Beginner With Question On Hardware

[RickLeather]

Hi, new to the forum and leatherworking in general. I've been enthusiastically perusing this forum, other internet resources and videos for the past couple weeks now. Following on from a lot of the suggestions for getting started, I've ordered what tools I think I'll need, ordered some books and sourced materials.

While the wheels are in motion for everything, I'm yet to really pull the trigger on any hardware. Through all the reading/watching/listening I've done, I know what kinds of hardware I need, but then I get to the order pages and am left scratching my head. So many sizes/colours etc. Sizes aren't really covered in any of the learning resources I've come across, which makes sense as I can imagine it really depends on what you're doing. I myself figure I'll start with sheaths, belts and maybe dog collars, before moving on to what my inexperienced mind sees as harder projects, like bags, cases and wallets (I also have a really strong interest in cordwaining, but from what I've read on that I am a long long way off that).

I suppose my main question is: what size eyelets, rivets, snap buttons, sam browne studs etc. would you consider essential? In other words I suppose, what do you experienced leatherworkers find yourself constantly running out of and having to reorder?

I really just want to have a few of all the sizes I'm likely to use frequently on hand. As i'm ordering most of my stuff online, I'd hate to finally get everything in my grubby little mitts, start a project, then have to stop because I don't have X fastener, then have to order it and wait for it to arrive while my half finished project taunts me in the corner.

I should mention, I did order 3 sets of 15mm snap buttons, as it just sounded like a fairly useful size. But that's the extent of my hardware purchasing.

Thanks for all the great reading the forum has provided thus far, Rick.

[Dwight]

The suggestion I would make: don't do what you said you were going to do.

Plan out a project, . . . wallet, . . . bag, . . . sheath, . . . and buy the hardware you will need for THAT project and others like it. For instance, . . . line 24 snaps are useful on sheaths, dress belts, some holsters, . . . but get the project in mind that needs it before you order them.

By ordering what you need, . . . you should always have on hand those things necessary to complete any order that comes your way.

If you don't, . . . you will wind up like many leatherworkers, . . . they quit, die, or move on, . . . and a thousand dollars or more of "inventory" gets thrown into a couple of boxes by the auctioneer, . . . sold for a couple of bucks.

May God bless,

Dwight

[RickLeather]

Hi Dwight,

Good advice. I know what you mean. In the past I have been known to get too overzealous in planning stages. I'm talking more about just getting a few of the basic common sizes, for the often used (cheap) things though. I mean, rivets, eyelets, snaps, etc. are cheap as dirt, so it couldn't hurt to grab a few bucks worth of each just so I don't have to worry about it later. I'll try to fight the temptation to stock up on bulk ordered conchos and maybe even skip out on things like buckles and rings (until I need them, like you said), or order very few of them.

Not sure if I should start another thread for this, but I'd hate to flood the front page with my ignorant question, plus this tab is already open, so I'll ask here: How do the manufacturers/sellers measure eyelets? I've noticed when looking at the ones being sold that they're listed as things like 5/16" and the like. What does that measurement refer to? Outside diameter (like, of the flange)? Excuse the probably stupid question. I tried Googling and couldn't find anything.

Thanks for all your help,

Rick