riversarms replied to your photoset: We have to use the spokeshave to pare the leather...
Oh my god, I would die without the Brockman paring machine. For other stuff I use knives only.
Our instructor said that machines would leave very subtle straight lines and be a consistent thickness and it would be completely inappropriate on a period book, and also calf was hell on the blades, but I gave up and used the Brockman because I would prefer to have the skin in one piece and also not take three days.
What style of knife do you use? I have two English and a small Swiss, but I only really use the English. I also made them myself so the bevel is like seven degrees instead of thirteen so I have to sharpen it all the time but it cuts really well when it's actually sharp?