sheridanman

hi definitely agree and would say the same as most peeps here. when i was bitten by the leather working bug i had the same notion like yours. that if i had the budget why not buy the whole kit set up. but you know what? when you become good at crafting leather (which i know you will) , you begin to realize you don't need all the tools for each purpose. when you improve and develop your own style of work for example in making leather projects, besides tooling you would be surprised you need fewer tools but have the function that your work only demands. get quality tools one by one. don't rush or you'll jsut end up like me looking for buyers for tools you don't need after all. honestly i still have unopened tools here from tandy. most beginners end up thinking "if i had all the tools in this kit i saw online or everything i see one crafter has after the other, i can do almost anything" partly true, but as you go along you begin to realize the tools' quality is still important. and if you plan to do leatherwork for a long time you can't trust kits. i still trust an apply the "less is more" rule here and yes, i myself was surprised after cutting down a whole tool box of an assortment of sewing and leather hand tools (from kits and by guess purchases) into 10 quality hand tools for leather working, all of them i can use over and over to the next project after the other with consistency. i can still make small and big projects with just a handful but the difference is you become friends with these small number of tools and they help you ease your work. i sold all my crappy tools and got myself very minimal but of quality number of tools. i invested on Blanchard tools for stitching and old Osbornes, Gomphs for leather hand tools. the only tools i have here that i did not buy is a home made stitching clamp, my english paring knife that i hand made and designed for my specific use and my stitching groover blade that i just finished last night and a soon to be finished handle for it. i also have carving/stamping tools luckily the sheridan set i have was given to me as a gift and were modified tools from old craftools by my mentor there in the States. but this is a different issue and i also put them to a minimal and have those i only need. having said all of the above, get the ones with quality it doesn't matter if its old as long as its useable and with a good steel and get only the minimal, you'd be really surprised you don't need all of them tools after all. trust me you will see after a few years with leather working. thanks for listening. goodluck on your search! P.S. > i'd be happy to send you a list of tools i use that are all around in my book just let me know.

hi Bryan i really like the knife you made. excellent workmanship. how did you fabricate the ball bearing action? i am really curious about how my knife works as i don't have the courage to open it up and see how the ball bearing works. did you get the original from a stock swivel knife or you made your own yoke and ball bearing assembly? hope you take time to maybe think of turning your knife making into a small biz to cater to some of us here at LW. its just beautiful!

wow that's a bit of relief! thanks so much Randy will do check them out later if they can ship overseas.

hello everyone! i like to know if anyone has the experience of using gun metal black color line snaps on their items? are tehy rust proof? i have rust proof silver color snaps and wanted to paint them gun metal black can anyone suggest how to do it? i have no access to buy them there coz i am from asia. most suppliers are from the states and i figured to cloor them my self. anyone know how? by the way are those gun metal black snaps for sale at tandy , or anywhere online are they rust proof and how long do they hold up til the black tarnishes or not at all. thanks hope to get some advices here.

hi its folded. and the edges are professionally heat-creased. and not burnished since the edges are folded and tucked. i use to ask the same question until i got a wallet that has same set up and has the exact card slots design. i tore it apart to see how it was made and i assumed it was heat creased since i do it as well to my projects and the slots are paper thin leather that can be folded at the edge to clip the lining of the slots that also act as pockets and are made out of cloth or textile fabric that has silky characteristics. most wallets do this even the hi-end ones to give it that thin look. the idea of the heat crease and fold i just assumed the maker wants to achieve a rolled edge look so he folded and then creased thats why you see the edges are kinda round not flat with and edge on top. hope this helps! there are others here at LW who are masters of this.

great work dscott! i love them! that's something great about leatherwork. everything including scraps can be turned into cash and with these great looking fobs its an addition to profit a bit on small items which are really easy and fast to make. keep posting 'em!

hi guys i am on the look out for some nice threads for saddle stitching bags and wallets. i know some would recommend nylon threads like the popular Nyltex, but i want to know if anyone has experience with Hemp? how does hemp compare to irish linen threads in terms of durability, fraying and is beeswax applied to hemp as well? some infos would be deeply appreciated as i am looking for other alternatives besides the usual linen and nylon threads. i have heard some swear by hemp but not sure if there is some specific use only for it and not advisable on all projects. thanks! ritch

hi everyone i like to know if anyone has this osborne tool or may have tried one. i want to know if the osborne saddle stitch chisel has diamond shaped prongs too like the craftool 4 prong diamond punch. and which of the two brands have smaller prongs and makes smaller holes? as i see it based on the pics online that i gathered the osborne has no diamond prongs just straight or pointed. the good thing about craftool is it really shows the hole shapes it makes on leather and you can clearly see it has diamond prongs.

wow! thanks TigerPal for the detailed infos. i have no idea since i haven't seen it to measure it as i have only been looking at pictures online of it. but since you use it i fully trust your infos. thanks. those two sizes i think i might as well get. a 6spi is great for my bags and 8 spi for my wallets. both sizes are exactly what i am looking for. thanks again appreciate really!

@Harnessman ...that's a beautiful piece you got there. i love those vintage worn out look. battle scarred that's the term for it. and it seems you have the right double purpose shape of the blade. cutting and skiving.yeah feels good to make them. saves your pocket. although now i have some work going on pieces where a wider area needs skiving. i am going to get a large paring knife for this job. slowly my orders keep me pointed to the larger projects which involve larger area to pare and way too long to fold and crease. this mini skive knife i made up have a pretty decent edge on it but being cautious on the side too not forget to strop and not use it on chrome tanned leathers. i use this mostly for my smaller projects like the wallets and the logo tags you see in the pic . i have yet to discover ways to temper the blade to the right blend of timing and of course edging. i am still learning though not a pro at knife making. i envy those knife makers that post pics of their beautifully hand made knives and sheaths of course. @King's X..... Cook's knives are good looking knives. never tried one as i have said here at LW, the absence of leather tool shops and scarcity of real leather tools here in my country pushed me to just dream about the tools you guys use there and with the easy access to them. so i make my own to continue working. i emailed jeff once and inquired bout his knives and he is a nice fellow. his chan geer style handles are great for comfort.

thanks Gary for the links. appreciate it! you know what reading the older posts about pricking irons i think what i need after all is a 4 prong diamond punch. the tool in the you tube vid of a guy making guitar straps. it did go thu the leather and rawhide was right back there. if i go with this tool diamond punch all i need is to choose between the 1/8 or the 1/32 four prong sizes. gary do you know how many stitches per inch is a 1/8 diamond punch and a 1/32. it says its the distance of the prongs from one another?

mmirob found the site here's a link http://greyghostgraphics.com/images/rope.pdf , goodluck!

mmirob i think have that tool. you can check out ghost graphics not sure if this is their name my apologies but they used to have a ad banner here . they make templates and some petal lifting tools. i found a tutorial on making rope borders. not sure if thats what you are looking for but check it out maybe it can help you.

tap tap tap we are on the same road but a turn around of items. in my case i was looking for a dremel, but with scarcity here of working tools i resorted to the singer motor your talking about since its readily available here. there are other brands better than singer. and yes, they came with a pedal. its great the speed is just ok. the problem i have with is i am looking for a way to either open it so i can device something inside to hold the burnishing shank of spinner. or maybe cut the small chuck from my multi screw driver handle and weld it to the motor shank so i can hold any size shank. and another option is to drill a hole at the side of the motor shank and insert the burnisher shank and screw it from the side just like how a swivel knife barrel holds the blade. for now i need to see what will hold spinners burnishing shank on this motor, i might order from spinner like everyone here. great looking wheels. kudos to spinner.

hi tony! i saw one japanese bag maker who used pricking irons at you tube and he just hammered away never used an awl at all and the bags and strappings were hand stitched too. i might as well contact joe dixon but it seems their site does not respond to some inquiries. stitching the regular way with an awl is no problem its just that my work load is quite a bit and my stitch lines are like forever. i have no way or space for a sewing machine as well. and besides shipping it here to me is just insane. hope i could get more members here to reply if they had experience with these tools. thanks for the quick reply really appreciate it.

hi everyone hoping to get some infos here. i like to know if english style pricking irons are meant to punch thru the leather or are they just used to mark stitch lines like overstitch wheels? i saw some ids of some leatherworkers from different parts of the world using them to punch thru leather and tehy do go thru the leather. that's why i'm asking if they were meant to go thru or not how would the teeth hold up? and it would bring the user to sharpening it once in a while is it? i make cases and sometimes stitching a long line of marks using just my awl after the overstitch wheel is really time consuming. i would love to hear different suggestions about these tools main purpose and teir right usage coz i plan to get one just to speed up work specially stitching a very long line. i need to speed up while maintaining accuracy and neatness. been surfing for a while about these tools but i get no answer really hope Mr. Dixon himself could fill us all in for some answers. thanks in advance. fire away everyone!

Randy and Chuck thank you so much for the suggestion. i will look around tomorrow and check out these products if our local hardwares carry them.

hi everyone! hope i can get some infos here if anyone has tried the elmer's glue spray adhesive? it says at the back that it can be used with leather. not sure if they meant for temporary gluing only or permanent. i want to know has anyone tried it for veg-tanned flesh side glued with pigskin liner? i tried the regular elmer's glue with the nozzle squeezed. it cant hold and breaks away with the flesh side. hope to get more suggestions.i tried looking for the recommended 3M but its not carried by our handyman hardware here. i also stumbled upon Evo ? not sure if this is the brand ? it says permanent on the label. thanks!

hi bobocat first of all congrats for a very excellent execution of the over all look of the bag. i am speechless when i saw this. if you dont mind can you pls. share what did you use to color the flowers? i am guessing, did you just put fiebings hi-liter or antique paste? what color if its antiqued? i really love all your projects that you post here. unfortunately for us you just raised the bar higher that now we have to try even harder. thanks for sharing this marvelous work!

beautiful piece of art Ed. i'm sure bob beard is honored! great job! i'm saving for one of your basic brown mauls really nice!

hi bobocat if you dont mind what tool did you use to punch holes for your sttiching? thanks! beautiful piece of art!

hi again i went back and slowed the video by pausing over and over on the handle of the bag part of the video. i captured the split second and got it. and low and behold i was wrong. he did use an awl. and i googled the tool more. it looks like and old osborne chisel. i am really sorry for the long post i made. now i can sleep and go back to using an awl for holes. i guess i 'll do it the hard way after all.LOL!