smirak Report post Posted May 8, 2015 Supposing you had a budget of $100, $200 or $300 to spend on getting into the leatherworking craft. Give me your "go-to" tools for those budget ranges please. No leather in those ranges. I have $170 of other money's allocated for just leather. My birthday and father's day are coming up and my wife asked me to give her a list of stuff I'd need/want...I have a mini-punch set and a 1/4" letter set (both Tandy products). I also have an olfa rotary cutter and olfa cutting mats already. That's the extent of my "tools". Trying to decide between a "starter kit" from Springfield or buying individual tools. I'm interested initially in belts, wallets, cuffs, holsters, small stuff like that. I'd like to eventually make bags and the like. I'll be hand stitching all initially to see if it's something that I'd like to go further with. Wife is just looking for an excuse to buy another sewing machine...she's into quilting, but her two (a bernina and a baby-lock) aren't the right type for leather. Let's hear it... Thanks, Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonicaJacobson Report post Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) Awl (diamond shaped blade, not round) needles (John James are good) Edge burnishing supplies (saddle soap (or gum trag), sandpaper, and burnishing tool, or beeswax, paraffin, sandpaper, and burnishing tool) - see tutorial thread edge beveler pricking iron (6spi for belts, 7-9 spi for wallets) - for marking consistent stitching, or even going all the way through thinner leather. Compass Box cutter or utility knife Some sort of skiver If you're planning to use veg tan: Dye resolene (or mop-n-glow) or other finish Good luck! I spent $1200 the first year (including leather), and I was depriving myself of a lot of very helpful tools. Don't worry, you can make it back pretty fast if you end up liking leatherworking. If not, sell the stuff on ebay! Edited May 8, 2015 by MonicaJacobson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chief31794 Report post Posted May 8, 2015 Great advice from Monica, additionally, if you're interested in belts, you will need punches for making the holes in both ends for the chicago screws or snaps (Recommend Chicago Screws), and the adjustment holes a good mini punch set will get you going without a major investment. You will also need a poly mallet or maul to drive the punches. Chief Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybopp Report post Posted May 9, 2015 Monica gave a good list. I'd add to that ( if you don't already have ) good long metal straightedge and square. Also, a strap cutter is pretty useful for many of the things you've listed to make. Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chriscraft Report post Posted May 9, 2015 Great info on the starter tool list. Like Monica mentioned you'll end up in the $1000+ range pretty fast to have a small assortment of hand tools for different products. If you have a small budget and a huge passion for leatherwork then I would recommend starting with a minimal tool list on just the tools that are required to build one nice product. If you choose to build belts for your first product then like Cheif stated you'll also need punches and the like to make a nice belt. You'll also spend cash on belt hardware that will add to the total budget. Every hobby cost money so just get used to spending all your extra cash on your new venture. In time your aquire more tools/skills and with practice get better. Don't forget to have fun while building stuff. Welcome to our obsession. One more thing, buy quality tools, new or used. You'll thank yourself later. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted May 9, 2015 Springfield Leather has their finesse line of belt end cutters and pricking and slotting tools which are inexpensive and surprisingly good. If you bought them all, they would cost under $100 delivered which is dirt cheap. You need a poly mallet, knife (box cutter ok to start), rotary cutter is good for thin stuff, but a rotary mat won't stand-up to a box cutter or head knife. Buy straps pre-cut if you can. a few hole punches for belt holes and you are ready to make belts. You can even get the belts dyed from Weaver, and they are made from good leather. As you get experience, buy more tools. Watch all the videos on the Springfield Leather site and there is an ask Kevin email, you really can ask him. YouTube is also good, try videos by Leodis Leather, Ian is cool, but the Cornwall accent can really slip out if he isn't watching himself. Buy everything as you need it, plan ahead and purchase. Kevin and his staff at SLC can help if you need tool advice. And leatherworker.net is here all the time. Art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nuttish Report post Posted June 1, 2015 Hand tools • $10 Osborne diamond awl https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=372 or spend $10 more and get the Cadillac from Barry King Tools http://www.barrykingtools.com/handtools.htm • $3 Osborne stabbing awl for corner holes and layout https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=361 • $20 Osborne haft with chuck https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=485 or spend $15 more and get a bitching cocobolo haft from Barry King with a pin vise chuck and changeable collets for different awl sizes. http://www.barrykingtools.com/handtools.htm • $8 John James No. 2 harness needles (~.040" equivalent of 18 AWG) — Osborne 18 gauge are the same diameter but longer and with a larger eye. Preference. Maybe get Osborne 20 gauge if you're working with fine thread like Crawford 2 or 3 ply (see below) • $5 Box of single edge razor blades • $45-60 Osborne belt punch set — this is a kick ass deal if it's for real http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/350502329005?lpid=82&chn=ps • $15 cheapo edge beveler set — these look perfectly adequate http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lemo-5Pcs-Working-Hand-leather-Edge-Skiving-DIY-tool-Keen-Edge-Beveler-Wholesal-/161717054264?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a7166b38. You'll eventually want some Barry Kings. • $45 Maybe a #3 or #4 Bissonette edger for the back of belts. https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=196 or spend $10 more and get Barry Kings. • $60 1/2" oblong or bag punch for belt buckle prongs — you can use it to punch longer holes if you line it up — you can clean your cuts up by folding your piece in half and carefully cutting the ragged bits away with a razor http://brucejohnsonleather.com/leather-tools-sale/leather-slot-punches-sale/ Bruce's prices are in line with new tools, but you're getting much higher quality vintage tools. You can totally get cheaper Chinese tools on eBay that are probably perfectly serviceable. • $0 wad of denim or canvas scraps for burnishing edges • $25 wood strap cutter like Tandy's or you can sometimes score a vintage Osborne pistol grip draw gauge for around the same amount on eBay. • You could spend $30-100 on a maul, or you could cut a handle into a 12" piece of 2x4 with a hacksaw. Or don't cut a handle into it. All you need is something to whack punches with. It doesn't have to be pretty. • Small crummy polyethylene cutting board to keep your punches from going hitting your work surface. • Thick piece of 12x12 or larger tempered glass, polished marble or granite countertop piece, or chunk of marble gravestone for skiving • $35 Lisa Sorrel skiving knife. I see no point in being frustrated with a crummy tool that costs only a little less. http://sorrellnotionsandfindings.customboots.net/product/skiving-knife/ Layout • ~$20 Find some cheap vintage Starrett or Brown & Sharpe pattern dividers on eBay. They're cheaper and better than Osborne, Tandy, Vergez Blanchard, whatever. Get the ones that are flat on the inside. http://www.ebay.com/itm/L-S-STARRETT-8-SQUARE-FRAME-DIVIDERS-/371340831999?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5675a36cff • ~$80 Don't bother with pricking irons yet — they're expensive and you need several. Instead, call Bruce Johnson up and get his recommendation on pricking wheel carriages with exchangeable wheels. He's got a few up now in ideal sizes for most work — 6-9 spi. Pricking wheels make a deeper diamond shaped impression than overstitch wheels. Exchangeable wheels are a terrific bargain. http://brucejohnsonleather.com/leather-tools-sale/stitch-markers-overstitchers-and-pricking-wheels/ • $25 cheap vintage 18 or 24 inch machinist ruler on eBay — they're heavier and flatter than art store alternatives. Or use the ruler from something like this and get a combination square and protractor as well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lufkin-Rule-Co-Bevel-Protractor-Head-W-12-Ruler-Machinist-Toolmaker-/141682428691?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20fcee4b13 • $5 el cheapo combination square if you didn't get a protractor head steel rule! • $20 heavy aluminum yardstick – heaviest you can find to make it easier to keep it straight for that first cut down the back of a new side of leather. • $0 you can make a cardboard template for tracing out English and round points for straps Thread • $16/spool — don't mess around with Tandy, poly, Ritza, Sajou, whatever. Royalwood sells all colors of Crawford's waxed Irish linen in a variety of sizes. It's just good. Probably 3 or 4 ply is good to start. http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat14-17ar.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
