The strap cutter is used to cut uniform lengths of leather from a side of leather. It can be adjusted to cut staps ranging in width from 1/2" to almost 5"! It can also be useful to divide wider strips into smaller ones. This particular type of strap cutter is safe in that the blade is hidden away between the guides. Only when the tool is disassembled to replace the blade is it at all dangerous. It does take a little practice to get used to this one, just like most of the other tools in the workshop.