No Idea Where To Begin

[doe]

I'm new too, but I've spent about $200 or so in tools and they've been great for my first few projects. I decided I didn't want to get the cheapest tools and upgrade later, I wanted to spend a little bit more on better (but not necessarily top-of-the-line) tools and materials.

Here's what I would suggest, keep in mind I am a beginner!

eBay:

John James needles, $7.50 (I got size 2 but could have gone with one size larger)

Tiger thread, $6.95

Hunk o'beeswax, $0.99

Stitching pony, $29

Amazon:

Al Stohlman's The Art of Hand Sewing Leather, $10.06

Wing divider, $13.25

Maul, $18.19

LeatherCraftTools.com (be sure to pay for registered shipping, it's only a few dollars more):

6-pc diamond chisels, $43.47

3-pc edge bevelers, $39.18 (I don't have this but wish I did--I've been making do with a cuticle remover!)

Skiver, $18.83 (I don't have this either, and have considered getting a callus shaver to use as a makeshift skiver until my next LCT order)

Hardware store:

• contact cement
• utility knife (you can also use this to carefully cut out a strip between two round holes, instead of using an oblong punch for your belt buckles)
• metal ruler/square
• rubber or plastic mallet if you don't get the maul

You will also want a surface to cut on--I use a self-healing mat from my sewing kit--and a surface to pound on such as a big log, or a granite slab with a cutting board or similar on top so you don't damage your hole punch and chisels.

A rotary cutter comes in handy when making straight cuts on thinner leather. I had one already from sewing, along with a quilter's ruler, which is great for measuring if you aren't working from a pattern. A lot of sewing stuff is handy for leather too.

I used Ian Atkinson's patterns and video tutorial to make a wallet. It wasn't strictly necessary, but it helped me understand the construction to follow along with him.

Edited April 30, 2015 by doe

[ChrisMajoue]

Smirak,

You may want to look into the Tandy beginner kits. I bought this one when I started: http://www.tandyleather.com/en-usd/home/department/beginning-leather-kits/55502-00.aspx

It should link to the Deluxe kit, $80.

It comes with some stamps, mallet, dyes, finish, etc., and a half dozen projects (belt, wallet, cell phone case, etc) and basically has little bits of everything to get all of those projects done.

Yes, it's basic, but it gets you going in the right direction, for an very reasonable cost.

I would recommend that to anyone getting into leather work. Plus, $80 is way under your $200 budget.

Chris

[Art]

Smirak,

You might want to travel to Brettuns Village in Lewston, Maine, about a 75-100 mile drive. Good place, good people, good leather, good tools.

It doesn't matter if you buy Tandy tools or More Expensive Tools (well yes it does, buy the best you can afford), buy them one at a time and only what you need to complete your project. A good leatherworker with 10 tools can build a magnificent product while a less talented (less experienced) leatherworker with a hundred tools can make a mediocre product. Just what you need, when you need it.

Sit down and watch, Ian Atkinson and Nigel Armitage videos, all of them. Watch Nigel's stitching videos and his review of pricking irons two or three times, pay attention to the ones that can be used as stitching irons (there is a difference). There are other videos at Springfield Leather Company site, enjoy and learn something.

Tools:

You need a strop for everything that cuts. Green compound on one side, stropping compound on the other. Make it or buy it, but have it.

Your first knife should be a box cutter with these blades. Learn to use and strop this then move up if you need to.

The largest size Douglas Stitching Awl from Vandy at Sheridan Leather Outfitters. Buy a good but inexpensive handle for the awl, the Douglas handle is great but expensive. Also get a regular Stanley or other awl for opening up backstitching holes.

You are going to have to sharpen and strop/polish to awl blade, strop often and you won't have to sharpen that often.

Beeswax from any bee keeper or leather joint.

5 Cord or equivalent thread. Don't get sinew get linen or polyester thread. Ask your dealer.

Size 0 John James Harness needles, Rocky Mountain has them, or C.S. Osborne which generally everyone has. I prefer JJ. Size 0 will fit 5 or 6 cord thread.

Get a #1 or #2 edger from Barry King, Ron's Tools Round Bottom Edger, or a good used one from Bruce Johnson. Remember, when buying old harness tools, they ran large, don't buy anything over a #1 or #2. C.S. Osborne, H.F. Osborne, Gomph and many others made fine edgers and buying from Bruce is safe. Don't fret over the cost of these things (new or used), you will use them all the time and a good one is necessary.

Fiebings Tanners Bond glue or whatever floats your boat. I've used Master and Renia for years, but the white glue is a less technical product.

To start, use pre-dyed leather so you won't have to go there.

Edge Kote of some kind, or some burnishing regimine. I use Giardini paints from Lekoza, maybe too high tech to start. Fiebing's Edge Kote may be easier and it is available everywhere.

This is where you start, don't buy a gazillion tools and expect to get more from them than you can provide.

Art

[smirak]

Art,

Thanks for the response...sent you a message directly...

I've watched nearly all of Ian and Nigel's videos (all of Nigel's).

One thing I didn't add in here was I am going to purchase a drill press or a bench grinder and a burnishing wheel/sanding wheel for finishing.

[zuludog]

Art,

Thanks for the response...sent you a message directly...

I've watched nearly all of Ian and Nigel's videos (all of Nigel's).

One thing I didn't add in here was I am going to purchase a drill press or a bench grinder and a burnishing wheel/sanding wheel for finishing.

There was a similar post to this recently elsewhere on this forum, and here is a similar reply!

Put 'bench grinder drum sander' into Google. If you've watched all Nigel's videos you'll have seem the one about his burnisher.

[jrny4wrd]

As a start, which it seems u may have done, get small pieces of leather of different oz. from springfiled to learn the sizes. Even cut a small square off and lable them. You really dont need much at all to see if you really want to get into it. I started getting the crap from Micheals. If you want to try tooling they have a cheap set with a knife. When you decide you like it, sell a few bracelets to some little girl at some school and buy better ones. Your probably wicked excited and all about getting all this stuff. People started this manopoly using stuff around the barn. They find things to make holes (nail) put a needle through and stitch. I know people that use rocks and such for background designs. A sander and barnisher is a waste of money unless you get into woodworking if you dont want to do leather. They are good items to have when you start making bigger and more pieces but I been a leatherworker for 4 years and still use sandpaper and a bone, wood, piece of genes for barnishing edges. Soon I will be getting a sander because I will be using it for more things but to start, you can use that money for other itmes.

[jrny4wrd]

Oh, if ever you want to get ripped off call up one of the cute sounding voices at Tandy. Pretty sure they make commision. When I started I had no idea people were doing leatherwork. I grew up in the suburbs of chicago and only saw the occasional old tooled purse from a thrift store. Thought they were awesome. Years later I bumped into a leather store and saw someones art work. Some how I found a book (cant remember how). Found the little things at Micheals, bought them and found a Tandy. Not sure how it all happened. Be carefull and go on this forum before spending on some stuff. I pain $50 for a knife and $50 for a pair of scissors. I now use the scissors for paper because they have stupid little teeth on them. I learned how much of an idiot I was when I listened to all the things those sweet girls sold me. If you call a Tandy and someone answers that sounds like they dont give 2 poops, theyre probably honest. You wont like their tone and they probably wont last long but they'll tell you substitutions, when asked.

[snubbyfan]

This is some of the sharp, pointy stuff I use.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JGAB9wft3wc

Stitching stuff.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7e7nlXMFAVg

I've got more stuff on my YouTube Channel.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCOM3hbruUKHov9kquIxXKlA