Want to get started on this craft

[TonyV]

Yes to books.  Be careful of the Youtube vids.  Some are experts with valuable skills to share and well-presented lessons, others not so much.  

Amazon tool kits made of chinesium?  Some of those tools work out ok, some don't.  You will end up with a box full of tools that ain't worth the postage and/or unnecessary to your chosen path in the craft.  A mere few that serve well enough.  Better to buy what you need when you need it, and be willing to spend for better quality tools that you know you want and need.

So many paths to take down the leather trail!  Tooling, carving, plain. and artsy.  Saddles, chaps, tack and harness.  Clothing shoes, boots, purses and bags.  Belts, wallets, holsters, sheaths.  Furniture, wall art.  Braiding and whips.  'Adult' items and kink. 

Choose somethin simple to start with.  A belt, a wallet, something like that.  I suspect that most of us started with a kit from Tandy or a craft store.   Start with the most basic tools.  You need a cutting surface like a plastic cutting board.  A very sharp knife, a Stanley utility knife works very well and an awl.  stiitching or lacing needles if needed, PVA glue or contact adhesive as needed.  Build a couple simple projects first, then move on to the more complicated stamping and carving. Buy tools as needed.

[revilop]

Thanks I just got this kit on Amazon... Now I need to get some leather, seem to have some basic tools I guess .

Now I need to get some patterns and some leather to start practicing.

Saw I few things on a Renaissance fair that I would.like to some.day be able to make like a dragon mask or a dragon night night helmet. I also already promised my mom to make her a wallet once my skills are up for the challenge.

[AlZilla]

3 hours ago, revilop said:

Thanks I just got this kit on Amazon... Now I need to get some leather, seem to

Nice. I don't seem to see a swivel knife. Not necessary unless you want to do carving, like a portrait or a floral pattern on a knife sheath or holster.

Yep, understanding the many types of leather available is tough. Vegetable Tanned, or "veg tan" is the type you need to stamp and carve on. Chrome Tan is cheaper and available in an array of gaudy colors but is to be avoided for anything that will contact metal (as a knife sheath or holster).

Then there's thickness. Learn the "ounce" system, would be my advice (for which you have not asked). An ounce of leather thickness is 1/64th of an inch. Wallet linings are often in the 2/3 ounce range. The outside can be up to maybe 4/5. Knife sheaths,  I usually use 4/5. Many people go heavier. Gun Holsters typically run 8ish to 10 ounce. Belts can be 4/5 up to 12 or more depending on the application, sometimes 2 layers. 

If you ask 10 people for their thoughts on the last paragraph, you'll get a dozen different answers. For me, I keep 3 hides around, a 2/3 ounce, a 4/5 and something 8 to 10 or so. All undyed veg tan.

And then there's a question of brands ... I'm lucky to have a very large leather/fur dealer close by and use whatever they have. Others are very loyal to a given brand (Wickett & Craig, Herman Oak, etc) and would sooner fight a Holy War than change.

The Saddle and Tack people are a world unto themselves where types of leather are concerned.

Looking forward to your progress.