Tools for tooling

[Seamus]

Ok, I've been stitching/shaping leather for a little over a year now. I've made several pouches and sporrans as well as a couple mugs and some bttoles.

The mugs and bottles have brought me to a juncture where I need to start tooling the leather. So far, I've done large, less detailed designs and have used and ink pen to get the depression I was looking for. Once I've gotten the depression, I go back and use paint or a fine point sharpy to give the depressions some color.

Now, I'm trying smaller, more intricate designs, and the use of the pen is killing my hand. Is there some sort of tool I need to get myself to make this process easier?

[tashabear]

At an absolute minimum, you should look for a swivel knife and a modeling tool or two. Honestly, looking for a carving class at a local Tandy, if you can get to one, probably wouldn't hurt.

Also, are you wetting the leather before you try to tool it?

Edited February 12, 2009 by tashabear

[Jordan]

Ball end stylus tools of varying sizes and water cased leather should do the trick, if I am understanding your process and question

[Seamus]

  tashabear said:

At an absolute minimum, you should look for a swivel knife and a modeling tool or two. Honestly, looking for a carving class at a local Tandy, if you can get to one, probably wouldn't hurt.

I think the nearest Tandy to me is in Richmond, VA. Maybe a 2 hour drive. Might be a good weekend thing to pull off when I don't have a Ren. Faire to get to.

I'll also be living about 4 hours from Zack White Leather, so maybe I can get there at some point to take a class they might offer.

  tashabear said:

Also, are you wetting the leather before you try to tool it?

Yes. I learned quickly that it needs to be wet to get anything done. lol

[Art]

Hi Jim,

The newer Tandy modeling tools are great, not as good as "the tool" by Peter Main, Barry King's modeling tools are good also. If you are looking for stamping tools then the 15 piece starter set by Ellis Barnes for less than $150 is an excellent deal, tools are excellent and available, and for double what you would pay at Tandy they are 10 times the tool. Nevertheless, the Tandy tools are OK, and for ones you use infrequently the cost is a lot better. I like Bob Beard's swivel knives and blades, but the ones from Chuck Smith, Henley, Zalasek, Barry King will all serve well. Barry King also makes a good Maul, a little pricey but excellent.

Art

  Seamus said:

Ok, I've been stitching/shaping leather for a little over a year now. I've made several pouches and sporrans as well as a couple mugs and some bttoles.

The mugs and bottles have brought me to a juncture where I need to start tooling the leather. So far, I've done large, less detailed designs and have used and ink pen to get the depression I was looking for. Once I've gotten the depression, I go back and use paint or a fine point sharpy to give the depressions some color.

Now, I'm trying smaller, more intricate designs, and the use of the pen is killing my hand. Is there some sort of tool I need to get myself to make this process easier?