Help a Newbie Develop an Eye for Quality

[OGL]

You guys have inspired me.

I started deconstruction. Clearly not glued anywhere. Gluing is common, no?

Clearly had to start a new thread midway through the pockets.

And the inner pockets have some weird single knot holding them in place.

[fredk]

3 hours ago, fredk said:

@OGL I sometimes buy a cheap item and take it apart to see how its made and how I would do it better. BUT, I only buy really cheap stuff and what I'm interested in. Its all good edumacation

PS. I forgot to say; go raid a charity shop (thrift store?) for wallets, purses and handbags. You can pick them up real cheaply

[fredk]

PPS; @OGL By the way,  Welcome to the mad house  errr, the Forum

[Digit]

18 hours ago, OGL said:

And the inner pockets have some weird single knot holding them in place.

Probably a card stopper to prevent cards from being pushed all the way down to the bottom stitch.

[BlackDragon]

Wow. One very large thread to hold the pocket down. 

At the very least you have a wallet to use as a template. There are a lot of youtube videos on making different types of wallets. Watch several different makers because everyone has a little different way of making their wallets. Corter leather is a good one, Don Gonzales is also very good.

[wizard of tragacanth]

NO GLUE? OMG! I suspected that.

You did the right thing by taking it apart... good experience and a chance to improve it.

[bruce johnson]

I have no idea of the maker and their intended market. Can this be done better? It sure can and most of the suggestions and comments so far are right on. We can all agree on that. It may have come from a kit, may have been clicked out in shop with the holes as part of the die. Simple and easy for most anyone to put together. It's easy for us to evaluate and make a better wallet, but that is why we are here to help the OP. 

That said, there are some makers who target a market who prefer simple, rugged, or rustic. There is a guy who puts together wallets with copper rivets, lots of them. He has a market for that look. There are belt makers who don't slick edges. Seriously, people intentionally buy jeans with holes in them, why not an unslicked belt? Bag makers can leave raw edges. I carry a pony express satchel my wife made in Aaron Heiser's class at a show - heavier hardware, raw edges, etc. I got 4 or 5 comments in every airport last year. She made a turned seam construction purse at the leather show in Las Vegas, all of the inside seams are bound. Yes, the inside seams that nobody sees but the user - that is a high level of finish you don't see much. Is the simple look their target market for wallets? Are they selling upper end stuff and this is the base? Not uncommon in business to have a bare bones version to drive a higher end more finished product. The bottom price sets the top price. Lot to consider here. 

[OGL]

A few thoughts from my first time applying tools or finish to leather...

Workspace is important! Everything must be clean! And I understand why I've seen people wearing gloves working with leather. My pieces look thoroughly manhandled, which of course they. I felt like a fingernail scratched some surface every time I moved.

I already know what I'd do different.

I beveled the edge. Smooth, even passes are critical. I presume I'll get a feel for the right angles and pressure.

I sanded with 240. I tried to go "one way" but again, I'll figure out the grain. More like wood? Or steak? 😉

I did one pass with tokonole. Clearly I used to much. But I see what one application did and how to make it better. 

Even for a first time, I think it looks better than it was.

This weekend I teach myself saddlestitch!

[fredk]

A. short finger nails are a must or latev/rubber gloves to cover them

b. run a groover between all the stitching holes before you stitch 

edit to add;

c. dilute any dye you may use and use multiple coats to get the desired colour or finish

d. wet the leather before putting on the dye. not soaking dripping wet, just sponge some clean water on .this helps the dye spread thru the leather

Edited Friday at 05:18 PM by fredk

[LeatherLegion]

On 2/11/2026 at 1:53 PM, bruce johnson said:

I have no idea of the maker and their intended market. Can this be done better? It sure can and most of the suggestions and comments so far are right on. We can all agree on that. It may have come from a kit, may have been clicked out in shop with the holes as part of the die. Simple and easy for most anyone to put together. It's easy for us to evaluate and make a better wallet, but that is why we are here to help the OP. 

That said, there are some makers who target a market who prefer simple, rugged, or rustic. There is a guy who puts together wallets with copper rivets, lots of them. He has a market for that look. There are belt makers who don't slick edges. Seriously, people intentionally buy jeans with holes in them, why not an unslicked belt? Bag makers can leave raw edges. I carry a pony express satchel my wife made in Aaron Heiser's class at a show - heavier hardware, raw edges, etc. I got 4 or 5 comments in every airport last year. She made a turned seam construction purse at the leather show in Las Vegas, all of the inside seams are bound. Yes, the inside seams that nobody sees but the user - that is a high level of finish you don't see much. Is the simple look their target market for wallets? Are they selling upper end stuff and this is the base? Not uncommon in business to have a bare bones version to drive a higher end more finished product. The bottom price sets the top price. Lot to consider here. 

Amen !