Tools Needed For Starting Up As A Beginner.

[JLSleather]

Alrightey, then ... nobody wants to point out that 24" of leather is not EIGHTEEN belts, it's SIXTEEN belts. Idea was, somebody else jump in and reinforce my point. Oh, well ... maybe one or two will see it. But, to answer that fella's original question ...

6' straightedge, skiver, bag punch (3/4" or 1"), slicking tool, stitching groover and overstitch marker(s), rivet / snap setter, round punches (up to #6 for lots of stuff, up to #10 or 12 for saddle work), and what was already listed by others.

You can cut straps with a utility knife and straightedge, but a strap cutter is a good idea ... belts, billets, straps on bags of all types, etc.

[cal429258]

I'm about to rant about the "price" of leather... I'm about SO tired of "crafters" and (ughhhh) "re-sellers" going on about how expensive this is. So, the rant will be much worse than this here, but here's a short version ...

My wife saw some stuff on Ebay she thought I might be interested in, so I snooped. These people are out of control! PAGES of listings for items that were ALREADY OVERPRICED at Tandy which are then MARKED UP AGAIN to post on Ebay. Wow ...

There's a story this teacher used to use ... This guy decides to insulate his house, finds out to use the blower he needs some 1 1/4" holes in the walls. Goes to the store to get a drill. Salesman (that word leaves a nasty taste in my mouth) shows him a drill for $39. But, this other one is variable speed and it's $49. Then we carry this one, variable speed - forward and reverse - $69. Add the "hammer drill" function - $129. Pretty soon the guy figures out that he's gonna spend a couple hundred bucks, and he still needs the bit. So, what does he REALLY need? MOST of the students said he needs a drill. INstructor says, no - what he needs is holes in the walls.

To bring that home, here's the thing ... WE need leather. This means COW-boys (the fellas that grow cows), a tanner, and a truck driver or two. What we DON'T need is a pretty display set up to show us a side of leather being offered to us by a guy who had nothing to do with supplying that hide (sorry, this is my "respect" for Tandy managers and such showing). One more example close to home ... you fellas (n gals) who bought trucks for your FARM/RANCH ... how often do you really use that "new-fangled" cruise control??? And don't even get me started about the guys who pay a nickel on the dollar for somebody's tools and then want new or near new price to RE-sell them, and THEN have the NERVE to post about "helping" other crafters.

But, I promised the short version. I have a double shoulder here about 57" wide that I cut a straight edge on both sides of. Result is a rectangle roughly 57 x 24". If you're cutting belt blanks, that makes this piece of very usable cowhide about 9.5 square feet after trimming. Cost about $60. $60 divided by 24" is about $2.50 per inch width (AFTER TRIMMING). Makes cost of a 1 1/2" belt strip (which fits up to a 48or 50 waist) about $3.75 each. Not $9.99, not $12.99, whatever.

If you like it simpler, 24" is EIGHTEEN 1 1/2" belts for $60 (plus a dollar for the strap cutter blade that cuts them ALL). $60 divided by 18 equals $3.33 each. And that's already figuring in the markup for the fat guy at the Tandy store who gets paid for ... well, I'm not sure what he's getting paid for.

If there's a labor charge you HAVE to figure in, consider this .. I can cut ALL of this in a little over an hour without spilling my coffee. If I get $30 an hour (which is insane for something anybody can do) then you have $90/18 equals $5 each.

Next step ... watch for those guys who actually will sell you that $5 belt strip for $5, but then want $5.99 for shipping and "handling" plus $1.50 for each one after the first.

ESPECIALLY if you're starting out, or just seen too many ads showing such INSANE prices fed to you so they can sell you belt strips at $9 and tell you what a "deal" you're getting -- you need the holes in the wall -- not a new wall, not a "hammer drill", etc.

I have much respect for the CRAFT, not the "crafter". Stohlman was GOOD, and I've learned alot from his materials, but I'm not paying $100+ for a swivel knife because it has his name in the ad. Tim just posted his checkbook in another forum, and he freely admits that he is learning pattern design. Personally, I think it looks purdy darn good and every bit as nice - if not better - than one that says "Al" or "Chan" or "Paul".

Now, having said all of that obnoxious ranting, I realize the possibility than someone with a spine will ask me to put my money where my mouth is. So here it is. I'm in no hurry to sell natural leather tooling blanks. But I'd sell 12 1 1/2" that's one and one half inch) belt blanks (50+ inches long) for $5.00 each - already cut to width - just to make the point. And $5.00 ships them, one or ALL of them.

The TWELVE is no accident ... that pays for the entire hide, making the other SIX belts FREE for me.

Try not to be distracted from what you want to do by some that are better at BS ...

So where can I buy direct form and cut out the retailer that is ripping us all off? I am new here also and I would love to know what a GOOD price on some leather is 8/9oz is mostly what I am interested in right now. Help us all to see a way out of the maze of B.S. pricing.

[JLSleather]

LOTS of folks talking about Weaver in the past, but recent posts suggests that may not be the place. My "rant" largely concerned Ebay-ers - where I've seen stuff sell for MORE than what you'd pay at the retail store - and "re-sellers" - who seem to think that it's reasonable to charge a fella an extra $10 to cut a belt strip. But you've opened a new line of thought.

To get wholesale or volume pricing, I''m sure we'd need to order larger quantities of leather than I usually buy. But, I'll see what I can find, and if someone else knows how much leather a guy would need to buy was to reply to this, I'd be willing to go in on a batch. 'Til then, when I want 8/9 I go to the retail store and buy a shoulder or a side that I can SEE and FEEL, and PICK out of the batch (even the place where I get this, I really think I get good leather only because I go through the pile and select the hides I want).

Most of the belts I make are 1 1/2" - 1 3/4", which costs me less than $4. So, while I'm always interested in a better price (who isn't?) I simply will not pay more than that. Beyond that, I get lots of stuff from S-T Leather in St. Louis, MO. Their prices have gone up a bit, so you could ask them about the 2010 catalog. The phone and fax number are on the web site.

I'm not a spokesman for that one company, but just by way of example, here's some stuff I use from them (2010 price), which you can compare with other suppliers ...

Lacing nipper ---- 8.95

Sewing awl w/ blade --- 6.45

Fiebing's Leather Dye 4 oz ---- 3.99 (discount for 10 or more)

[BAD HIDE]

I agree with everything you said there, but really my "leather is expensive" point is just to remember to budget it in. If you're just starting up (I haven't been doing this that long either) you might have $200 to spend. If you drop $150 on tools, you'll barely have enough for a double shoulder or low grade side, then you got a bunch of tools and nothing to do. After you get the tools and basic hardware, leather is going to make up a larger portion of your budget. I'm with you on not buying blanks and kits. It's much more economical to buy sides and shoulders, and cut your parts from there.