Ever needed to cut a strap of leather wider than 10cm (4″ inches) but never had the correct tool to do it accurately or neatly? There is a tool that’s been around for hundreds of years that can do this job effortlessly – the Plough Gauge.
A Plough Gauge is a handheld strap cutting tool used for leatherwork and is made of steel, brass or other metals. It consists of a handle, a blade, a roller, a guide and measuring bar. By using a pushing motion the user can accurately cut straps and belts wider than 4″ inches.
Although not as commonly used as a strap cutter or draw gauge, the plough gauge has its own unique advantages over these 2 tools. The main advantage is that it will cut belts and straps that are wider than 10cm (4″ inches. ) It is also suitable for cutting any thickness of leather because of the position of the blade.
The older original plough gauges were excellently crafted and truly beautiful pieces of machinery. They were designed to function effortlessly, were easily adjustable and could be completely disassembled if need be. Its origins are from Europe and date back to around the late 1890 – 1920’s and were used mostly by saddlers who worked with thicker leather.
What is a Plough Gauge used for.
Plough gauges are used to cut leather blank straps and belts that are wider than 4″ inches or 10cm. Commonly a strap cutter or a draw gauge is used when cutting belts and straps but usually only up to a maximum of 4″ inches. If you require wider straps, eg. wider than 4″ inches or 10cm the tool you need to use is a plough gauge.
Plough gauges are unique in that they have their blades positioned in line with the handle allowing you much more control when cutting. A strap cutter and draw gauge uses a pulling motion when cutting but the plough gauge is unique in this respect as pushing motion is used when cutting. This gives the user better control and creates much less tension on the users hand when cutting.
What are the various parts that make up a plough gauge.
Plough gauges are made of a variety of different parts with each part having its own unique function. Let’s take a look at various parts and how the fit together.
1.The handle: The handle is usually made of solid wood and is directly in line with the blade for accurate cutting. The handle and blade are usually integrated and come as one item.
2. The blade: The blade is attached to the wooden handle and has a very unique shape. It’s positioned behind the roller in a groove and is locked in place. It is a much safer tool to use than a draw gauge, where the blade is exposed. The blade needs to be sharpened and stropped regularly to keep it cutting effortlessly. You can get replacement blades but it will depend on the model of plough gauge if they are available. Some manufacturers sell new blades with handles eg. Dixon plough Gauges from Knipschield Leather Tools.
3. The ruler: The ruler is positioned perpendicular to the blade and has measurements carved into it in order to set your strap width. The ruler can be adjusted to whatever width strap is required and is locked in position by tightening the screw fixing on top.
4. The shoe: The shoe acts as a scoop when pushing or cutting and guides the leather up and under the roller towards the blade keeping it nicely in place.
5. The roller: The roller can be adjusted to suit different thicknesses of leather. Usually cylindrical in shape and situated just behind the shoe which helps guide the leather towards the blade. The roller keeps the leather pressed down as it is fed through towards the blade. This way it can’t move and is fixed in position.
6. The guide: The leather guide is situated on the left hand side and keeps the leather edge flush against the side of the guide. Giving you a nice clean straight cut as you push the plough gauge all along the edge. Its important to have a straight edge before you start cutting your leather.
An added benefit of the plough gauge is that the whole tool or most models can be completely disassembled and packed away when not in use. The parts can be cleaned and repaired separately if necessary and can be replaced if needed.
How to use a plough gauge.
Plough gauges take some practice to get used to: first do a few test cuts on some spare hide before you attempt your actual cut. Make sure the blade is sharp before you do anything else. The blade only needs to have the front end sharpened as that is the part that will do the cutting. You will need a straight leather edge to work from when you start your cut.
The plough gauge and hide are placed on top of your worktop surface or workbench when making your cuts. This is different to using a strap cutter, which is used off the side of your worktop when cutting a strap.
Line up the edge of your leather against the guide on the left hand side. See the diagram above to see which area i am referring to. Feed the leather under the roller and make sure its adjusted to suit the thickness of your leather. Next , push the plough gauge along in a straight line all the way until you have finished your cut.
Here is a video which gives s good demonstration on how to use the plough gauge.
How much do they cost.
This is one tool that you can’t buy on Amazon. Most plough gauges that i have seen are over 100 years old. They are antique tools that you can find for sale on Antique websites. They definitely aren’t cheap though and prices range from about $350 – $600! Wow!!!
There a very few manufacturers who still manufacture plough gauges today, in fact the only manufacturer I have come across is Vergez Blanchard. They are a French company that is over 200 years old. They manufacture fine quality leather tools which you can order from their online store. You can expect to pay about $450 for their solid brass plough gauge. They come in 2 sizes 100mm and 150mm. If you are only looking for a plough gauge blade they cost about $80.
I have seen antique plough gauges go for about $375 on antique websites. That’s still quite a bit of money to spend on one tool. Unless you manage to pick up one for a bargain you may just have to just find another way to cut thicker leather and wider straps. Another website you can try that sells Plough Gauges is – Craft n Tools.
Helpful hints & tips when using a plough gauge.
The plough gauge is a beautiful tool from a much older era where tools were beautifully crafted. And that is really what this tool is and performs its job well.
My most important tip when using the plough gauge would be to work slowly and methodically and make sure you are working along a perfectly straight edge of leather.
It’s also important to remember to set your measurements correctly so you cut the correct width strap. Lastly make sure your roller is set to take the correct thickness of leather.
Make sure the blade is super sharp as that will allow you to gently glide through the leather hide as you cut. Be carful when handling/ using the plough gauge as the front end of the blade is very sharp and is exposed and its easy to cut yourself.
Difference between a plough gauge, draw gauge and strap cutter.
These 3 tools all have a similar function: and that is cutting straps or belts. Where they differ is how they are used. The plough gauge uses a pushing motion when cutting and cutting is done on top of a work surface. Strap cutters and Draw gauges use a pulling motion when cutting and are used off the side of a work bench instead of on top. Plough gauges also cut wider straps than strap cutters. Strap cutters are by far the cheaper tool and usually made of wood. Draw and Plough gauges are usually made of brass or steel.
Conclusion.
The plough gauge is definitely not a tool that you use everyday but it can be incredibly handy if you are making lots of wide straps, strips or belts. As its a slightly older tool and aren’t commonly made anymore they can be quite hard to find. If you are lucky enough to find one at a bargain price then you won’t regret your purchase as its a great tool to have.
If you would like to learn a bit more about various leathercraft tools please have a look at some of my other posts. Here is a link to a recent post in which i discuss the strap cutter. A tool for cutting straps and belts. Best of luck with your leathercraft!