If You Could Give Just One...

[cowboy bowhunter]

Buy good barry king or pro tools right away. I have been doing leatherwork for 6 months and am already getting rid of my tandy tools and going to better tools.

[JLSleather]

post your images without your name attached to it with instructions to be brutally honest. I did this a good while ago and the critique of my work was ...sobering.

I like this one, though I would take it just one notch further. Scratch the name off of anything you see that inspires you.

I know we all assume that if it says Stohlman on it, it's going to be quite nice. BUT -- I've seen many projects that were extremely well done from people who have been working leather for just a short time. I've also seen web sites with long flowery speeches about how long they've been doing it - followed by some stuff that looks like it was taken away from the dog.

WHO did it is immaterial - look for styles / techniques / methods that you like, learn what you can from them.

[shooter55]

If you ask for critique or opinions about your work, don't be offended when you get it. The experience on this forum is vast and helpful if you listen. Everyone I have seen here wants you to succeed in this craft. They all root for you to do a little better on the next project. Eventually, you will be helping someone else.

[immiketoo]

All of these are true to a certain degree. I have a few observations. Good tools are an absolute must. I've been at this for six months, and the difference between a good tool and an entry level is astounding. This is true whether its a stitch groover or a beveling stamp. Buy the best tools you can afford. This has always served me well. If you decide leather isn't for you, you'll always get more money back from high quality tools. Good tools inspire me to do better work as they eliminate excuses. Second, is don't let anyone tell you can't do that yet. Or that you don't have the skill to tackle a particular project. You will find your own limits, and they might be much higher than someone else's. Work at your own pace and learn all you can from your mistakes.

[lightningad]

i think we should also add that as well as buying the best tools you can, be sure to learn how to maintain and use the tools correctly!

Sounds obvious, but i wonder how many tools don't live to expectations simply because the user was unaware of how to sharpen it before using it?

[AdamReidWilson]

This is awesome. I am a nube myself. I'm excited to be a part of this community.

[raysouth]

Plenty of good advice.

Just enjoy what you do and HAVE FUN doing it.

God Bless.

Ray

[dirtclod]

I have a couple. 1 When you ask for help and somebody is trying to help, don't act they don't know what their talking about and blow them off. Because they just might not help anymore when you finally figure out they knew what they were talking about. 2 Don't be one of the people that just shows up when you have something finished wanting the AT A BOYS or GIRLS and are never seen again till you have something else done again.

Edited March 30, 2013 by dirtclod

[DHauser]

Plan, then plan again and if that does not work plan one more time...

[Jazznow]

Plan, then plan again and if that does not work plan one more time...

And try to not forget your plan, when you touch the leather with a tool for the first time. in the beginning I started to panic as soon as I started to cut the leather. It was like oh my god I'll ruin this entire hide, I will have to throw it away... Never actually happened but I still (6 years later)feel uncomfy sometimes when cutting or dyeing.

So stick to your plan and be sure you know what your doing. That helps a lot