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Posted (edited)

As with most hobbies and crafts you need a minimum of tools and equipment to get started, and you need almost as many tools & materials to make just one item as you need to make dozens, so unfortunately you will need to spend money at first. Also there is a range of prices, from cheap to very expensive; what you want is reasonable quality mid priced tools & equipment. But that does mean you will have to do some finishing/sharpening/polishing yourself. It is only the best, expensive, custom made items you can use straight away

The key to good leatherwork is razor sharp tools. There are many videos about this, for leather tools such as knives, awls, and edge bevelers ; also non leatherwork tools like knives & chisels; the more you watch, the more you will learn & understand. You can use water, oil, or diamond stones; or fine abrasive paper. Make your own strop, green chromium dioxide stropping compound is as good as any

The same techniques are used on most leather goods, so watch videos on saddle stitch, edge finishing, dyeing, skiving, and so on, and things like belts & pouches even if you don't want to make them yourself

A Japanese Leather Knife is good for skiving and cutting straight lines and is easy to sharpen; again, there are videos

Here are some more suppliers; even if you don't buy anything you will see what is available

www.metropolitanleather.com

www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk

www.sfleather.co.uk

www.proatelierplus.com

www.goodsjapan.com

These are good mid priced Japanese? Chinese? Korean? tools - Wuta ... Craft Sha ..... Seiwa ..... Kyoshin Elle

Besides shipping cost your country might also apply import duty/taxes but you'll have to find out for yourself. Or just order a couple of cheaper items and see what happens 

There are many YouTube channels & videos about leatherwork; try -- JH Leather ..... Ian Atkinson/Leodis Leather ..... Nigel Armitage .... Corter Leather .... Leathercraft Masterclass ..... Geordie's Workshop - he has about 15 videos aimed at beginners

I have used www.buyleatheronline.com They are good & reliable and have a wide range, and have advice on their website or if you email them. But when you start or plan an item, use something like thick paper or cereal packets to make a prototype or a mock - up. This will show you what the finished item will look like, & the sequence of construction, and future problems - Old cardboard is a lot cheaper than leather!

Come back to us with any questions, or let us know what you are thinking of buying, and we can give you our opinions 

 

Edited by zuludog
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Posted
5 hours ago, Burkhardt said:

Putting your location in your profile will help for future questions. And if you are willing to spend money for expensive leather I'd suggest buying some cheaper leather to make a practice one. You would have a tough time finding anyone on here that did a first anything without a lot of mistakes.

That's right. I'm sure I will make mistakes, I was just wondering maybe that would require additional practice because of firmness? Maybe stiffer leather is actually easier to handle?

The main reason I put out these leather type names is that she loves them and I want to make her happy. That's the primary goal of getting into this.

Thank you for the comment and insight!

Is there any material or tool you'd avoid beyond that?

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Posted

Here is a French supplier: https://www.decocuir.com/ I don't know about shipping cost to Israel, though. The leather I have bought there has always been good quality and they have a good choice of hardware for bags etc.

There is only one material I have been disappointed with, and that is this: https://www.pethardware.com/en/cow-grain-leather/vegetable-tanned-leather-double-butts-black-1061/ because at the time I bought it, "split" was not in the description, so I expected full-grain leather. That said, the collars, leashes and training belt I made for my dog have held up for well over a year with constant use and no maintenance, so the stuff is not bad... It might work well for a waterproof dopp kit, except it's on the thick side. 

I would recommend The Leatherwork Handbook by Valerie Michael  because this lady somewhat specialises in ladies handbags and has a lot of advice regarding their construction. 

Have fun!

 

 

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Posted
40 minutes ago, zuludog said:

As with most hobbies and crafts you need a minimum of tools and equipment to get started, and you need almost as many tools & materials to make just one item as you need to make dozens, so unfortunately you will need to spend money at first. Also there is a range of prices, from cheap to very expensive; what you want is reasonable quality mid priced tools & equipment. But that does mean you will have to do some finishing/sharpening/polishing yourself. It is only the best, expensive, custom made items you can use straight away

The key to good leatherwork is razor sharp tools. There are many videos about this, for leather tools such as knives, awls, and edge bevelers ; also non leatherwork tools like knives & chisels; the more you watch, the more you will learn & understand. You can use water, oil, or diamond stones; or fine abrasive paper. Make your own strop, green chromium dioxide stropping compound is as good as any

The same techniques are used on most leather goods, so watch videos on saddle stitch, edge finishing, dyeing, skiving, and so on, and things like belts & pouches even if you don't want to make them yourself

A Japanese Leather Knife is good for skiving and cutting straight lines and is easy to sharpen; again, there are videos

Here are some more suppliers; even if you don't buy anything you will see what is available

www.metropolitanleather.com

www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk

www.sfleather.co.uk

www.proatelierplus.com

www.goodsjapan.com

These are good mid priced Japanese? Chinese? Korean? tools - Wuta ... Craft Sha ..... Seiwa ..... Kyoshin Elle

Besides shipping cost your country might also apply import duty/taxes but you'll have to find out for yourself. Or just order a couple of cheaper items and see what happens 

There are many YouTube channels & videos about leatherwork; try -- JH Leather ..... Ian Atkinson/Leodis Leather ..... Nigel Armitage .... Corter Leather .... Leathercraft Masterclass ..... Geordie's Workshop - he has about 15 videos aimed at beginners

I have used www.buyleatheronline.com They are good & reliable and have a wide range, and have advice on their website or if you email them. But when you start or plan an item, use something like thick paper or cereal packets to make a prototype or a mock - up. This will show you what the finished item will look like, & the sequence of construction, and future problems - Old cardboard is a lot cheaper than leather!

Come back to us with any questions, or let us know what you are thinking of buying, and we can give you our opinions 

 

Thank you again!

Fortunately my months of learning led me to those YT channels and I am familiar.

Thank you for all the resources! I will surely find everything I look for and probably a little extra!

In terms of threads and adhesives, I'd rather go natural linen thread and water based adhesives. Do you think it holds and effects to the end product quality?

And regarding edge painting and dressing, I didn't see much besides burnishing with tokonole and applying edge paints but I have no idea about the different makes and types (for example, Angelus for edge paint? Some generic black paint? What about something more colorful?)

Thanks again for the welcoming attitude and abundance of insight!

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Posted
25 minutes ago, Klara said:

Here is a French supplier: https://www.decocuir.com/ I don't know about shipping cost to Israel, though. The leather I have bought there has always been good quality and they have a good choice of hardware for bags etc.

There is only one material I have been disappointed with, and that is this: https://www.pethardware.com/en/cow-grain-leather/vegetable-tanned-leather-double-butts-black-1061/ because at the time I bought it, "split" was not in the description, so I expected full-grain leather. That said, the collars, leashes and training belt I made for my dog have held up for well over a year with constant use and no maintenance, so the stuff is not bad... It might work well for a waterproof dopp kit, except it's on the thick side. 

I would recommend The Leatherwork Handbook by Valerie Michael  because this lady somewhat specialises in ladies handbags and has a lot of advice regarding their construction. 

Have fun!

 

 

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the knowledge you drop here! I put the book on order straight away!

Merci beaucoup!

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Posted

There is a Tandy store in Spain that may be a lower cost option and also a Italian company for leather

https://tandyleather.eu/?utm_source=GMB&utm_medium=Yext&y_source=1_MjM3NjIzNzYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D

https://buyleatheronline.com/

 

Mi omputer is ot ood at speeling , it's not me

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, DesertLeather said:

Thank you again!

Fortunately my months of learning led me to those YT channels and I am familiar.

Thank you for all the resources! I will surely find everything I look for and probably a little extra!

In terms of threads and adhesives, I'd rather go natural linen thread and water based adhesives. Do you think it holds and effects to the end product quality?

And regarding edge painting and dressing, I didn't see much besides burnishing with tokonole and applying edge paints but I have no idea about the different makes and types (for example, Angelus for edge paint? Some generic black paint? What about something more colorful?)

Thanks again for the welcoming attitude and abundance of insight!

You can go on and on watching videos and reading forums, but ultimately you will just have to try things for yourself, as we all have - that's all part of the fun! -- and the expense!

There is a lot of choice and discussion about thread. I have used linen but now I use synthetic, but many people prefer linen, it's your choice. Briefly, synthetic is stronger and doesn't rot; although linen is weaker the point is that it is strong enough and many people prefer to use natural thread with natural materials like leather. I suggest you just try both. There is also Meisi Xiange thread, which is synthetic but made to look & behave like linen, though I haven't used it myself

Most people try a few types & makes of thread when they start, before they settle on something they like. And don't forget the beeswax! I usually wax my own thread, even if it is sold as ready waxed

Most leatherwork can be done with 0,6mm diameter thread, called 18/3 by the international system and 432 by the French system. For thinner leather like wallets you might want to try 0,45mm diameter thread

Shop around the suppliers and you'll find shorter lengths and sample packs to try, also a range of colours

For 0,6mm thread I use John James Saddler's Harness Needles item code L3912 size 002 and size 004 for thinner thread; there are other makes but I don't know about them. You could ask the suppliers, and needles are usually cheap enough to try

I use solvent based contact adhesive, but many people are happy enough with water based glue

There are many videos on edge finishing. This is my method, but I'm sure others will work. After gluing & sewing, edge bevel .....sand if necessary with 120 grit paper ...... apply Tokonole ..... burnish ..... apply edge paint ..... burnish

I use mostly Fiebings Edge Kote edge paint, but I've also used Metropolitan Leather and Identity Leathercraft own brands. As far as I can tell they're very similar. I haven't used Angelus, but I think it's reliable. Black will do for most items, but shop around and there are all sorts of colours available, sometimes as mixed sample packs. Besides Tokonole I think Metropolitan and Identity have complete edge finishing systems, with sealants, paints, and other treatments

A general comment - Search on the supplier's websites and you will find all sorts of colours for leather, thread, and edge paint, and you can also dye your own leather 

Tandy is a good supplier, but I'd forgotten about them as they no longer trade in the UK

Here's an suggestion - shop around for something like a  2 mm  vegetable tanned half shoulder that's cheap, natural or coloured, even if it is second grade . Use it to practice on, make a strop, simple sheaths/slip covers for your knives and stitching chisels, practice skiving, make a key fob, card holder.

And Valerie Michael's book is good.

Edited by zuludog
Posted

I haven't regretted starting with a beginners set of leather crafting tools. I've accumulated a lot more since then, but it got me a base of things to start with.  My kit included a couple of projects to do, a sheath, wallet, etc.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
- Voltaire

“Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.”
- Aristotle

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Posted

@AlZilla  me too!  It got me the basic things like mats, needles, etc. for a very reasonable price, that I still use.

Other things I bought over time as I realized I needed them.

@DesertLeather, that is an option for at least the basic items.

Learning is a life-long journey.

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Posted
7 hours ago, AlZilla said:

I haven't regretted starting with a beginners set of leather crafting tools. I've accumulated a lot more since then, but it got me a base of things to start with.  My kit included a couple of projects to do, a sheath, wallet, etc.

 

3 hours ago, SUP said:

@AlZilla  me too!  It got me the basic things like mats, needles, etc. for a very reasonable price, that I still use.

Other things I bought over time as I realized I needed them.

@DesertLeather, that is an option for at least the basic items.

Thank you both so much!

From what I saw a mallet, pricking irons, needles and thread, round and awls, a skiving knife and edge bevelers should do the trick and a few consumables (sand paper, glue, tokonole, edge paint and finisher) should do the trick and some leather to try and begin.. did I miss anything?

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