Help Ordering Tools

[x101airborne]

With my Christmas money, I would like to order some tools to help me achieve better edges. Since I don't know much but am eager to learn, please help me identify what essential tools are necessary for proper edges. I don't want to buy cheap tools on a guess only to find I would be better off with a little more expensive tools and they would last longer and work better. Thank you for all your help.

[Matt T]

An edge beveler is something to consider. Ron's tools and Barry King are both good options. What type of leather are you using? Veg tan or chrome?

[x101airborne]

Lil bit of both on the leathers.

I asked my family to allow me to order my leather and they wanted more of a surprise than just a little money, so I got 4 halves, 2 butts, a shoulder and a box of unknown square foot leather that I have no idea what kind it is. I is very nice looking, but most fresh leather is. Unfortunately that is all I know of it. But really I am not ready to start cutting into the fresh leather. I am going to edge and finish every piece of scrap leather I own till I have this finished look down pat.

I read and printed Hydepounder's tutorial on edging. It is now a part of my notebook.

I have cotton daubers, going to purchase some wool ones.

I need a good sharp edger

edge kote in black and brown

Gum xanthum (however you spell that)

I have denim, canvas, etc....

Anything I am missing? I would like to get an order in hopefully in a couple days.

[cradom]

Might want to get a burnisher. Maybe something that goes in a drill or Dremel. Heck even Tandy's cheap plastic slicker works pretty well.

[x101airborne]

Thank you.

I will also be looking for a set of 5 TPI or so pricking irons. A 6 tooth, a 2 tooth definitely, may be getting a 4 tooth to go along with the set. Thing is... my machine will sew light leather up to about 3/8 inch, so I only want the irons for thick heavy leather. Before I buy any, I want to make sure the set will meet my goals.

Edited December 28, 2015 by x101airborne

[Equiplay Saddlery]

Check out the Jeremiah Watt Quick Change Edgers. They are very inexpensive and I was hesitant about "wasting" my money on them because who would have thought you could get a great tool for about $10. After I tried one I ordered ALL of them and now have a full set for what one decent edger would normally cost. They are unbelievable. Look them up at RANCH2ARENA.COM or Weaver leather.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Equiplay Saddlery

[Art]

You have most of what you need to accomplish edging. A good #1 or #2 edger will help. Resist the temptation to buy any tool you don't really need. Buy fewer excellent quality tools that you need to finish a task. I think you can get bags full of scrap leather from Springfield Leather to practice on, sewing, edging, gluing, riveting, you name it.

Art

[x101airborne]

Thank you all for your help. I bought out an older fellow who was giving up shop and he had a lot of tools that are hard to work with. Although I appreciate all his tools, he doesn't have some basic tools and I don't want to add "crap" to the woodpile.

On top of it all, I still need to find a grooving tool to hide stitching and a hand awl for hand sewing.

Are the Awl for All tools that great? Or what do other hand stitchers use?

[SmokeyPoint]

Thank you all for your help. I bought out an older fellow who was giving up shop and he had a lot of tools that are hard to work with. Although I appreciate all his tools, he doesn't have some basic tools and I don't want to add "crap" to the woodpile.

On top of it all, I still need to find a grooving tool to hide stitching and a hand awl for hand sewing.

Are the Awl for All tools that great? Or what do other hand stitchers use?

Awls: I own Tandy, Craft Sha from goodsJapan.com, and V. Blanchard. The Tandy awl I have took many hours of sharpening/polishing to become remotely useful, so I bought the others to see what I liked best to round out my set. Initially I liked the Japanese awls because they were smoothly polished and slid through the leather with less effort than the others. The Blanchard came SHARP but was rougher on the surface than the Craft Sha. However, after using them for some time, I now love the Blanchard and intend on buying the other sizes Blanchard offers to complete my set. The Japanese steel is substantially weaker, and I now worry about it bending/breaking on thicker leather. With minimal polishing and a little wax the Blanchard awl works like a dream.

[x101airborne]

Thank you.

Buying quality is my main goal. I don't need much of anything other than edge finishing tools really. I am looking to spend around 100 bucks on specific tools then learn to use what I have.