The New Guy

[DRA6N]

Hey all, new here to the forums and to leatherworking as well. Leatherworking is something I have always wanted to try out but never got my feet wet. I've watched a ton of youtube videos and seen people work on projects in person enough to get an idea of how certain things work. Ultimately I want to be able to make medieval/renaissance armor but that's quite a ways down the road.

I saw the "Ultimate" kit from the Tandy store and thought that would be a good starting point. Yeah it has a lot of western flowery patterns and designs which I'm not really into but I figured it would at least get me going with how the tools work and get down the process of prepping the leather for tooling, cutting, dyeing etc. From there I can work on making similar projects (wallets, belts, bags, etc) but with my own tooled designs. Finally I figured I can give basic armor pieces a shot like bracers, spaulders, arm bands, as well as a slew of other less intricate items.

One of my main concerns is that I live in an apartment and I feel that the constant hammering from the tooling would drive my neighbor insane. I don't have a large table to work on and it would resonate the sound even more if I did anyway. I thought about getting a granite slab and just using it on the floor or something since I'm on the bottom story. All else fails, its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission

I know it's going to be a long journey but I am willing to take my time with it and learn the craft. I hope to learn quite a bit from these forums as well!

Edited March 1, 2015 by DRA6N

[Wild Bill46]

Oh yeah, you've come to the right place for inspiration and guidance, This is the best leather site on earth.(imho)

In trying to get you situated;

Your idea for a kit, Is what many have started with and its worked out Ok .

Once you come a ways, you can choose your own particular leather, and tools as needed.

Hammering from the kitchen table; May not be as bad as you expected ?

Maybe you might try a tool box mat, or carpet I've heard works ,

They say, Pound-O Boards from Tandy will work under your granite slab for noise elimination ?

There was a thread here, not long ago about this topic. you might do a search here or check the archives.

Your ideas for leather working seem to be well warranted,

I recomend not over thinking anything, although this craft will make you think each step through,

Just have fun, and be happy your here. --------- Wild Bill46 !

[DRA6N]

thanks for the welcome. I love to tinker and love the idea of keeping a dying art alive. Ill keep an eye out for the post and check out the pound-o-boards

[Pip]

Hi Dra6n and welcome. I had a similar problem a few years back, lived in a terraced house, I put sleeping mat under my slab, it was fine for a while but be careful not to get stuff trapped in the foam as it eventually led to my granite breaking, but it was a cheap kitchen piece and I got given a wrongly carved gravestone by local memorial insciptors, it's huge and heavy but makes very little noise.