DavidL

my vergez awl is really, really sharp, probably at the bob douglas awl level (funny how i keep referring to it but i have never got my hands on it). Sharpen on a rough stone and then progress to a fine stone then finish off with green compound on a strop. Before the compound the awl was not that sharp. More importantly to save cash go for the Dixon pricking iron if its 7 or under. Previously I haven't been hammereing hard enough and was hitting on an unstable surface giving a bad impression on the leather. A dixon pricking iron at 7 spi is 70 dollars vs vergez 220 dollars and for me works fine. It does need to be grinded down on a stone manually - roughly 10-15 minutes and it was in perfect condition. If you buy from dixon directly they can grind the teeth down the proper size. Vergez is a pretty looking tool which has no flaws, but a huge price tag.

There may be some broueging(not spelled right) tools that can get a row of round holes. For a single tool that can make those holes would have to be custom made by someone who makes broueging tools for leather shoes

do you ever stitch using a stitching pony?The cork board looks like a quick way to punch out holes.

saddle soap after it dries and is buffed will that allow alcohol dyes to absorb? Olive oil is used before dying? or after dying?

anyone know how to keep the backside line straight. Always a few stitches unaligned and ruins the line of stitching

First official wallet I'm going to be selling online. Picture taken from my laptop.

Makes me want to quit leather working seeing how awesome these are made. Il take it as inspiration instead. Great stitches. Clean look.

My process - Take leather - no dipping in water or wiping with alcohol. Just using a dauber to lightly put on 2 coats of dye. Wait 2 minutes to dry, buff off the access and apply atom wax. All the steps so far all done within two minutes. Leather looks good and there are no problems. I've tried to let the dye dry longer and i don't see a difference immediately. Over time will an issue show up if i don't let it dry for a few hours (i heard 24 from others). Wetting the leather after it is dyed does that even out the tone and excess dye? Also the alcohol dye has a strong smell it doesn't bother me, but should i be concerned of my health if I'm using it for long periods of time? Last question, the one Im interested in most. If the leather is wet does dye and atom wax absorb into the leather?

Shipment is within canada I'm trying to find the best rate. Shipping to USA from Canada is 2.80 canadian from Canada but the same company quoted me 7.95 for shipping within Canada. Outrageous! This question is for you Canadian leatherworkers selling in canada how do i get shipping out for a 2.80 for 3 ounces in canada

38mm awl works best for 9spi. I forgot to mention you will need a sharpening stone as the awl is not as sharp as it can be on a stock vergez. pricking wheel and overstitch wheel can be interchangeable and you use one or the other never both unless the wheel is used to mark the backside. You can use an overstitch wheel and angle the blade to 45 degrees or use a pricking iron in its place, both are the same distance in spi. I wouldn't use a groove with a pricking iron, they are used with overstitch wheel and the stitches end up straight. With pricking irons the stitch ends up slanted. Linen thread 532 fil au chinois .57mm works for 9 spi and .8mm works for 7 and lower. A good starting place is to use a overstitch and get a handle of getting the 45 degrees using your eye and then switch to 9spi or whichever spi you like and learn from there. If you just want the basic tools that you can work with and then get better ones you can get a kit here http://www.goodsjapan.jp/item/leather-craft-items-leathercra/craft-sha-leather-craft-kit-st/lid=29749092 awl comes sharp and all tools are better than tandy but not as good as high end tools.

idk what saffino leather is but springfield leather co ships internationally and offers free discount membership to international buyers. In uk abbeyengland supplies leather.

You would need to make a mold out of wood or plastic, stretch it over the mold and use tools to create the wrinkles, plus acrylic paint for the eyes and teeth. That or you its some type of foam put in and then leather is stretched over.Looks like it would need a lot of practice before it turned out like that. But it could turn out good if you have a lot of skill painting and sculpting. Good luck.

I second the rotary cutter. Olfa makes the sharpest blades by a good margin.

For chromexcel that you sell to springfield leather I was under the impression they are regular quality leather is this true or are they seconds?

Thanks joe appreciate the comment. On the backside of the wallet there is a cash strap for folded bills. Hard to see from the picture taken from my laptop.

Ouch your wallets going to feel that. I've considered that option and i came up with a similar solution, a gomph #9 overstitch wheel and run it on the backside. The problem was my pulling strength and i stabbed too far into the leather, i use just the first 1 cm of the awl, and watch it so it goes through properly. The thread is pulled in a slow manner, never pulling too fast and i watch the thread pull into the leather and once it hardly digs into the leather i move onto the next stitch. This is how I do it and may not be the traditional way but works well for me. Anyone with a different technique please do share.

My new minimalist wallet I plan to start selling. Just a prototype so far. Love to hear feedback from the community.

I live in Canada and I'm looking for a manual clicker 5 ton or higher thats near 1 grand and doesn't cost too much for shipping. Ontario, Canada region. I'd prefer a manual clicker that can be set up with a metal wrench.

Thank you il get those out.

I've used fiebings antique black and it works like you would imagine it to. It is most likely a thinner to mix into darker stains to get a lighter shade like acrylic paints use a duller. Im not 100 percent on this but it may be why it has no pigment.

When sewing 9spi i always get blow out holes at the backside of the leather. I've put beeswax at the backside of the leather and have the awl stab through both the leather and beeswax and still there is a problem. Even my awl is very fine and sharp, 3mm at its thickest. How far do you stab the awl through the leather - just the tip or the whole way through? Would you say .63mm thread is good for 9spi? Trying to sell some card wallets at 9 spi but they still don't look 100 percent perfect because the backside is horrendous at times. makes sense to me on paper. I asked the question because i stitch 7 spi and 9. 7 spi stitching for me is 1.5times faster. Each stitch takes 2-3secs for both spi so assume that it would take a long time at higher. Mabye one day i will attempt 12-13 spi.

hi everyone, I need some help (desperately) for creating a 2 minute video of myself making a card wallet for an online project. I have an iMac with iMovie,a samsung phone and a camera stand. These aren't the proper tools, but its all i got. I've go a few friends who know how to work a camera, but if they can't commit to this (exams) then il have to do this solo. I've got limit knowledge on how to make a video and edit with music, and text. How would i input text and music into iMovie? In the near future I plan on getting a point and shoot or a entry level slr camera. Any beginner tips so my photos look presentable. Thank you.

Im only curious as to how a hand stitcher can stitch 13 spi, thinner than some machine stitches. Never mind the skill but even to get an awl to that size and then stitch that fine for over 20 - 30 minutes in some cases is incredible. I stitch 9 spi, and could do 10 spi which is a stretch for me. Are there any of these hand stitchers on these forums, id like to learn how its done.

the absolute tools that you need are the ones you listed. Also add a good knife, exacto blades can do even, but the best bang for your buck for cutters are olfa brand cutters and especially the rotary cutters.. hardly bumped my hand to my brand new olfa cutter and saw red. Pricking iron - I have a number 9 pricking iron which is the one i started with i also have a number 7 pricking iron from dixon which are not as good i would give it - 6.5/10. A number 7 will give between a fine looking stitch and a clunky looking stitch and many users prefer 7 as there go to spi. Buy a no.7 vergez from fine leather working with 4 prongs and forget the 2 prong iron, seeing as the four prong iron can be tilted up wards so that only 2 prongs touch the leather- sean from fineleatherworking can stock up inventory for custom orders you just have to email him. Douglas blade can fit into every awl handle - dixon, vergez, bearman, osbourne. The awl hafts that is just a hole and has no metal collete will need a vice to set the blade in, others with a collete are screw ons. I have the tandy pony 69 dollar one and was considering a vergez blanchard clamp for 200 but now have no plans to buy a more expensive clamp. The cheaper clamp can also work out. an edge compass will be needed too - dixon, vergez blanchard, osbourne - i have have the vergez and find no problems with it Thread - .8mm linen or polyester - for 7spi Also consider that if you over buy a bunch of tools at the beginning.. more than the basics- everything i recommended, they may be used very rarely or not at all. I find that i've not used my edge creaser - i have 2 and haven't used it more than 1 time and one 1 I haven't even touched. Im sure they will be useful later on, but if on a budget get the essentials, make a few wallets then decide what is necessary. P.S never buy from tandy - unless they have a clearance sale or the item that can not be bought online. Salesman sold me a hand stitching kit for a hundred and in a months time i found out all tools were useless. Still mad that he told me it was a good deal and I believed him - to be fair looking back at it he didn't pressure me to buy the kit, but he knew full well they were worth dirt.LOL. Good luck. Any other questions just ask

i would avoid peggysues leather, imo they cost 15-18 a square foot and are average quality upholstery leather that would look off on a saddle. Springfield has a large selection of different leathers. Been fooled by tandy by their hand sewing kit of 100 bucks when i didn't know better and 6 square feet of peggy sue leather for 100 dollars, which was really worth 30-40. Live and you learn i suppose. email springfield leather they will give you a good deal. they have odd shipments of printed leather from end of the run leathers in italian tanneries in stock from time to time.