Total Begginner - Need Feedback & Advice

[BadW0lf]

I am totally new to leatherwork, but do all sorts of crafting. It just looks so cool I had to try it out!!!

I got this starter set from Springfield Leather: http://springfieldleather.com/29315/Starter-Set%2CProfessional%2CDelux/

Are there any tools not included there that are must-haves???

I saw the sticky coaster tutorial on the main page - it is exactly what I'm looking for and I'm gonna give that a try first. Does anyone know of any other tutorials that are similarly laid out? I need pics to learn - text alone just wasn't doing it for me...

Thank you!!!!!

~Kate

[electrathon]

Chan geer has a set of videos out that are very good and easy to follow/understand. Sheridan leather sells tham.

[St8LineGunsmith]

Hi Kate

that is a good starter set however you will want to add stamps as you get more involved in tooling leather

and you might want to get a small poly maul once you get more involved with stamping and tooling

mauls are much more precision than the poly mallets.

do yourself a favor and go ahead and join springfields wholesale club you will see the savings with the first time you use it.

[BadW0lf]

I've been looking at stamp sets - hoping to get more soon. I'll look into a maul as well.

One big question - what on earth do you use to transfer patterns to carve?!?!

[TXAG]

I am sure someone will be along soon to tell me I'm wrong, but usually I will print out what I want to carve, resize it until it's the size I want, then tape it to the properly cased piece (putting the tape on the back side of the leather)...then I trace over it with a modeling tool...then begin carving, tooling, etc...

Edited October 9, 2013 by TXAG

[St8LineGunsmith]

Nope I dont think anyone will say you are wrong because that is exactly how a lot of us do it

[TXAG]

Oh, ok...well that's good to hear...

[BadW0lf]

Awesome! I was literally thinking of how to transfer the design in ink or something, but that makes much more sense! Thank you!

[cjdevito]

I tend to print my designs on transparencies (thin sheets of acetate available in any office supply shop) and transfer them with a ballpoint stylus. The transparencies make positioning the design on the leather easier, they don't suffer from contact with moist leather, and they're re-usable.

Edited October 10, 2013 by cjdevito

[Curley Fryes]

If you plan on buying buy supplies from Springfield Leather, I would suggest joining their wholesale club. The set you bought is $44 less if your a member of the club.