ARFFGuy

I'll be using a chunk of pine beetle kill from up north. It's free, plentiful, and its virtually kiln dried already. Hopefully it wont split on me too soon.

Thanks for the replies Impulse and johnv, definitely giving me some more options to think about. With the wood round I plan on de-barking it and sanding the top smooth as it will double as an end table for beside our couch, thus saving me the hassle of hauling it up from our storage unit every time I want to work. Also, pine is a really soft wood so i think it will be fine on the tool ends. Thanks for the tip about the countertop stores, I'll be calling around to some local countertop stores to see what I can find for free/cheap. I'll also keep the cork tiles in mind for when I do get a granite slab. I may even look at gluing them to the bottom of the granite and using it on my kitchen table. Cheers, Paul

Hi everyone, I am wondering how difficult it would be to adapt a fabric pattern for leather. I would like to make a nice passport wallet and the best design I've found is for use with fabric. Cheers, Paul

That's great, Thanks Tinker. I have a Lee Valley on my way to work!

Thanks for the input Tinker! I think I'll get a maul and a mallet to try and see what I like better

That's where I got the idea from! I live in North Vancouver but I spend a fair amount of time in the Cariboo so I have a good source for large, pre-dried hunks of pine. Any thoughts on the maul? poly maul vs poly mallet vs rawhide mallet?

I was planning on cutting it to a comfortable height for so it could sit on the ground while I was in a chair

Hi everyone, I've been slowly accumulating the tools I need to make my first few simple projects (cardholders, bifold wallet, tool roll etc.). I have a few Seiwa diamond pricking irons for making the holes and I was planning on using a large clean and sanded pine wood round with a plastic cutting board on top as a work surface to punch the holes on (I live in a small townhouse and don't have a garage or spare room to work in). Would this work or do I need to source out a granite slab for this type of work? I do plan on getting into some simple tooling work eventually, but for now its going to be simple projects with no tooling and no rivets or snaps. I'd also like recommendations for something to strike these irons with as well as something that will work for when I start tooling. I know there are several different options and I'll eventually end up with 3 or 4 different striking tools, but for getting started I was thinking of getting a basic poly maul like this one http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0006618PO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB. Cheers, Paul

Hi everyone, I'm a total newbie to leatherwork but I've been doing a ton of research and have started accumulating a set of tools to start out. I'll be starting with basic projects like small cardholders and wallets to learn the basics like cutting, gluing, dying, stitching, and burnishing. I would eventually like to get into some basic tooling but that can wait. I aspire to make more complicated projects like camera bags, purses, and gun cases down the road. I'm so glad to have found an online community for support and information! Cheers