by the way

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you. For me, it looks like they were newer than the machine's age, so I think you are right.

[@ranjanjoshi3454]

Excellent

[@tomswindler64]

Nice piece to restore,make nice conversation piece.just keep doing what you do best. Great video as always 😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you Tom! Like always, I'll do my best! Johnny

[@MrsIsmena]

This video is a masterpiece ❤ Thank you for so good content!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@grandguard2569]

Cuánto tiempo te tomo restaurarla?

[@maromena]

Old materials were made to last forever, its sad how today everything has became plastic trash..

[@017renegade]

Plastic may be 10 times less durable, but it's 100 times cheaper... It's sad, but if it didn't make sense it wouldn't be used.

[@zaximotheoutlaw9840]

Hah, "old materials" aka steel, iron and wood? 😄 but true, too much plastic going around 😮‍💨

[@Michael-ul8bv]

Very nice

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you!

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

เครื่องรีดแผ่นเหล็ก..คลายรีดปลาหมึก🐙🦑รีดเรียบตรงโค้งเว้า..มุมโค้ง🔨ได้ความโค้งเรียบไม่มีแรงตี🔨ให้เรียบต้องกดทับดึงยือออก..คลายเนื้อเหล็กแผ่นอลูมิเนีย/ย่น/งอ/บิด/คต/แผ่นสักะสี..พลาสติกเรียบตรงสวยทำไงแผ่นเหล็กบางๆแผ่นสังกะสีแผ่นอลูมิเนียมบางๆตรงแบบแผ่นพลาสติก😮❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Super jest to odrestaurowane pozdrawiam serdecznie. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Dziękuję! Pozdrawiam 🙂

[@salwinm]

Świetna robota 💪

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Dziękuję bardzo!

[@ВладимирДокукин-ж7р]

А вмятину на корпусе горизонтального ножа желания или сил не хватило убрать? А ручку деревянную шлифануть?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

That wasn't a bend but a casting imperfection. Sandblasting wood it is something very ordinary and popular among restorers because it is way more non-destructive than sanding with sandpaper and healthier for the wood surface as long you use soft material. Cheers

[@mikesavad]

i found that when the material wasn't coming out of my sandblaster, I had a 5/16" nut lodged way up in the intake tube. Once that thing came out, it was like a new device, and the grit just flowed out. Just saying it because it looked like it was struggling in this video

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

It happened to meet as well, but not this time. Here, I was dealing with japanning finish, and I decided to use only glass beads from now on, which is also slowing a bit the process. Cheers

[@dwasifarkaralahishipoor2223]

The bolt with markings on the head looks modern and seems to be a previous repair.

[@jacobproctor8608]

That's what I'm wondering about

[@persioboni9373]

Excelente trabalho !

[@dhruvverma2000]

Should you harden the edge of the blade ?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

It is not a must

[@ianrandell9763]

It's good that no bolts were cut off, like I've seen in other restorations 😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I try to avoid that as much as possible, but sometimes, it can be no other way, so you need to cut it off to continue the project. It is almost like a surgery 😀

[@erhan6095]

Thanks to you all, not a single rusty thing will remain in the world

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

😂

[@jamesfield5346]

What did you mean when you said, "I need to insist on these wheels"? Did you mean you have to clean up the sharp edges?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

No. There was still some rust left in between the casting marks.

[@jamesfield5346]

Ooh ok, cool thank you @rustyshadesrestoration

[@lynnkitty59]

That is cutting leather!

[@ابوابراهيم-ط3ب]

اني اتابع قناتك ... واحب اي شيء يتعلق بالماضي الجميل يتم ترميمه واعادته للحياه .👍🏻👍🏻 شكرا على جهودك وما تقوم به . استمر .... 🫵🏻 والي الإمام....بالتوفيق

[@Nefertiti0403]

I have always wondered, how do they remember how to put it back together

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

On this one, I just paid attention while disassembling. If I have a much bigger project, like the Coins Counting Machine Restoration, available on my channel, I have to take pictures because I'll not remember all the small pieces, especially when the project lasts over a month.

[@Nefertiti0403]

@@rustyshadesrestoration Okay. I was kind of thinking that. How would I remember something like that. I thought I’d either take a video or pictures 😬

[@SERG34RUS]

Обалденное видео

[@василийбабаич-у1ц]

Пескоструйка так легко сняла порошковую краску?

[@mateuszkawalec8782]

skąd bierzesz przedmioty do renowacji?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Na targach staroci i w Internecie.

[@RestorationOT]

It's an interesting thing

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Indeed

[@РодионМатюхин-ч7у]

Круто ❤❤❤

[@IsraelMartinez-ld6tz]

How to disassemble the plate?

[@just.jose.youtube]

Why the lead testing in the paint? 🤔

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Lead is very dangerous to health if inhaled. If I sandblast such paint, I can contaminate the whole working place.

[@just.jose.youtube]

@@rustyshadesrestoration oh, ok. Of course. So, if it was a lead paint, what would you use to remove the paint, paint striper? Good video! :)

[@marcianogueirademoraes4790]

Ficou lindo

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Obrigado! 🥰

[@neilward9932]

What does " I really have to insist on these wheels " mean?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

They were still dirty a little bit

[@mohamedbakkali9924]

Magnifique

[@riikkaheikkinen6268]

Handsome 👍🙌 great!!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@gayle525]

I think you sandblasted off your japaning. Might be hard to replace it.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Powder coating it is the modern japaning 🙂

[@robbyborgmans]

I think it should also split the leather - thats what the other knife is for no ? its not working 100% if you ask me. but very nice restauration.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks. I think I showed how both knives are cutting.

[@robbyborgmans]

@@rustyshadesrestoration checked again - nope. The knife that got chipped - you shortend it. I believe it need to be more to front and spit the leather - so you can split leather from 2 mm thickness to 1 mm for example. Its used in manufacturing belts. Which makes sense as this brand was used a lot in shoe repair / belt shops.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Ah, ok, now I get it. I just showed how is skiving the leather. I will try to adjust it more in front and try again. Thanks!

[@x84pav84x]

Вот видите, я угадал, что это приспособление для работы с кожей.

[@ИльяКраснодарский-ч9е]

Супер!!

[@ГригорийРодионов-ж8ц]

👍👍👍

[@ВикторДоброштан]

Как всегда превосходная робота !!! 🎉