Newbee Hello, Advise Please?

[skidmk]

Hi All,

Total newbee here, couldnt see a hello section sorry if wrong place.

love making things but never really used leather. The other day I was looking for my sheath for my new pocket knife and I saw a tandy kit on ebay, didn’t really know what I was doing but dyed it with some shoe dye I had and polished it up, was really happy with the outcome and really want to make more!!

The ebay kit I did an idiot could do, it was so simple all holes and cutting already done.

Small Folding Knife Pouch Kit Diy Design Your Own Leathercraft Tandy 4104-00

I don’t have much money atm to spend on stamps so looking to see if I can DIY some if anyone has any places that are good to start looking for cheap design methods?

Also what is the leather that comes in this kit and the type of wax thread used as I will just order these parts for now and make a few similar to what I have done to get a feeling then start developing this amazing skill!

Thanks for your time

Regards,

Mark

[skidmk]

sorry maybe to much of a vague request,

can anyone tell me the rough size and grade of the leather in this pouch or this type of pouch and the diameter of the wax thread, so i can order and start making my own?

thanks

mark

Edited August 7, 2015 by skidmk

[zuludog]

Congratulations on making a start, skidmk! They look good enough for first attempts

I think if you tried 3 mm vegetable tanned leather and 18/3 linen thread that would be as good a place as any to start. Then you could dye the leather as you wish. It looks ok if it's not dyed, too. Just treat it with leather oil or grease and it acquires a mellow dark buff or yellow colour

You can get ready waxed thread or unwaxed to treat your own; a block of beeswax is pretty cheap

No doubt others will come along with their suggestions

Search YouTube for leatherwork. There are dozens of videos

[skidmk]

Congratulations on making a start, skidmk! They look good enough for first attempts

I think if you tried 3 mm vegetable tanned leather and 18/3 linen thread that would be as good a place as any to start. Then you could dye the leather as you wish. It looks ok if it's not dyed, too. Just treat it with leather oil or grease and it acquires a mellow dark buff or yellow colour

You can get ready waxed thread or unwaxed to treat your own; a block of beeswax is pretty cheap

No doubt others will come along with their suggestions

Search YouTube for leatherwork. There are dozens of videos

Thanks Zuludog!!

perfect i just needed to know what to buy first to play with then as i advance i can develop everything else.

thanks for you time.

best regards

mark

[Chief31794]

Good comments already, if you're based in the US (Can't tell from your screen name info), then I would use 5/6 oz leather for a folding knife sheath, 4/5 would work as well, anything thinner I think would be too flimsy, anything over 6 and it starts getting too rigid. Thread you can get from Tandy, or Springfield Leather Company or several other Leather Craft suppliers, I would stay with waxed thread for convenience, get a couple of harness needles, a stitching Awl, a Stitch Spacer in probably 6 SPI, a snap setter and some Line 20 Snaps, a good utility knife and you should be able to make all the cases you want. I've probably forgotten something, perhaps others will chime in.

Welcome to the forum and the addiction,

Chief

[zuludog]

Something you will realise about leatherwork is that like coming new to any hobby, there is a lot to learn & take in, and if you're not careful, a lot of money to spend!

Have a look through old threads under Getting Started and Leather Tools, just about all beginner's questions have been asked before. Several of them will include tool lists and so on

Go to your library and ask them for books on leathercraft. Valerie Michael's 'Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects' is often suggested, but there are others, and they will all give you the basic information

You ask about buying leather. You can buy smallish pieces just for one or two projects, but it works out expensive in the long run. Buying a larger piece will cost more initially, but be enough for several items. Easiest is to ask your supplier and they will suggest accordingly or perhaps someone will come along with their suggestions, as I am still not sure about the types of hides available

Would have been nice if you'd included a bit more information on your profile

This website is a supplier, but their website has some good tutorials on basic techniques, including a comparison of leather thicknesses

http://www.bowstock.co.uk

This website & forum has a section on leatherwork & sheaths; but also look in Custom, Scandinavian, and Members Projects as people often show completed sheaths & pouches with their knives

http://britishblades.com

Edited August 8, 2015 by zuludog

[skidmk]

Good comments already, if you're based in the US (Can't tell from your screen name info), then I would use 5/6 oz leather for a folding knife sheath, 4/5 would work as well, anything thinner I think would be too flimsy, anything over 6 and it starts getting too rigid. Thread you can get from Tandy, or Springfield Leather Company or several other Leather Craft suppliers, I would stay with waxed thread for convenience, get a couple of harness needles, a stitching Awl, a Stitch Spacer in probably 6 SPI, a snap setter and some Line 20 Snaps, a good utility knife and you should be able to make all the cases you want. I've probably forgotten something, perhaps others will chime in.

Welcome to the forum and the addiction,

Chief

thanks Chief!

i have ordered most these bits, im from England,, for now i got cheap stuff off Ebay and as i work out what's rubbish i can replace with more expensive parts.

thanks for your time,

Regards

Mark

[skidmk]

Something you will realise about leatherwork is that like coming new to any hobby, there is a lot to learn & take in, and if you're not careful, a lot of money to spend!

Have a look through old threads under Getting Started and Leather Tools, just about all beginner's questions have been asked before. Several of them will include tool lists and so on

Go to your library and ask them for books on leathercraft. Valerie Michael's 'Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects' is often suggested, but there are others, and they will all give you the basic information

You ask about buying leather. You can buy smallish pieces just for one or two projects, but it works out expensive in the long run. Buying a larger piece will cost more initially, but be enough for several items. Easiest is to ask your supplier and they will suggest accordingly or perhaps someone will come along with their suggestions, as I am still not sure about the types of hides available

Would have been nice if you'd included a bit more information on your profile

This website is a supplier, but their website has some good tutorials on basic techniques, including a comparison of leather thickness's

http://www.bowstock.co.uk

This website & forum has a section on leatherwork & sheaths; but also look in Custom, Scandinavian, and Members Projects as people often show completed sheaths & pouches with their knives

http://britishblades.com

thanks Mate, great links there, will see if i can get those books but might just buy them as will blatantly come in handy.

have updated my info, sorry just noticed it doesn't help especially when im asking for websites.

thanks

Mark

[zuludog]

You will soon hear about Tandy, which is a well known supplier of leatherwork tools & materials. Here is their agents in Britain; I have always found them to be pleasant & helpful when I've phoned them for advice

http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk

[fivewayswelshcobs]

Tandy do have a shop in Northampton and depending where you are Pittards in Yeovil also carry some of the basics but I would also look on the other posts for frequently mentioned suppliers over here.

[skidmk]

You will soon hear about Tandy, which is a well known supplier of leatherwork tools & materials. Here is their agents in Britain; I have always found them to be pleasant & helpful when I've phoned them for advice

http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk

ordered their brochure thanks mate

Tandy do have a shop in Northampton and depending where you are Pittards in Yeovil also carry some of the basics but I would also look on the other posts for frequently mentioned suppliers over here.

Tandy not to far from me thanks mate!

[skidmk]

just a quick one.....Will either of these two be adequate for making the sewing holes for a pouch similar to the above one in my first post?

Or do I need to order one of the fork pronged stamps?

Thanks

Mark

[zuludog]

When you sew leather, the usual method is to make the holes first, then pass the thread through them using blunt needles. So, as you have guessed, first you need to make a line of holes, and there are three basic methods

1) To mark the line and spacing of the holes using a tool like those you have shown, called an overstitch wheel or a pounce wheel or a stitch marking wheel. This will make small marks or depressions in the leather at the appropriate spacing, depending on the chosen wheel. You then follow this with an awl to make the proper holes

2) To mark the line and spacing of the holes using a chisel with short prongs, called a stitch marking chisel or a stitching iron. As above, you follow this up with an awl. You can get irons with various numbers of prongs, and the spacing between them.

3) You can get a chisel with longer prongs, which both set the spacing of the holes, and make the holes themselves, simply by hammering the chisel all the way through the leather. Usually this is enough, but sometimes you may need to do a bit of work with an awl as well. This chisel is called a stitching chisel. If you just tap it gently you can use it as a pricking iron

So the answer is no, you can't use the wheels you have shown to make the holes on their own; you must also use an awl or a stitching chisel, which you call a fork pronged stamp

Be careful, there are two kinds of similar looking chisels. The stitching chisel, which you want, has fairly narrow prongs set at an angle.

To do lacing you need a chisel which has broader prongs set flat in line with the main body of the chisel, and called, logically enough, a lacing chisel. Only get this if you want to do lacing

When you do buy an awl you want the one with a diamond section blade. You usually have to buy the blade & handle separately, then fix & sharpen them yourself. Ask nicely and a supplier might do this for you.

Don't get the Tandy 4-in-1 awl; it is expensive and not very good. A separate harness awl & round awl will be cheaper and better

Really, this is the sort of stuff you can find in any decent leathercraft book. Besides Valerie Michael's, here are two others

Leatherwork - A Practical Guide by Chris Taylor

Leatherwork - A Manual of Techniques by Geoffrey West

Also recommended are the videos on YouTube by Nigel Armitage Leather, especially 'How To Make A Simple Hand Made Leather Wallet'. This includes several basic techniques.

Edited August 11, 2015 by zuludog

[skidmk]

When you sew leather, the usual method is to make the holes first, then pass the thread through them using blunt needles. So, as you have guessed, first you need to make a line of holes, and there are three basic methods

1) To mark the line and spacing of the holes using a tool like those you have shown, called an overstitch wheel or a pounce wheel or a stitch marking wheel. This will make small marks or depressions in the leather at the appropriate spacing, depending on the chosen wheel. You then follow this with an awl to make the proper holes

2) To mark the line and spacing of the holes using a chisel with short prongs, called a stitch marking chisel or a stitching iron. As above, you follow this up with an awl. You can get irons with various numbers of prongs, and the spacing between them.

3) You can get a chisel with longer prongs, which both set the spacing of the holes, and make the holes themselves, simply by hammering the chisel all the way through the leather. Usually this is enough, but sometimes you may need to do a bit of work with an awl as well. This chisel is called a stitching chisel. If you just tap it gently you can use it as a pricking iron

So the answer is no, you can't use the wheels you have shown to make the holes on their own; you must also use an awl or a stitching chisel, which you call a fork pronged stamp

Be careful, there are two kinds of similar looking chisels. The stitching chisel, which you want, has fairly narrow prongs set at an angle.

To do lacing you need a chisel which has broader prongs set flat in line with the main body of the chisel, and called, logically enough, a lacing chisel. Only get this if you want to do lacing

When you do buy an awl you want the one with a diamond section blade. You usually have to buy the blade & handle separately, then fix & sharpen them yourself. Ask nicely and a supplier might do this for you.

Don't get the Tandy 4-in-1 awl; it is expensive and not very good. A separate harness awl & round awl will be cheaper and better

Really, this is the sort of stuff you can find in any decent leathercraft book. Besides Valerie Michael's, here are two others

Leatherwork - A Practical Guide by Chris Taylor

Leatherwork - A Manual of Techniques by Geoffrey West

Also recommended are the videos on YouTube by Nigel Armitage Leather, especially 'How To Make A Simple Hand Made Leather Wallet'. This includes several basic techniques.

perfect description thanks, i have ordered the first book you mention just impatient waiting for it to arrive. have been watching a lot on youtube but have seen a few people doing things different ways so trying to work out what's best. the pricking iron seems most common from what i have seen will make sure i get the right one....not lacing iron. thanks

cheers

Mark