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Hello, i am just starting out and i figured out real fast that this is a VERY expensive hobby starting up, but I've found and made some things to cut cost that i wanted to share with yal to help out, ill label whats free, and what i payed for and how much. 1. FREE... wine box from any liquor store.just ask them if they have one to give to you, they just throw them out. Makes a tool holder, storage box.. anything you want, just be creative. 2. CHEAP...Bar soap containers. 1$ at walmart... for holding all your small stuff you want to keep separate. Like the swivel knife and stamps. 3. CHEAP/FREE.Trash bags/walmart bags. Used to lay down under leather when dying. Be careful with walmart bags though, alot of times they'll have holes and not as flat. CHEAP... tool storage boxes.. bought a pack of 4 of them at walmart for 9 bucks. Good for keeping things organized. FREE/CHEAP... old white t-shirts.. instead of throwing away the old white work shirts. Keep them cut them up. Good for tons of stuff.. buffing towels, speading glue and dye, what ever you can think of. CHEAP... stanley box knife. Couple bucks at wal mart and you can get 50 blades for 5 bucks i believe. FREE/CHEAP... BOOKS! Scribd.com 8 bucks a month and you get a ton of books(including al stohlman)..you can also download them onto your phone, using your free 30 day trial(wink, wink).. and if you cancel membership before the month is over you dont pay a dime. Again (wink wink) its not letting me put up the pics so if you want to see them, or have any questions, send me a message and ill send them to you somehow! Addition! Ill add stuff as i think of them and do them... The internet/youtube!! I have already learned a ton of stuff off youtube, and when you have a better understanding of what your doing and how to do it you'll waste less products and save money... Tandy leathers offers a free beginner's class go take it!!

Hello, I am posting on here for some advice and help. I am very new to working with leather and am hoping to be able to fix this old saddle and get it back to functional light use. I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for replacing the fender and what kind of leather to use. I've seen the new replacement fenders that you can buy already cut and ready, but I'm not sure if maybe that is the best route to go? I would like to get it looking as close to the other fender, if possible, but it is not completely necessary. I have not tooled before and am uncertain that I would be able to match the tooling pattern. Anyway, I was hoping to use it as a project learning opportunity. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hey Gang, I've done some research on which tools I will need to start learning how to work with leather. There is a Tandy relatively close, but little in the way of much else. I ended up purchasing a kit online for very cheap ($25 CAN), and I'm hoping the quality won't be too terrible. I think it was a good decision, with several of the tools being on my list. I'm sure there are some in the kit I didn't necessarily need. Thoughts? I'm interested in being able to make wallets, knife sheaths, harnesses, and belts. I still planned on buying a mallet, saddlers needles, thread, wax, glue, utility and precision knife..

Hey Gang, I've done some research on which tools I will need to start learning how to work with leather. There is a Tandy relatively close, but little in the way of much else. I ended up purchasing a kit online for very cheap ($25 CAN), and I'm hoping the quality won't be too terrible. I think it was a good decision, with several of the tools being on my list. I'm sure there are some in the kit I didn't necessarily need. Thoughts? I'm interested in being able to make wallets, knife sheaths, harnesses, and belts. I still planned on buying a mallet, saddlers needles, thread, wax, glue, utility and precision knife..

Hello all! I'd like to introduce myself. I'm extremely new to leather work and vinyl work. I work with the USAF as an Avionics Technician on the B-1, F-16, B-2 and various other aircraft. I have a healthy background in electrical and computer engineering and maintenance. Currently I live in Japan, and I was lucky enough to come across a very rare care in the United States; an R32 gtr. So far, the car seems to be in good condition, even the interior is very nice for 25 year old car. It does have some cosmetic problems, and of course I want to do a custom interior retrim. I'm completely capable of trial and error, and taking my time with especially large projects such as an interior retrim. So I've been doing as much research as I can, and I decided to make an account here to get a first hand opinion from you guys. Currently, I've researched about the most prominent walking foot sewing machines, since I'll mostly be sewing vinyl. I've heard of the headaches that are solved by using a walking foot. I looked for pricing on the singer 111 series, and noticed that most of the pricing with motors and table almost always equal the price of a brand new Sailrite LS-1 basic. I've seen a few singer 95-15 around sewing leather, but how well does it honestly work with folded layers of vinyl and foam? I feel that it's a bit incredible that most of these older sewing machines, or general "used" new sewing machines are over 800 dollars. I feel that 600 USD for a brand new LS-1 is acceptable, but I was wondering what other machines I could use with heavy automotive / marine vinyl. Specifically, some allsport 4 way and some thick carpeting / foam padding. What other machines can you think of that don't break the bank? I'd say the main reason i'm looking for a ~600 maximum is because I would pay for someone to take the time and ship it to me (ie: paying extra for your efforts, plus the shipping cost). Of course, if push comes to shove, if anyone is in Florida, I can get one of my buddies to pick it up and ship it to me. What are y'alls opinion on my machine choices?

First attempt to make holster, leaves a lot to be desired, but was enough to hook me up to try more... There is a second holster from an amateur who after making a few more realize how much I really don't know about leather working.

I have been practicing with my swivel knife and stamps, that I inherited from my grandparents, on some old veg tan scraps from the Local surplus store, for about six weeks now and feel like I will be ready for my first projects soon. I want to make leather stick barrettes for my mom and me. I still need some more practice because I'm still not confident in my abilities yet, but I think I have almost everything I need. I'm going to buy a piece of belly from the surplus store to practice on since it's probably a little better quality than the supper thick, warped, dry scraps I've been practicing on. I ordered an 8-1/2"X11" 6-7oz piece of leather from Springfield LC. It was a nice piece, I liked the stiffness, but seemed a bit thin for the project, so I ordered a piece of 7-8oz and it should be here in a week or two. Should the 7-8oz piece be ok? for the stick, I'm using a dowel rod from Walmart, because that is what I use for my Native Amercan beaded stick barrettes. I want my barrette to be black. I'm brewing up a batch of vinegaroon right now. I've done a lot of reading about it here on the site. If it goes wrong, I have a bottle of black Feibings oil dye. Do I burnish the edges before or after I dye, or is it personal preference? I'm going to be burnishing with water, a wooden burnishing tool and paraffin wax. something I'm really concerned about is the finish. Mom wants the natural look and mine will be black. Since the leather we will use will be some what flexible, I'm concerned that acrylic finishes will crackle. Unless I could wet form them into the shape we want, but I don't know how that is done.We need a finish that is moisture resistant because we plan on wearing our barrettes almost every day, which means we might have damp hair when we put our hair up. I have read on the site that a 50/50 mixture of beeswax and neetsfoot oil applied to the leather, then melted in with a hair dryer was a good way to water proof leather. Would that work for this project? Would burnishing the flesh side aid in making it water resistant? On a side note, from what I understand, vinegaroon will turn some wood black. I think I'm going to cut a piece of the dowel rod off and see if it reacts to the vinegaroon. I'd like to have a black stick to go with my black barrette. If that doesn't work, some of the oil dye will work on the dowel rod, won't it? Thank you for your time.

Hi everyone. I was hoping you guys could point me to some good leather for making wallets. I have some undyed veg tan that I have practicing with, but now I'm wanting some nicer leather to actually make some decent quality wallets. I'm looking for a basic brown color. Do you guys have any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know what the best leather sewing machine is for -easy operating system for someone with arthritis -still classify myself as a beginner - mostly sewing belts, purses, light horse tack ( bridles, breast collars, etc.) -able to be shipped to Canada -quality for price Thank you all in advance for your time and effort in this matter, Christine

Hi Everyone, Warning: Complete Newb. For the past 6 years or so I've had a desire to learn leatherwork. I love well-made leather products and since I've got fair hand eye coordination I finally want to give a go. I've been trying my best to read as much as possible about the various thread types, leather types, sewing machines, etc. I had contacted a guy on Etsy a few days ago who does great work and he imparted some advice which was "First, know what kind of projects you want to take on" and "Start with hand sewing to see if you like it." Seems logical. So having given this some thought, I'd like to start perhaps with a bag, like a possibles bag, and maybe belts, and then more elaborate bags with linings, pockets, sections, etc. I want to use premium materials in my items. I'm from Chicago originally (home of Horween) but I live in the UK these days (London). I could really use some good advice because I'm finding myself overloaded with info researching this on my own. 1. What is the best leather (and/or canvas) to use for a mens bag, like a possibles bag and/or satchel? I've received some samples from a Scottish mill of some wax canvas up to 24oz which seems to be a reasonable material. 2. Can someone explain, or post a link to a good source, on thread thicknesses, how they're categorized and their applications? i.e. what is a good thread "gauge" and type to use in a bag application. I've read Polyester is the best weatherproof thread out there. 3. What kind of lining would be good for a bag, if any? Would a tartan wool work well? Are linings typically glued in (if so, what type of glue)? or stitched in? 4. If I'm doing this by hand, what is the best needle to use? Are there specific leather or canvas type needles out there? and do they match up with the thread thickness somehow? 5. Let's say I go a sewing machine route. What are some good sewing machine types / brands that I should consider? I've done a bit of research on this and whilst some people suggest a vintage Singer 201K, others seem to use much more industrial and robust machines like a Techsew. I've seen some amazing videos by Arthur Porter. And Wizcraft's posts stand out on this forum. Amazing. 6. Any really good classes, books, or online bag making tutorials out there that are recommended? I know this is a load of questions and anyone answering doesn't need to address them all. I suppose I'm looking for a general "approach" to this whole thing and to understand if there are any "rules" involved. Thanks so much, and apologies for the long post. Any and all advice you can throw my way is appreciated. Kind Regards, Geo

Heya folks! Newbie here and I'm simply curious as to what reading material ya'll would recommend for a feller who's just getting started in the biz. I'm sure there's a plethora of good books out there to get one started; hoping some old pros may have some suggestions.

Hey to all. I am very new to leather working. My first project is a set of leather armour that I am making for re enactment. I would always appreciate a guiding hand. I love learning about new things and plan to make my first piece look great. I am glad to find a community of leather workers that will be willing to share their knowledge.

I am 65 years old. I am a former gun engraver from Europe, Fabrique Nationale', and the USA. I am pretty good as I never finished worse than 2nd in the National Engraver Guild competitions. I do 13 different styles of floral work. So the floral aspects should come quickly. The layout should be a non-issue. The shading perspective as well. But the tools are entirely different. The application of the tools is entirely different. I am wondering if anyone can recommend about 20 stamps to get started. I do not mean the manufacturer, but the veiner, background, camouflage, etc. I will not buy Tandy. I live near the FT. Worth shop so convenience and price is not an issue. * I would like to also include a couple of basketweave stamps in this. 18-22 would be ideal. * I planned to focus on Barry King and ProCrafters especially for the basket-weaves. But size is an issue? * Maybe the Gomph Hackbarth set of 15 for $145 is a starting point. If the Hackbarth set sounds like a good idea, then perhaps let's add 15 more? Thanks much! I had to give up engraving so this really helps the 'ole man, Steve (P.S. I got the tapered Barry King 14oz mallet and his swivel knife)

My name is Thijmen, and i'm trying to get started with leatherworking. i'm mostly interested in making functional items. but i can't figure out where to buy tools and what tools i'll actually need. so far i have: a curved leather needle (half a circle) a knife that easily cuts through leather. a set of chisels and gouges hole puncher tongs i also read about needing a mallet but, would a clawhammer with a rubber cover do (with that cover it'd pretty much be a rubber mallet in function) things i think i still need: an edge beveler piercer something to make grooves in the leather a steel ruler a self healing cuttingboard a marble slab (i plan to get a marble cutting board) materials i have: 2mm thick full grain leather which was supposed to cushion expensive couches. i have 2 garbage bags full of this mostly half skins. black thread suitable for leather (thats all i know about it) and a handful of buckles, buttons and similar things things i plan to make: wallets (seems like a good starting point) bags/backpacks (when i'm good enough) if i get good enough i also plan to make my own boots but that will wait untill i'm good enough in a few years the problems i have: is there anything i'm missing? and where should i buy tools. a steel ruler or a cutting board isn't hard to get but an edge beveler or groove maker is harder to find. thanks in advance

Here are a couple of the first items I have made. I've always been interested in leather work & used to draw when I was a kid, but after inheriting a bit of leather after my grandfather passed I decided I wanted to have some things made out of the leather he left for me. A good friend of mine is a leather worker, & after asking him if he'd be interested in the commissioned work he recommended that I try it out myself, & I'm glad I did. These are the pieces I'm using as practice before I touch the leather I inherited. Anyhow, I feel like it's going pretty well considering the short amount of time I've had to put into it. It's already evident that this is surpassing the hobby level & entering "passion" status, now if I could just get more hours out of the day...

Hey guys, I am just wanting to try my hand at leather tooling. On Ebay a cheap set of 9 stamping tools only costs about $10 shipped, they look very similar to the Tandy basic tool set which costs $40+ plus shipping (I'm in Europe by the way). Does anyone have experience of the cheapo ones? Would they be good enough to start with? I know the basic craft tools don't seem to have a great rep on here anyway, so I figure if I got into it, I would be going for something a bit better anyway. Thanks!

It's about time to make a guitar strap, and I'm trying to think of fun things to do with it. I've looked around and gathered some ideas, and it looks like there is a lot of room for creativity when doing this. Before I get too crazy, though, I thought I'd ask you experienced folks what you've tried or seen that doesn't work at all. What does one not want to do when making a guitar strap, or what are common pitfalls I should watch out for? If a guitar strap is poorly made, what is it that usually went wrong? Or is it really okay whatever you do, so long as it's reasonably long, has a hole on each end, and has slots for length adjustment somewhere in the mix? This is a pretty general question, but for reference, I am making this for a bass guitar. So I figure it'll be fairly wide, probably padded & lined (I'll sure know how to stitch by the time it's done, I bet) and I'll put strap locks on, just in case any of that inspires comment.

I'm very new to leather working. This is my first simple card wallet. It's not great, so I'd love any tips and pointers on how to improve the design, quality, style, etc. Thanks. Blessings, Tyler

Hi, I'm looking to try my hand at a bit of leatherworking, and most of the supplies I've found on the internet so far are from America. This has made me curious about what suppliers there are for tools and leather in the UK (where I live), and where different leatherworkers on this side of the Atlantic like to source their stuff from. Also, is there a sort of British equivalent of Tandy whose tools are a decent (and not too pricey) choice for someone starting out? Thanks a lot!

Basketweave stamping is quickly becomeing my new nemesis. I just can't seem to 1) stay on a straight line with it or 2) space the stamps properly. I've been watching the Tandy tutorials and always make a guideline and work back and forth on either side of it, but my technique does not seem to be improving. Does anyone have any other helpful hints or suggestions?

hello, beginner here with singer 29k-4 cylinder bed (1904 dated) i am self taught (outside of any info i found online and on this website). i am currently in the process of reconstructing a shoe upper (deconstruction of shoe and complete reconstruction with superior skins). my singer works well 85% of the time. sometimes the mechanism that transfers force from the hand operated wheel to the rest of the machine locks up and ends up throwing the shuttle arm and gears off. also the foot on the machine tears up suede and thin leather . i also have trouble sititching the uppers perfectly straight (maybe because the cylinder bed does not offer much working surface?) i feel like although this machine is great and gave me a much better understanding of how they operate i am considering adding a juki/pfaff/consew or any newer flat bed machine, mostly because i feel it is a more reliable product? and it would be easier to stitch perfect lines/curves with a flat bed machine. my question is: should i invest an a newer machine? (i plan on doing this for a while) or should i add a flat table to my singer and stick it out with a machine that works 85% of the time. i am gratefull for any info. thanks

I am a beginner leather worker LOOKING TO BUY tools. I need almost everything and figure second hand would be the best place to look first so I can put more money towards leather and hardware :D I am looking for: Stitching awl Scratch awl Skiver Saddler's Groover Edge Beveler Stitching Iron, 6 stitches per inch Stitching Iron or Overstitcher Size 8 (8-9 stitches per inch, fine stitching) Strap End Punches Rivet Setter Grommet / Eyelet Setter(s) Edger Tool Mallet / Maul Hole Punch(s) Oval Punch(s) Dye(s) Saddle / handstitching books or pattern books I would also be interested in leather! I'd like to find some latigo or perhaps harness leather. I am located in the US. Please PM or e-mail me at CheapNightmares@gmail.com with prices. I will update here as I gather tools.

Hello, I'm a complete beginner in leatherworking, but I was recently inspired to give it a shot. I'm attempting to make a simple wallet, which I intend to dye navy blue with a white-gold coloured design on the front. Unfortunately, I live in a small city in Canada and leather supplies are quite expensive here. So, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing before buying the supplies. Hopefully you folks can help me with that. My first problem is deciding which finish to use. It's a wallet and going to be handled frequently, so I need something that really seals the dye. I would probably be using Tandy's Eco-Flo dye, because it's reasonably priced and available in the colours I need. I also live in a climate that snows a lot, so I'd prefer to use something water resistant. I've looked at acrylic resolene, which looks good for both water resistance and dye sealing, but I want to avoid anything that looks shiny or plasticy. So, what type of finish should I be looking for here? My next question is about combining dyes. Let's say I'm dyeing it navy blue, and I've got black and blue dyes to work with. Should I combine the dyes first, or simply apply a few black layers to the leather, and then a few blue layers, etc, until I get the desired colour? Could I do both? Combine the dyes first to make a navy blue, then proceed to apply additional coats of blacks or blues until the I get the desired colour? Lastly, I'm not sure what I should do about the coloured design on the front. Let's say I dye the leather navy blue and let it dry. I now want to add the white-gold design on top of it. How should I do this? I thought about using stencil paper, but if I apply the dye with some kind of brush or cloth, I wouldn't be able to keep the stencil in place. Also, I'm not sure if the colour would turn out, considering I would be placing a light dye over a dark one. Perhaps it would be fine? I've never dyed leather before, so I wouldn't know. I've attached an image I've photoshopped demonstrating how I'd like the finished product to look. Again, I'm a leatherworking novice and I'm not sure if this sort of thing would even be possible. I'd appriciate any thoughts you have. Thanks!

Hey guys! So I'm fresh off the boat here... Like I have zero leather working experience other than doing up my belt in the morning. What attracted me to the hobby/trade was surprisingly enough.. YouTube! I know it's not as easy as it looks, but I think I'll really enjoy leather working once I get started. The first thing I wanted to make is a messenger bag with a gusset.. I want the bag to be able to hold a 15.6" laptop plus a binder on the other side of the divider (pretty average messenger bag?..) and I have loads of questions... I guess I'll just list them off? 1. So, as I have no leather working tools, what should I get as the bare essentials to get me to started off making the bag? (I can get the cutting mat and exact-o blades for cutting, I'm just talking about punches and needles and all the bare essentials). 2. What kind of leather should I use? I want the bag to be able to withstand normal wear and tear but feel nice and soft (not like a holster-type leather that's really thick, but something that just feels nice in the hand if that makes sense...) 3. Based on what I've mentioned, does anyone know where I could find (preferably free) patterns for something like this? 4. Is a project like this too complex for someone who is just coming into the hobby? Thanks in advance guys! and Sorry, I know millions of posts like this one have circulated I just figured I'd ask.

Hey everybody, my name is Scott and I'm from Houston, Texas. I've been lurking here for a while, but this is my first post. I'm interested in making wallets, belts, holsters, sheaths, and eventually bags and shoes. I just got my orders in from Tandy, Barry King, and Abbey England. I think I have most of the stuff I need to get started, but let me know if there are some tools that you think I will need or that will make my life easier. Not pictured is a 12" by 24" poundo board, and I have plans on buying a scrap piece of marble or granite from a countertop shop down the road. I have been reading for hours everynight, but I know I am going to have so many questions once I get started. Next on my list at the moment - buying my first bit of leather. I am pretty sure I am going to go with wickett and craig, probably a double shoulder or something. But any suggestions would be cool. I am a complete beginner, the one thing I do know is that I know nothing. At the moment I have questions about what weight leather I should order. Can I get a reference as to which weight leather I should use for different items. Obviously wallet leather needs to be much thinner than say a belt. Is there a weight I can order so that I could use two layers to make a belt and still have it be the right weight to make say a holster or sheath. Big thanks to everyone who contributes to these forums, I have learned a lot from just lurking and reading, and thanks in advance for any help I receive in the future.