alfredleatherworks

I use Fusion360 for my CAD program, and I use Adobe Illustrator for patterning. Almost everything starts with pencil and paper though. I’m much faster at drawing things out with a drafting set, rulers, and shape guides, but then I like to digitize my patterns using Illustrator because it’s easy to print and use and not have to worry about destroying the original pattern. I’m no pro with F360 or Illustrator though, YouTube University is my friend here 😅 EDIT: I also use a light table (well, led light tablet these days) for copying my paper patterns from the “rough sketch” paper to the nice clean finished version before scanning and digitally editing into printable format.

I love that you still have all those antique tools from your 3rd great grandfather! My father is currently in possession of a chest of cabinetmaker’s tools from my 2nd great grandfather, and I’m hoping my siblings don’t want them because I sure do 😁. While it’s not as extensive a collection as yours, there are some great tools in that box, many still usable with a little TLC and sharpening. I don’t have many vintage or antique tools yet, but when I can afford them I absolutely make a point to pick them up. I’ve got the two I showed in this post, along with an antique tack/brad/nail puller, and a strapped-head tack hammer. The rest of my tools are largely vintage, from the 60s through the 80s, mostly the old Craftool stuff from Tandy. I actually like a lot of the vintage Tandy stuff, especially the Al Stohlman Brand tools (like the strap end punches), though I’m finding I prefer these antique tools the more of them I get and use. I’m also finding I am enjoying refurbishing the old tools. I didn’t think I’d enjoy that part, but honestly it’s kinda fun!

Oh, cool! I only knew about their BC location as a mentor of mine used to live there and still buys from them today. I’m in the US, but when I’ve dealt with the folks at the BC location they were wonderful. I’m in love with their Eurotan leather for making jackets, it feels so good to work with!

I would agree that this looks like it was done with a swivel knife, a seeder, and a veiner. The repeating pattern border was most likely done with an embossing wheel. These were common then, and are still used today in many shops. I tried to find the seeder and veiner tools in some of the old catalogs I have, but none were exact matches. Those tools did exist then though, and similar examples can be found in CS Osborn catalogs, or those of their contemporary competitors catalogs. Many people would make their own tools too, so there’s a chance that the tools used on this were homemade. To replicate this, I’d practice a bunch with a swivel knife, and just buy a modern seeder and veiner tool. You can get them cheaply from Tandy, or nicer ones from a bunch of other vendors like Barry King. For the embossing wheel, the easiest option is probably a small one that fits on a handheld roller. 1. Bunkhouse Tools Embossing Wheels (these are made for an embossing roller machine, but it’s a good resource) 2. C.S. Osborn Embossing Wheel (via the CuTex ebay store) (they do have other designs too, and this size should fit on the handtool sold by Tandy, Springfield, etc). 3. Tandy Embossing Tools 4. Springfield Leather Embossing Tools Hopefully this will get you started in the right direction! Good luck! Would love to see the finished work when you’re done!

I’m a fan of Buckskin Leather in British Colombia in Canada. I also like Hide House in California in the US, along with Aaron Heizer at Maker’s Leather Supply in Texas. There’s also Tandy, Springfield,Traditions Leathercraft, etc. Buckleguy.com also sells good leather. Good tanneries in the US to look for are Hermann Oak, Wickett & Craig, S.B. Foot, or Horween.

Since this thread is going again, I’d love to see your tools and process. I’m starting to dabble in making some of my own hardware and I’m fascinated by other people’s approaches to making some of theirs.

I will generally always choose function over form if I have to, but if I can have a functional piece that is also beautiful? That is my preference! I am an artist, and I appreciate having tools that are themselves a piece of art. Thanks!

Welcome! I’m a sewing machine nerd and love seeing other people’s machines as well as what they’re doing with them. You’re making some cool stuff, and I love your 3D printed loop sewing guide. That’s pretty smart! I look forward to seeing what else you get up to! Especially if you do sewing machine modifications 😁

That is amazing! I’ve been gifted a few things over the years (like the Landis #1 sewing machine I have), but what you were given outweighs anything I’ve been the recipient of! Including the Landis, lol. Those tools, and their respective boxes are unbelievably cool. Thanks! Cool that you have your grandfather’s tool chest! I love the feel of the old vintage/antique tools, they have a weight to them and a feel in the hand that makes me enjoy picking them up and using them.

One of the things I enjoy is finding old tools and techniques and bringing them back for use in my shop. My most recent acquisition has been an 1868 patent pattern Gomph edge channeler (no idea how to determine actual date of manufacture) and an unbranded Gomph or C.S. Osborn-style straight channeler (also of indeterminate age). These are really cool looking tools, and useful for being able to hide your stitching under a flap the tool cuts. Once the stitching is done you glue the flap back over the thread and like magic, it looks “seamless”. I did a little restoration work on them both and I’m excited to get using them soon. I’m curious though, does anyone else have channeling tools that they use in their shops?

Thank you for the suggestion. It is another one I'm looking for, lol.

Oh, that would be great! I keep taking a small chunk of time every day or so to scour the archives here, but so far I haven't found what I'm looking for regarding digital saddlery books. I've found all the other non-copyrighted books, largely on archive.org, but anything with a copyright has been harder to find. I'd consider buying a physical copy and having my girlfriend ship it to me, but the shipping cost is too high and then there's the 60% import tax/tariff on top of it all...too much for me, lol. Also, traveling around the country here with a physical leatherworking library would be super cumbersome. Which is why I'm scouring this forum and the internet at large for ebooks/PDFs, etc. I don't mind paying for a good book, but even in this day and age finding some texts in digital format seems to be difficult.

Let me start off by saying, I’m not looking for pirated copies of books. I am willing to pay for legitimate copies of the titles I’m looking for. Last February I sold off half of my leather shop and moved to South America for a while to live and work with the gauchos here and learn their style of leatherwork with a focus on their approach to rawhide and leather braiding. While I’m here I’m supporting myself by plying my trade as a leatherworker. I had to leave behind my physical library, and I didn’t think that was going to be an issue. Turns out, not only do I want the books for my own reference but I’m being asked to share my skills with others here by teaching. In specific, I’m looking for an ebook copy of Al Stohlman’s Encyclopedia of Saddlemaking and the book Creating Western Floral Designs by Bob Parks. Does anyone know if there are legit PDF ebooks of these titles? I can’t seem to find them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I have digitized copies of all my other Al Stohlman books, as well as many others, but I never got around to digitizing my entire library. FWIW, if anyone knows of other good saddle/tack or general leatherworking books that are available as ebooks, I’d love that info too. Teaching leather and English at the same time is fun, but with books for reference it would be so much easier, lol. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read and/or reply. Hope y’all are doing well this week! —Riley

Oh, this is good info! Thank you! I'm not a welder...I can weld, but only about as good as it takes to patch a fence on a horse pasture (it'll hold but it isn't pretty). I'm not going to even try to mend this myself. I'm going to talk to some local welders who can do it right. Knowing (now) to ask about brazing instead of welding is a huge help. I do have a copy of the manual (digital format). I need to contact Eli about needles and see what parts he may have. I'd like to see about a few extra bobbins. I've also thought about the printed copy that Ewe sells. As for not oiling the "part that should never be oiled" I will make sure not to oil it. These are good resources! I'll be hiring a professional to do the repair. My skills with welding are...rudimentary at best.