Trying to decide which is my favourite tool is simply an impossible task, like a father having to say which is his favourite son. Instead, therefore, I chose to write about one that cost me quite a lot of effort to personalize: my band nippers.

Band nippers, version 1

This is the model I made after I saw the beautiful pair of chrome-plated band nippers that Chris Clarkson used at West Dean College. The design is largely based on his notes on the making of them.

They are a pair of modified glass pliers, a type of pliers with a big mouth that is usually used to remove sections of a glass plate that have been scored with a diamond point. I started with these pliers because their jaws are parallel when open about 6-8 mm apart, which is helpful when marking bands. I brazed bronze plates to the jaws and bent one of the arms, to allow my thumb to rest on top of it when scoring a band.

Even though I very much liked its appearance, the tool was quite heavy and cumbersome. Nipping bands does not usually require the use of a great deal of strength, so I decided to try to make a lighter model.

Band nippers, version 2

These are made from a pair of wire strippers. I filed off the cutting jaws, creating the wide parallel ones that I needed. As with version 1, I added bronze plates – but wider ones this time – and slightly bent both arms. I also added two small handles for better comfort. The interesting thing about using wire strippers is they have a screw to adjust the jaws to the specific width of the bands, so that they are all exactly the same.

Obviously the bronze plates are highly polished to leave a good mark on the leather. Unfortunately, I have not yet found the time to chrome-plate my band nippers, which would ensure that they would not stain alum-tawed skins.

All images courtesy of Alessandro Sidoti.