Lunasea Report post Posted January 23, 2014 Hi guys, As my first project i would like to make this motorcycle wallet (see pic) or similar. Or is this too ambitious? Can anyone give me links to patterns or a video perhaps? i am a complete beginner so i will need as much info as poss. Like.. weight of leather, which type of leather, how to space the holes for stitching, what type of thread, how to add a snap fastening, what tools i will need to make a pattern etc.. As soon as i have gathered all the information i will order what is needed to get underway! Is there a decent book which explains all these different techniques? Any help would be much appreciated, thank you :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjdevito Report post Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) This is not too ambitious, although if you're going to do it all from scratch you are going to get a simultaneous introduction to both tooling and construction that'll be a lot of info to take in all at once. I'm assuming you do want to tool the wallet, like the one you pictured? If you do you'll be using veg tan leather for tooling, if not a lot of other leather options open up. Tandy leather has a bunch of basic videos on a variety of leather topics on youtube. I'd probably recommend starting by checking those out, paying close attention to the ones on tooling, dyeing, antiquing, stitching and construction. I think they'll serve to answer most of your first questions and show you what's involved at the same time. They usually identify the tools they use (and offer) during the videos, so it'll help make up a shopping list. Check'em out, then post back with the questions you'll have afterwards. Skip the sewing awl vids and look at the hand stitching ones. The link for their vids is http://www.youtube.com/user/TandyLeatherFactory/videos As far as a motorcycle wallet pattern, there's one in the patterns and templates forum here that's stickied. It's a bit different construction than this one, but may provide you with either a good alternative or a basis for customizing it to how you like. That thread is at http://leatherworker...showtopic=20414 Edited January 23, 2014 by cjdevito Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r lenna Report post Posted January 27, 2014 The outside will be hard enough to do for some one just starting out. The insides will be pretty difficult. I make my own patterns. Just look at wallets online that you like and take it from there. Or you can buy inserts. Springfield Leather has quite a few to pick from. You will have to decide what you're up for. Here are some of the inserts they do http://springfieldleather.com/31/Chaylor-Fenneli-Interiors/ There is a very good tutorial here for making your own here http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=9940 As for books, there's enough info right here to get you started. For sewing check this out http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=12259 For the spacing of the stitches you can get a overstitch wheel and an awl. What I would start with is an diamond chisel. I use something like that. I use it just to mark the holes It will give you proper spaceing and angle. Or you can use just that or a diamond or stitching awl and overstitch, a groover, and an edger, and some OO harness will get you started. I would try http://springfieldleather.com/14/Hand-Tools/ for your tools. They are less expensive and the tools are better Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted January 27, 2014 There are two levels of difficulty on this project. The tooling on the outside. I would suggest you hold off on the tooling till you get a little practice in. Second is the interior. One of the hardest things to get just right. My suggestion to you is "paper dolls". Make up the interior out of thick paper. Tape it together and see if it works. Alter it and try again, it may take a few tries to get it just right. Then start cutting leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benlilly1 Report post Posted January 28, 2014 Lunasea, For one thing, if you don't know that you need vegetable tanned leather to tool a design- you need to start from the beginning and learn the basics before doing any project of this magnitude. Yes, I believe you're too ambitious. Start with something simple and learn what you need to know before moving ahead. Learn from videos on the internet or go to the Tandy leather factory site. It has tons of videos and info. Good Luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lunasea Report post Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Thank you all for your helpful replies, I am grateful. I think i will be doing some practice on scrap first and build up slower with easier projects before i go and waste expensive veg tan leather. One of the books i ordered arrived today and there is a nice simple Bill fold wallet project (tooling and construction) which looks much simpler and is a Step-by- step guide . Thank you for all the links and advice! Glad i joined this site. Once i get cracking i will post pictures. It would be good if people could critique my humble beginnings Edited January 28, 2014 by Lunasea Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Bruce Report post Posted February 14, 2014 I don't think that you are being too ambitious. I just started working with leather and went ahead and made one of these Japanese style wallets for my first project. It was a challenge and I did tool a few flowers on some scrap to get a feel for it. The biggest problem that I encountered was that the outer shell's shape distorted when I tooled it. I have since learned that you can tape the back of your leather before tooling to avoid this. The inside was also difficult but do-able, just be sure to follow electrathon's advice and do a paper mock-up first. If you do a lined interior that goes over the fold you have to account for stretch. Take a look at what I did (it was finished a couple of weeks ago). http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=53398 If you are patient you can totally do it...Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lunasea Report post Posted February 14, 2014 I don't think that you are being too ambitious. I just started working with leather and went ahead and made one of these Japanese style wallets for my first project. It was a challenge and I did tool a few flowers on some scrap to get a feel for it. The biggest problem that I encountered was that the outer shell's shape distorted when I tooled it. I have since learned that you can tape the back of your leather before tooling to avoid this. The inside was also difficult but do-able, just be sure to follow electrathon's advice and do a paper mock-up first. If you do a lined interior that goes over the fold you have to account for stretch. Take a look at what I did (it was finished a couple of weeks ago). http://leatherworker...showtopic=53398 If you are patient you can totally do it...Good luck! Wow ! Well done you! Really good my tools and materials arrived this week and ive done some practice flowers. As you say i found putting some tape behind really helped. Im going to attempt a phone case this weekend, Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maddhatter Report post Posted March 1, 2014 what i've also found most helpful when tooling is to place the taped piece of leather onto a card board sheet or some type of platic backing as to control the stretch of the leather while you continue to tap your design good luck and keep us posted on how your projects turned out. maddhatter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
