Just Starting Out.

[jbird22cal]

Hello all,

I just signed up today, I'm starting down the road to yet another hobby. I have been intersted in making holsters and cases for various things. Starting a few years ago I started reading about this craft, but a few things came up over and over that cost a whole lot of money.

A few months ago, I stopped at the beadstore/tandy leather store to pick up a clasp for a paracord project and found out that the whole store was closing. The leather part of the store has selling everything 50% off... I bought a bunch of stuff: A head knife, some calf hide, latigo lace, rivets + setters, some needles, buckles, an entire elk hide, an australian strap cutter thing, punch set, and a few other odds and ends.

Since then I found I need a few more tools for this holster plan I have such as a skiver and an oblong punch.

I have a vew pieces of a thick leather strap, so I made a straup(sp?) for my knifes and I started looking at these tools and realized I need to know how to use them propperly such as how to cut strait with a strap cutter, how to prevent that little fuzzy in the corner of a cut, how to stitch, why do I need to lace, etc. etc.

I have Looked through some of the stickeys and Found a couple of books I need by this all Stohlman (sp?) Are there any other places besides these books and this forum I'm going to need to read look at? I only plan on constructing plain things for now, and the majority of books I have lookedat are for tooling pretty designs, I'm a long way from that and there are a lot of folks around here who already do that, but if you try to find someone to sew up som motorcycle chaps and its sparse. So I want to keep it basic and learn new construction and repair.

I'm also looking for a supplier of veg tan leather, Tandy has it, but its quite spendy.

Any direction you folks have, I would appreciate it, I'm trying to get organised and aquire the last few bits and pieces before the dead of winter so I'm not aquiring it all at once.

Edited August 1, 2010 by jbird22cal

[terrahyd]

HI Jbird22cal

looks like you are off to a running start,,,you will find friends here quickly,,,,share some of your work and find yourself very welcome

regards...Doc...

[Cobra Steve]

Hello all,

I just signed up today, I'm starting down the road to yet another hobby. I have been intersted in making holsters and cases for various things. Starting a few years ago I started reading about this craft, but a few things came up over and over that cost a whole lot of money.

A few months ago, I stopped at the beadstore/tandy leather store to pick up a clasp for a paracord project and found out that the whole store was closing. The leather part of the store has selling everything 50% off... I bought a bunch of stuff: A head knife, some calf hide, latigo lace, rivets + setters, some needles, buckles, an entire elk hide, an australian strap cutter thing, punch set, and a few other odds and ends.

Since then I found I need a few more tools for this holster plan I have such as a skiver and an oblong punch.

I have a vew pieces of a thick leather strap, so I made a straup(sp?) for my knifes and I started looking at these tools and realized I need to know how to use them propperly such as how to cut strait with a strap cutter, how to prevent that little fuzzy in the corner of a cut, how to stitch, why do I need to lace, etc. etc.

I have Looked through some of the stickeys and Found a couple of books I need by this all Stohlman (sp?) Are there any other places besides these books and this forum I'm going to need to read look at? I only plan on constructing plain things for now, and the majority of books I have lookedat are for tooling pretty designs, I'm a long way from that and there are a lot of folks around here who already do that, but if you try to find someone to sew up som motorcycle chaps and its sparse. So I want to keep it basic and learn new construction and repair.

I'm also looking for a supplier of veg tan leather, Tandy has it, but its quite spendy.

Any direction you folks have, I would appreciate it, I'm trying to get organised and aquire the last few bits and pieces before the dead of winter so I'm not aquiring it all at once.

Welcome aboard! Thank you for joining our site! Steve

[Thumper]

Welcome from a newbie to another newbie.

[JIMTC]

Hello all,

I just signed up today, I'm starting down the road to yet another hobby. I have been intersted in making holsters and cases for various things. Starting a few years ago I started reading about this craft, but a few things came up over and over that cost a whole lot of money.

A few months ago, I stopped at the beadstore/tandy leather store to pick up a clasp for a paracord project and found out that the whole store was closing. The leather part of the store has selling everything 50% off... I bought a bunch of stuff: A head knife, some calf hide, latigo lace, rivets + setters, some needles, buckles, an entire elk hide, an australian strap cutter thing, punch set, and a few other odds and ends.

Since then I found I need a few more tools for this holster plan I have such as a skiver and an oblong punch.

I have a vew pieces of a thick leather strap, so I made a straup(sp?) for my knifes and I started looking at these tools and realized I need to know how to use them propperly such as how to cut strait with a strap cutter, how to prevent that little fuzzy in the corner of a cut, how to stitch, why do I need to lace, etc. etc.

I have Looked through some of the stickeys and Found a couple of books I need by this all Stohlman (sp?) Are there any other places besides these books and this forum I'm going to need to read look at? I only plan on constructing plain things for now, and the majority of books I have lookedat are for tooling pretty designs, I'm a long way from that and there are a lot of folks around here who already do that, but if you try to find someone to sew up som motorcycle chaps and its sparse. So I want to keep it basic and learn new construction and repair.

I'm also looking for a supplier of veg tan leather, Tandy has it, but its quite spendy.

Any direction you folks have, I would appreciate it, I'm trying to get organised and aquire the last few bits and pieces before the dead of winter so I'm not aquiring it all at once.

Hi!

Sounds like you have a good start. The Al Stohlman books are excellent. Also get a Weaver cataloge, there free, in the front it will show you how to cut side and shoulders into various pieces. Also they explain differnet types of leather, good info.

As for Veg tanned leather, any where with the right price is the place to go, for now. After a while quality will become important and price will be of less of a consern. Check out the Hide House in California. Tandy has sales on leather each month and the discounts are great. You can go on line and get there fliers( I believe) They can ship anywhere.

Stolhman has a book on tools, using and sharpening that would be helpfull to understand what is used for what. Next time you go to a garage sale you will see things frome the eyes of a leatherworker.

Have fun! Jim

[jbird22cal]

Thanks folks! I will order those books from stohlman and the weaver catalog.

I'll keep coming back here, I have that whole elk hide I haven't figuired out what to do with yet.