Pit 4 Brains Report post Posted February 27, 2015 I'm just getting started out in this craft and I'm on the fence about how to aquire basic tools. On one hand there are the various starter kits available that seem to include most of the things I don't need, i.e. sponge, poly hammer, rotary hole punch, cutting board, etc. On the other hand, buying swivel knives, basic stamping tools, stitch wheels, edgers, and whatnot can be expensive to buy one at a time. As of right now I'm purchasing one or two tools a week as I find a need for them but that method led to me taking a solid month to make a knife sheath with equally spaced stitches that were in a groove. You get my point. Bottom line, is there a really good no B/S starter kit available or should I ramp up my inventory one piece at a time? Budget is definitely a driving factor as well. I need to keep it a hobby for now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Calait Report post Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) My thought is get the equipment you can now, and add each piece as you need it and can afford it one or two pieces at a time. I am upgrading my Tandy Deluxe kit a little at a time. Edited February 27, 2015 by Calait Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squirrelly66 Report post Posted February 27, 2015 I started with a decent basic kit also. Like Calait I have been adding 4-5 new tools amonth depending on the needs of the project I'm doing. I don't think there is a one size fits all kit though I have seen some good ones here and there. they either have too much of what you already have or not enough of the tools your looking for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pit 4 Brains Report post Posted February 27, 2015 Ok. So the road I'm on seems to be a good one then. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pit 4 Brains Report post Posted February 28, 2015 So the "starter" sets are off my list but I have been seeing a handful of tool sets that are labeled "floral" and "steampunk", etc. I think I'll go with a set if it has all the basic tools to start carving. Now my dilema is what brand. I have a Tandy store between my place of work and my home, everything else would be online. I checked out Hobby Lobby and Michael's nearby and their tools look like they were sand-casted and then dipped in fake chrome. I have no experience with leatherworking but I am an aircraft mechanic that works with close-tolerance parts and I can see just how cheaply these tools are made. What are some of the better grade brands out there? I don't mind paying more for quality tools that not only perform well but also last. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tramps Leatherworking Report post Posted February 28, 2015 At the risk of sounding like a broken record, or a BK salesman, it's hard to beat Barry King tools for the price and quality... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eglideride Report post Posted February 28, 2015 I believe that half of the fun is collecting/ accumulating tools, Ebay, Craigs list, Fellow board members:( http://stores.ebay.com/Used-and-Vintage-LeatherTools) have to be quick sometimes! If you buy a starter kit- keep what you want, give as gifts, trade or sell the tools you don't want or care for. Upgrade over time. Get creative- free granite slabs from countertop companies, dead blow hammers on sale at the farm store. I found a head knife for $20.00 at an antique store and another at a county fair by a tool vendor for $40,00. Both prized possessions! Talk to friends, neighbors and strangers about your hobby. A guy, who knows a guy, that has a friend is selling/giving some tools away. Or knows somebody that does... Awesome adventure! Have fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pit 4 Brains Report post Posted February 28, 2015 I believe that half of the fun is collecting/ accumulating tools, Ebay, Craigs list, Fellow board members:( http://stores.ebay.com/Used-and-Vintage-LeatherTools) have to be quick sometimes! If you buy a starter kit- keep what you want, give as gifts, trade or sell the tools you don't want or care for. Upgrade over time. Get creative- free granite slabs from countertop companies, dead blow hammers on sale at the farm store. I found a head knife for $20.00 at an antique store and another at a county fair by a tool vendor for $40,00. Both prized possessions! Talk to friends, neighbors and strangers about your hobby. A guy, who knows a guy, that has a friend is selling/giving some tools away. Or knows somebody that does... Awesome adventure! Have fun! Indeed you are right. Collecting is the name of the game. I just want to make sure I'm getting the best item for the buck. I use mostly Snap-On tools at work but I have Craftsman at home. I don't pay for the tools at work but I know the quality vs. the ones I pay for and have at home. I don't mind having a multitude of brands in my toolbox, as long as I know that I have good quality tools. Tandy seems to be be very reputable and I see BK is noteworthy on this site. I just want to be able to sort the junk from the good stuff when I find it in the wild. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Calait Report post Posted March 1, 2015 At the risk of sounding like a broken record, or a BK salesman, it's hard to beat Barry King tools for the price and quality... Went to BK's page, if I bend any more tools, I will be changing over. Their prices are not too bad, however higher than Tandy. though you get what you pay for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NavyVet Report post Posted March 6, 2015 Buying a KIT seemed like an expensive proposition with a limited number of tools. The PRICE per tool was RETAIL or better. I went to Ebay and bought 2 major sets for 600 and 700, and sold the duplicates for about 350 in smaller lots. That kept my set under 1000. Went to Tandy on Black Friday for their sale and was able to get tooling sides 2- 8-9oz, 2- 3-4oz 1 suede 1 pig lining, 30 more tools on closeout (SOLD) on Ebay for more. And dyes and antique finishes. Spent a total of 350 and the sale of the tools paid for my leather. No need to buy someone else's scraps. Tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pit 4 Brains Report post Posted March 16, 2015 I just picked up the seven tool set from Tandy. When I told the salesperson that I was starting out and slowly building my inventory one week at a time, she mentioned a kit that had the tools and other stuff. Upon looking at the tools, it seemed like they were sand casted and the ones I had in my hand were polished and detailed. I spent the $ for the quality of the tools. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Calait Report post Posted March 16, 2015 I am doing the same thing adding tools I want to the wish list, their tools are 100% guaranteed . Happy tooling and cutting, Tandy' classes are reasonable as well. I am doing the same thing adding tools I want to the wish list, their tools are 100% guaranteed . Happy tooling and cutting, Tandy' classes are reasonable as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
