Tiffany Report post Posted January 17, 2008 I'm a complete beginner and wanted to get some advice on the best hand tools to buy for starting out creating custom leather handbags. Which ones do I need and what's the best quality brand to use for cutting and sewing medium to heavy leather? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ericluther Report post Posted January 17, 2008 Welcome Tiffany, I'm new as well this site helped me alot http://www.kingsmerecrafts.com/page100.html also I have a few pdfs I could email you that actually have some bag patterns, the quality isnt great though, this is a great forum with great people, you'll def learn alot!!! Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted January 17, 2008 Hi Tiffany, What do you consider medium to heavy leather? Are you planning on stamping or carving? Will you use vegetable or chrome tanned leather? I think all most of us can tell you without knowing a little more is: 1. Good pair of knife edge scissors, preferably lightly serrated, 2. Surgical Scalpel (eBay handle plus a lot of blades should be $10) 3. Utility knife and good blades 4. Cutting surface 5. Tandy catalog 6. Leather Handbag book, can't find it now, but I'll let you know the title and author. We have to know if you want to sew or lace and what hardware you want to recommend tools for that. For lacing, Rene Berends did a DVD on a hunting bag that would be good for you to watch, it has a pattern in it also. Check with Hidecrafter for that one. Art I'm a complete beginner and wanted to get some advice on the best hand tools to buy for starting out creating custom leather handbags. Which ones do I need and what's the best quality brand to use for cutting and sewing medium to heavy leather? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted January 18, 2008 You have to get the Al Stohlman Three volumes on cases. You also have to get Valerie Michael's The Leather Working Handbook. Also indispensable is Al Stohlman's book on the use and care of leatherworking tools. I am always referencing these books. ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tiffany Report post Posted January 18, 2008 Thank you for all the thoughtful replies. I just ordered the Michaels book online and had the Stohlman volumes already. After looking at them again, the idea of creating heavier bags and maybe briefcases is intriguing. I could use an extra saddlebag for my Harley and a classy briefcase for work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hidemechanic Report post Posted January 18, 2008 Before you spend too much of that 5c, you might check your area for someone in the leather craft biz and hang around, watch ask, and you'll begin to get your questions answered in a way that you can fine tune your spending w/o buying stuff you may not use more than once things that may not suit your area of interest. As for mechines, stitchers, you may be able to run across a good Singer for 1 or 2 hundred but you can spend a lot on stitchers. I don't remember where but there is also a website specifically for custom hand bags. I bet you'll find it. Welcome and Good luck. GH Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted January 18, 2008 "Leathercraft Tools, How to Use them, How to Sharpen them" by Al Stohlman is a worthwhile investment. $10 at Tandy, and it will pay for itself. Welcome to Leatherworker.net! Collectively there are hundreds of years of experience here, and everyone is really good about sharing. Fire away the questions, someone will help you. We're always glad to meet new folks. Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted January 18, 2008 Leathercraft Tools by Al Stohlman - best book in my collection. If you are going to dive into leatherworking, I would advise you to get a head knife. This is probably, my most used tool for cutting, skiving, trimming, etc... The Leathercraft Tools book will show you how to use it, sharpen it, and maintain it. There is no other tool in that book that is explained in more detail than the head knife, and my belief is that Al wanted to show how important this tool was to the leather industry. I personally have an osborne round knife, an al stohlman brand head knife (both from tandy) and a danny marlin head knife (my favorite). I bought i directly from danny, but I think hidecrafters still carries danny's knives. Also, find and buy a good swivel knife. Hopefully you can attend some shows and get to hold them in your hand and test drive them. Marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bustedlifter Report post Posted January 19, 2008 What do you ride? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted January 19, 2008 Seems like the 'know how's have answered the 'what's , I'll just stick to "welcome [insert majority of Johanna's text here]. Glad you joined up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
