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Hello everyone! Nice to meet you all! My name is Kawa! I am 35 yo. My mother is french and my father is kurdish from Iran. I live in France. Currently in Lyon but not for long i think. I was looking for urban emulsion (U now, arts, culture, restaurants, girls, etc) but it seems i cannot stand our western society anymore. So i will maybe go back in the countryside to find a new den where to settle... 😄 Yeah i am half-bear, half-geek, half-cat, half-wolf behind... Not very friendly with al-jabr 🤣). Maybe in Japan! Because it seems we can find some Akiya for very very very cheap prices in some nice places. Considering i will surely never have the opportunity to buy anything in France 'cause of economic failure... I have been doing many things during my life bartending, market gardening, construction work, volunteering in music association/festivals, unemployment, watching at too many youtube channels about geopolitics, DIY, spearfishing, literally anything that could quench my inextinguible thirst of knowledge... I have a clear and strong appetite for craftmanship of all sort. Meticulousness, dedication, learning, savoir-faire, local circuit, local sourcing, etc. My ultimate goal is to learn and be a blacksmith. I am still working toward that even tho it is not easy for many reasons. In a more short-term vision i am starting to gather tools and lessons for starting my leathercraft journey that would be useful for smithing but also for many other things. I wanna make useful items for myself first then maybe for others (belt, wallet, harness, bags, tool wrappers, sheaths, jacket, bags, etc). Maybe start selling at some point. Eventually some nice LARP (& affiliated) stuff. I always liked to spend weeks on a nice costumes. I guess it is my childhood passion for history who speaks there. I have been raised in Tours, Loire Valley. Right in the middle of all these awesome castles... ;D So yeah, i guess i have not a special research for now. I will dig and burry myself into the forum that seem amazing and we will see where it leads me. I guess it would be nice to find some french people around Lyon, Marseille, Salon-de-Provence, Tours that share my interest and maybe that can take me on for some occasional lessons or whatever! >> I can surely take some quick tips, tricks & advices for finding, buying tools & hardware & cheap leather (especially for France locations). if you have some very nice rookie guide to link or some nice youtube channels to recommand, feel free to curate content for me (forum pool looks massive!) I would obviously be very interested in finding an apprenticeship in leathercraft or blacksmithing but the french situation is kinda bad for independant so most of time they simply cannot do it. Also the legal aspect of apprenticeship are often very limitating... Feel free to leave a message there, ask for my contacts: email, discord, instagram, whatever you like!

Hello leatherworking enthusiasts! My name is François, I'm 34 years old, originally from Belgium, now based in Lyon, France. My atypical career path has taken me from the benches of biotechnology to the bench of leather craftsmanship, where I strive to marry tradition with innovation. My adventure into the world of leather goods is as singular as the pieces I create. With a degree in biotechnology, I bring scientific precision to my craftsmanship, fusing intellect with creativity. My academic career is a testament to the successful fusion of science and art.My field of expertise extends far beyond traditional leatherwork. From ancient forging to cutlery and jewelry design, I navigate with ease through a variety of disciplines. My portfolio even includes work in the unconventional field of BDSM manufacture, illustrating my willingness to explore the boundaries of my craft.In addition to my studio, I'm also involved as a cultural mediator and journalist. My involvement with the media outlet UAP Check, specializing in unidentified aerial phenomena, geostrategy and scientific innovation, demonstrates my commitment to exploring the unknown. As a journalist, I offer a unique perspective, interweaving elements of history, anthropology and AI to deepen my analyses.As an avowed geek, I find joy in a multitude of hobbies, from history and literature to new technologies and video games. My involvement in martial arts and historical re-enactment further underscores my varied interests, creating a rich canvas that feeds and enriches my artistic creations. In my hands, leather transcends its utilitarian function to become a canvas for artistic expression. My journey from biotechnologist to craftsman illustrates the infinite possibilities that emerge when intellect meets craft. By constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional leatherworking, I remain a shining example of the harmony between science, history and innovation in the world of creative craftsmanship.

Hello all! So I had an incident with my French edge skiving tool the other day.. I recently moved up to using top grade hides and the level of toughness compared to the Tandy special is amazing! But... That being said my edge tool is no longer refined enough to cut the high end hides and I ended up slipping off the leather and getting a nasty gash on my finger. I like to keep my tools sharp and up too this point I thought it was sharp enough. I strop the bottom edge and use Dremel buffer wheel with green compound to get to the hard to reach upper edge. Upon closer inspection I realized the top bevel isn't even and I need to do some significant material removal to true up the edge. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can't modify the bevel without ruining the tool? Any sharpening and honing tips would very much be appreciated! Thanks and God bless!