Tools Of The Trade

[WScott]

I wouldn't recommend Tandy tools

quite frankly, they are garbage

You could perhaps forgive them if they were cheap, but they aren't

have a look at goods japan instead, they do a few different kits & have tools you will actually continue to use if you decide this is the hobby for you (you will bin the tandy stuff very quickly)

http://www.goodsjapa...t-/lid=29748449

not the cheapest but that contains a very decent groover, good awls & nice punches etc

Good advice for Goods japan b/c you are in UK

But, if in Can or USA I would agree with others that say get a Tandy kit to start and see if you even like leather work

before you blow your wad on more expensive tools.

JMHO

[St8LineGunsmith]

I wouldn't recommend Tandy tools

quite frankly, they are garbage

You could perhaps forgive them if they were cheap, but they aren't

I do not agree the Crafttools from TLF are garbage, overpriced? absolutely but the tools are still very usable tools

I simply do not buy tools from tandy at the regular price I wait for the tools I am looking to buy to go on sale for example they currently have the small Al Stohlman round knife on sale for $14.99 which regularly sells for 60 bucks.however

I usually buy from springfield with my gold club membership I can get my tools at SLC regular wholesale price for half of TLC regular gold club price which is a big savings as another example the crafttool pro rotary punch from tandy cost 48.00 for gold club members the same punch is $36.00 from SLC which is resonable and is a good punch.

you just have to shop around for the best pricing

[WScott]

Good point St8...wait for the sales!!!!

[Macca]

I do not agree the Crafttools from TLF are garbage, overpriced? absolutely but the tools are still very usable tools

I simply do not buy tools from tandy at the regular price I wait for the tools I am looking to buy to go on sale for example they currently have the small Al Stohlman round knife on sale for $14.99 which regularly sells for 60 bucks.however

I usually buy from springfield with my gold club membership I can get my tools at SLC regular wholesale price for half of TLC regular gold club price which is a big savings as another example the crafttool pro rotary punch from tandy cost 48.00 for gold club members the same punch is $36.00 from SLC which is resonable and is a good punch.

you just have to shop around for the best pricing

US pricing is perhaps a bit more favourable than Euro/UK pricing

take the Stolhman knife you mention, its 65 dollars normally in the US, but over 100 in Europe, the punch you mention, same again, almost 100 bucks in Europe. pretty much everything is 50% more expensive over here compared to the US pricing, changing the ship to country bumps up the pricing massively. I guess that pricing sets an expected quality level in my mind that they do not match

I bought edge bevelers, a V groover and some other stuff from there when I first started and was pretty shocked at the poor quality of the tools, I expected new tools to be sharp & well assembled, they weren't.

So definately for the Euros, I would always recommend Goods Japan, far higher quality for equivalent prices.

[St8LineGunsmith]

wow that is quite a jump in cost

I do agree that the Japanese tools are higher quality tools for just a little more than the tandy tools

the pro sheridan stamps from SLC are stainless from japan with a gunmetal finish and are really nice which I can get from 15.00 to 19.00 a piece which I try to buy at least one stamp per month

and any time I need awls, edge bevelers gouges and tools of that sort I always try to purchase CS osborne tool

I completely agree that there is far higher quality leathercraft tools than the Tandy crafttool brand.

I think that tandy is shooting themselves in the foot by offering cut rate tools at a premium price I think the corporate greed will eventually catch up to them

Edited August 9, 2013 by St8LineGunsmith

[Macca]

Agreed, seems they are trying to charge premium pricing for stuff that is on a par with Ivan tools (Taiwan)

Us Euros are used to getting screwed over on price when buying US stuff, but I think Tandy take it a little too far.

Even the goodsjapan pricing is hugely marked up from what the retail prices are in Japan, but I can forgive them that as its so much easier to buy through them. If you can find another retailer the jap stuff is even cheaper than Tandy etc. I'm a convert to the Japanese style knives.

Next time you are in SLC tell them us Euros want them over here

Sorry to the op for going so off topic.

For a UK buyer I would recommend the following stores.

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/

http://www.abbeyengland.com/

http://www.josephdixon.co.uk/products.asp

http://www.goodsjapan.jp/

[Mjolnir131]

I generally have to agree on the tandy comments however their ergo swivel knife with the black rubberized handle is a good swivel knife, but you have to go to their store and spin each knife to find the best one.

[lightningad]

as was mentioned way back at the start of the thread - if you want to try leathercraft before you decide to spend a heap on tools - The Tandy Basic kit is a good way to try it out....and its currently on Sale for £36.99 . <---(this is also a link to the tandy uk webpage) in fact i just noticed its a clearance sale with only a few left.

The quality may be debateable, but as a cost effective way into the hobby its pretty good.

You get a few stamping tools, stitching tools, glue, dyes and a range of projects to make, along with a basic instruction book.

It was enough for me to get totally hooked, even though as a total beginner you quickly become aware of the kits quality threshold. Its not intended as the basis of your tool collection, merely a chance to try a few projects to see if you want to progress....only then does it become a very expensive and fulfilling hobby!

Edited August 9, 2013 by lightningad

[St8LineGunsmith]

I generally have to agree on the tandy comments however their ergo swivel knife with the black rubberized handle is a good swivel knife, but you have to go to their store and spin each knife to find the best one.

LOL Ya that is the same swivel knife I use

I actually got mine for 20 dollars delivered to the door from Amazon,com acyually another good place to find a good buy on leathercraft tools...

at least that is for here here in the USA.

The new pro swivel knifes are actually very nice knifes IMO and the pro sheridan stamps are very good but way overpriced in comparison to the pro sheridan tools SLC has for sale Just sayin

I am saving my money for a tangleboss swivel knife from tanglefoot traders. I think that swivel knife is the most innovated leather carving tools to evolve in the last many years it is a bit on the pricey side however I can see how it would improve my carving and cuts at least by two fold

[Matt S]

I use tandy for one thing: Stohlman books when they go on sale. Between Abbey, Le Prevo and Bachelor's everything else is covered - at better prices for Ivan/Craftool type tools or better quality if we are looking at Dixons and Barnsley.