I'm New And Discouraged

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

On another note, casing is an art. There is a good tutorial on this sight by Bob Park (one of the premier leather tooler's today). Follow it and you will find quickly that good tooling starts with proper casing. When I case, I always do it the same, I dunk it in water till the bubbles stop, then let it set out for most of the day, then put it in plastic, (since most of my work is in sizes larger than will fit in a baggie, I use large garbage bags) let it set overnight then let it sit out till the surface color almost comes back to normal, I begin tooling from there. I use a spray bottle with a distilled water/listerene/dishwashing soap mixture to keep it at the dampness level I like. I usually don't get a piece done in a day, so whenever possible if it will sit overnight, I cover it with a pane of glass to keep the moisture where I like it. Hope that helps.

Bob

[BullRiderJoe]

When I cut my pattern into the leather, I can do that while it's still fairly wet correct? (As in too wet for stamping) yesterday I made my best and smoothest cuts on some pretty wet leather, I wasn't going to attempt to stamp it, being as it was pretty soggy. Also, I feel like my blade is too wide, I think I would like a 1/4" blade, are these shorter blades easier?

[Ferg]

You probably lucked out with your knife cuts this time or they aren't quite as good as you think at this point.

Leather should be the same to cut as it is when you stamp/tool.

For finer detail I like to use the narrower blades, also the angled blades. I find them easier to use for most work I do.

ferg

Edited December 12, 2015 by 50 years leather

[JerseyFirefighter]

As a relatively newer leather crafter, I can share your frustration starting off. I do not have any leather craft outlets anywhere near me so all of my leather tools and supplies are ordered online. Try your best to avoid places like AC Moore, Michaels, Hobby Lobby (aside from hearing they had tandy branded kits). It took me quite a bit of research just to find the right type of leather to buy to suit my projects. Videos are great resources, but hands on practice is where you will turn visual retention of those video into motor skill refinement.

Tandy is a great place for beginners, as are places like Springfield Leather. Tandy catches a good deal of crap from people (in some cases justified) however they have been able to be an easy place to get a lot of the tools and supplies beginners and even more seasoned vets need for their projects. It's more reasonable to buy cheaper tools to start off to no only learn in a cost effective manner, but to appreciate the differences of cheap and quality tools as you upgrade. My first few carving attempts looked as you described...like as if a child did it. I suspect when a welder starts learning the trade his/her welds aren't the prettiest thing... they get better with more time logged in honing their craft. You'll get there... Save that first project somewhere you can find later on. You'll be both amazed and embarrassed over how far you will have come. Good Luck!

[X31]

Not that Tandy or hobby lobby is great but when that's the only game in town you do what you have to.they actually might make you better because you're going to have to learn to improvise.

As far as casing the times you guy s talk about is unbelievable you would never get a project done, and I live in one of the humid places in the country,are you sure you're buying veg tan it is right next to the other leather in Michaels.

As far as Tandy its about a two hour drive away for me and since Michaels. And hobby lobby do not sell half of the basic tools that are needed ,there's just so much improvising will take you, I have to go. And since the tools I bought at the two hobby stores are mostly cheaply made (they really are ) and the people working there say they get their supply from Tandy, I feel I have to go there and not order over the phone or internet.

All that being said I love doing leather work and I'd continue doing it even if I have to use a tack puller to take care of the edges for the rest of my life.(like I said improvise). Keep at it you'll be better for all the hard work and headaches. And some people call it a hobby.lot. jimmy

[DavidL]

First thing I purchased was from Tandy. It has nothing to do with where I am in the craft or where I am not.

As a store to sell overpriced tools that is useless the moment they are bought is the issue. They are robbing unwitting customers. Even if they sell average price leather from time to time, dont support this behaviour.

Maybe im wrong, the ultimate tool set is not bad.. $900 dollars for made in china tools http://www.tandyleather.ca/en/product/ultimate-leathercraft-set

Edited December 14, 2015 by DavidL

[Northmount]

Research how to books, including those on Tandy's website, buy a couple. Study out what you want to make, including the kind of tools required to make it. Then go look for just the tools needed and the leather you need. Research some more here as well, especially where hand sewing is involved. There are many approaches to use. Don't be pushed into more than you need for your current project. You can add a few things as you go along.

You can find a lot of information here, but sometimes knowing the right terms to search for make it hard to find what you want. Here is some information on hand stitching using a minimal number of tools, using what you have on hand at home. Look at post 19. This is just an example of what you can do thinking outside the box and looking at the implements you have at hand. Working this way will save you some money at the start, and get you started. Then you can go get the better tools, etc.

Tom

[Kulafarmer]

TO: DAVIDL

Do not bad mouth Tandy to every one who is trying to get started in this Art.

Sure, they have a lot of junk these days but they have some good stuff too, you have to know what you are getting before you pay for it. That isn't only when you buy at Tandy.

If not for Tandy I would never have begun this fabulous medium 60 years ago. The store in Miami Florida told me I paid their rent for two years. I have some of the best leather I have bought anywhere that came from Tandy and I have some of the worst.

Unfortunately a lot of things are not as they used to be, get over it.

ferg

Ferg,

Same here with tandy and beginnings, i remember getting my first tandy catalogue in the late 60s ordered off the back pages of a sunset magazine or something like that. Fast forward to a couple months ago and im re learning the craft and trade and am happy with almost everything i have gotten from Tandy,

Being a carpenter and wood worker i know its not so much the material or tools, its what you do with them, ice cream out of dog shis

[MonicaJacobson]

I got my start at Tandy (3 years ago), and the staff are extremely helpful. However, I have found that there is a better source for everything that you can get at Tandy. I'm still grateful for Tandy, but the quality of hardware is better at Buckleguy, the quality of leather has decreased at Tandy lately (from what I saw before I stopped buying there a year ago), and is therefore equal or better at almost anywhere else, and a better value almost anywhere else, including shipping. I did buy all my fiebings dyes at Tandy, so that was nice.

I would never tell someone they shouldn't buy from Tandy, but I would give them links to some better alternatives, once they've gotten over the first disorienting flood of information. Tandy is a great place to help you figure out what you're actually doing. It's not a place where you can get the best value for money, by any stretch, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a place.

[snubbyfan]

Keep working at it. You'll get there.

On the left's my first attempt. On the right's after lotsa practice.