jcuk

I use MDF when using my round knife no drag does not dull your blade but you must remember only to use it as a cutting board once it has become cut up with use, it will mark and scratch your work, once one side is to worn just turn it over its cheap too. Hope this helps JCUK

These will give you a more of a round edge, don't know what weight of leather you will need it for most of the straps i use these for are 3mm + Bridle or harness leather. https://www.abbeyengland.com/economy-hollow-edge-shave-3005.html Hope this helps JCUK

Not sure if you can get these that side of the pond easy to maintain and sharpen. https://www.abbeyengland.com/abbey-american-race-486.html I have this one got it off EBAY works good, i know they are adjustable but you can go back to your gouge to take a bit more out if needed. https://www.abbeyengland.com/american-race-economy-1002.html Hope this helps JCUK

Again point of this forum share our knowledge i hope

I would like think this is the point of this forum, we come here for advice and give advice, when i finished my first piece of training i was given the option of buying some of the basic tools i would need to start out on my journey into saddlery work and repair, and there are no name tools amongst them 25 years later they still serve me well. There was a post here on Tandys tools compared to what you can buy from Abbey, it upset a member here when member here said they laughed at Tandys site at the tools that were on offer have to confess i did the same 25 years ago apart from the Osborne tools they sold at that time, (my tutor asked what i was laughing at did not tell him even from the pictures of the tools i could tell that they were not on the quality that we were using on our training) on that same member who it upset they give some good advice at times to people on here. I know this site is not just for the saddlery industry but i do know to do this well, it's better to have tools that are fit to do the task at hand. Also i like to think i have never tried to steer people WRONG also I like to think that can be said of fellow members here. My thing for good tools started with my first job when i left school, in a traditional ironmongers where they sold top quality tools and lesser quality tools, all were better than the tools that Tandy were passing as good tools, even tools like a screw driver that someone might use once in two tears to change a plug. JCUK

Cant resist Nice work looks like your earning bigger bucks this days judging the increase in the size of your new wallet. do like your old wallet too. JCUK

Sorry can't resist you need to cut down on the pies mate. But does sound like you'd not allowed for the buckle turn. Use this as a learning experience we have all done similar things along the way. When i started we were taught to work from two sizes (c/s) cut size (m/u) made up size even now i still write this down even for a customer belts even though its work i can do standing on my head not so very long ago i did not write both sizes down guess what yes i did make that mistake. JCUK

They also closed the shop in Manchester about a year after the one in Northampton making UK customers order from Spain, again about another year later closed that one. I use go to one in Northampton very rarely if i was up that way, the staff were always good to talk to only really use go to if they had any offers, would not pay full price way over priced. I have brought tools from them many moons ago when they sold Osborne tools. The problem i have /had with some their own tools were of average quality to say the least but seemed to cost more than far better made tools from Abbey, their edge shaves compared to Abbeys is a classic example to me. Have purchased leather from them too only when on offer and i was there to select it myself even then i had to spend what seemed ages trying to find something good enough as i only used their leather for the odd job they were used to for practice pieces. Again you can get far better natural veg-tan from other places in the UK cheaper too. The other gripe i had about them here in the UK they were charging people here like for like in Dollars against the Pound so if something cost $100 in the USA we were ask to pay a £100 no consideration to the exchange rate very naughty in my book. To be fair their new line of tools seem/look better quality than the previous tools but the thing to remember about them they are not exclusive to Tandy so again check for cheaper else where, but have to say Tandy seem to be trying to clean up their act, for a lot of people this was and is their first introduction into the leather world not a bad thing so understand loyalty to them but not blind loyalty which they seemed to trade on at times in past hopefully they have changed that train of thought too. Will say they have lost me a as customer when they when they closed their shops over here not that i got much from them anyway but for some over here it could be a blessing in disguise making them look else where for supplies in some cases far better products and better quality at cheaper prices. Having said all this hope this is enough to them keep around and continue to help people in their leather working journey. As for some advice on newcomers buying new tools i know this sound odd to some but buy the best quality you afford even if this means buying less tools at first and save for more tools later good quality tools will always sell not so easy for cheap tools. JCUK

I did the same searched Since leather tools got that link and a facebook page not on facebook so could not go any further there. https://www.facebook.com/sinceleather/ May get some feed back there. Hope this helps JCUK

Start just before the right angle of the area you want to edge, holding the edge shave steeply it will take you round the angle then level off only edge to of the centre of that area. Stop, turn your work around - do the same from the opposite angle edge shave up to where you you have already edge shaved to, (it will feel a cack handed so may take some practice on some scrap leather at first to get comfortable with even now if i have done it for a while still feels odd. Being left handed some my tools are for for right handed people so i get used to using tools feeling cack handed). Hope this helps JCUK

Sorry should have put this link. Go to the site a chat bot will appear with you can ask for advise. https://www.abbeyengland.com/441-contact-adhesive-490.html JCUK

I use this for my saddlery work and most other things works for me. Does say used in the shoe industry. Give Abbey a ring ask if it would work for you. Hope this helps JCUK

yes you know I also can't Adam and Eve = believe there's no demand too

I will have Butchers to see if i can find some.

I believe these will split for you, have some nice leather too.We are just about still in Europe at the moment. http://www.metropolitanleather.com Hope this helps JCUK

yes sorry for that too

Are but do you know what Courgette is.

Sorry can't resist. Hands that do dishes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G4OiYGQAyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvqLoEyofQ JCUK

Is it lined

What kind of thread are you using. I go back three and a half stitches. JCUK

Nice piece of work there, and that's a nice piece of furniture its on. JCUK

Have a look here https://www.aacrack.co.uk/favourites/metallic.html https://www.identityleathercraft.com/index.php/the-leather-room/metallic-foils-patent-leathers.html Hope this helps JCUK

In no particular order at all. https://www.youtube.com/c/JHLeather/videos Look at her strap work. And how she uses the single head knife very good work, her sharpening methods may be easier for you too. https://www.youtube.com/c/UKSaddlerytrainingcoursesuk/videos No B/S here no pre planning just does it, its good to see that at times again watch how he uses a round knife and sharpen it, plus other tools too. Can say have seen him work excellent stuff. https://www.youtube.com/c/NigelArmitage/videos Some very good stuff here well explained too i think he has vimeo channel you can subscribe to, think some do here they can guide better on that. https://www.youtube.com/c/IanAtkinsonLeather/videos Some good stuff here too. Although not heavy strap work. https://www.youtube.com/c/LeathercraftMasterclass/videos Again some good things here too. All i believe have double stitching/saddle stitching tutorials if i can remember, its up to you which you prefer all very good though. And no i have not watched them all just the ones that interest me you are never to old to learn new things and techniques. Sorry they are from this side of the pond but the methods are pretty much the same, i sure their are some on here here that can help you leather carving and stamping i do not have any experience of that. https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/27963-how-i-make-a-bridle/ Pretty much the same way i work only just seen this very good, yes about 8 hours for me too with a clear run at it frustrating when people see a bridle on certain web sites for £30/£40 you do the maths not even counting the materials not even the minimum wage here expecting you to charge the same, i can tell some repairs i have done on some said bridles replacing parts almost cost them them the same as there total price for there new cheaply (mmm hand stitched english bridle leather bridle). As for tools look closer to home assuming you are in the US https://www.csosborne.com https://weaverleathersupply.com https://brucejohnsonleather.com Others on here have brought from him and i would too if he was this side of the pond tools ready to go. Will say i am a big fan of older tools made to stand the test of time. sure there are more others may steer you right. Hope this helps JCUK

First of all can you double stitch/saddle stitch? if not you will need to learn this because certain pieces of tack for safety sake, a lot of tack needs to be double stitched. If you have a saddler or leather worker nearby see if they can help you with this yes youtube has some very good videos to learn from but on the other hand there are many that are not so good to say the least. If you want i will post some links to the ones that are good in my opinion. As a lot of saddlery work is heavy strap work a good place to start is to make a dog lead or two and then make a belt but stitch all the way round the belt to help you improve your stitching and your speed in doing this maybe again do a couple use bridle leather or harness leather it will get you use to stitching heavier leather doubled or tripled layers and yes not easy at first.When i finished my first piece of training they sold me all the tools i would need to make a bridle still have all 26 years later so i will recommend the same to you. 1. Single head knife or round knife big learning curve but worth it. Its the right tool for the job. 2. Edge shaves numbers 1 and 2 you can add more later i have, but to honest 1 and 2 are what i use most of the time. 3. Pricking irons (not stitching chisels these are not safe to use on saddlery to make or repair in my opinion) 5 spi up to 10 spi, 8/9 and 10 spi in sizes one '' and one and half '' 4.Single and double edge creasers. Added myself 5. A good ruler and set square also a good and true long length straight edge. 6. Wing dividers. Clicker awl. 7. John James blunt harness needles i use mainly use 003/004 and thread i use linen thread its traditional various sizes. 8. Almost forgot a couple of good saddlers awls and no they don't have to be ridiculously expensive because they have a fancy handle/haft. I have not paid more than £10 for one had them 25 years. Just got another two still under £10. To add later. You will need a good strap. cutter which i added later in the form of the wooden one cheap still use it now, also have a plough gauge can be expensive but again right tool for saddlery in the uk. 9. A pull through splitter can be expensive but great time saver. 10. Skirt shave/French edger careful big learning curve. If i have forgotten some i will let you know. If you can get some lessons from someone it will be a big plus you can't beat hands on tution. Also learn how to sharpen and maintain your tools very important. Hope this helps JCUK

Not US but UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUUjJibN4xw If interested, although not cheap, shipping maybe a cost issue too, i use some of their saddlery fitting and belt buckles they are nice. https://www.abbeyengland.com/buckles-fittings/buckles/bridle-headcollar-buckles.html https://www.abbeyengland.com/buckles-fittings/belt-buckles.html ignore their standard range and if interested email to check which buckles are made in their foundry. And i do use their standard range for repairs on things that were cheap in the first place not going to waste good hard ware on cheaply made items, and to be fair the standard range is not bad at all, just don't know where it has been sourced. Also have a look all and their buckles and hardware email them to satisfy yourself where they are being made. Also have a look at C.S. Osborne theirs tools are made in the US maybe theirs rivets and fitting are too. Hope this helps JCUK