Starting out with tooling

[eirenealetheia]

I've made a few belts from basic belt blanks that have turned out alright, but really what I'd love to do is leather tooling. After seeing some of the AMAZING stuff on here, I've definitely been inspired to give it a shot.

Problem is, as I'm basically teaching myself all this so to speak, I really have no idea how to start out. What tools do I need? What do they look like (about all I know about is a swivel knife!!)? What leather do I use? How do I prepare the leather (e.g. wetting and such)?

I've had a look at the basic tooling guide that TwinOaks posted in this part of the forum, and that was a huge help, but there's still a lot of gaps I need to fill...

So, main questions:

As an absolute minimum, what tools will I need to start out with and still get a nice end product? Swivel knife and...? What do these tools LOOK like so I know what I'm after when I go to buy them?

I know a little about wetting leather, but what do people find works best? Sponge, spray bottle, other? Will the leather stretch as I carve it? If so, how can I avoid this?

Basically I'm virtually clueless now and would really appreciate ANY pointers people are willing to share. Thanks in advance.

Trinity

[TwinOaks]

Absolute minimum for starting to tool leather: Swivel knife, beveler, a pear shader, and a mallet of some type. If you research some of the reeeealy old masters, you'll see that a few started out with a sharpened screwdriver, and some tools from the shed. You might just consider a "basic 7" set, as it's designed as a 'minimum' set, and will include tools vital for floral carving and figure carving. Don't be afraid to experiment on how tools can be used differently than their obvious design. Perfect example: Take a camoflauge tool, tip it towards the wide part and drag it- it's a hair blade! Drag a beveler and it's a modeling spoon!

Wetting the leather is called "casing". The idea is to restore enough moisture to the leather to reactivate the fibers, and allow the leather to take impressions. My personal choice is a spray bottle (24 oz) with a drop or two of dish soap in it, but I've used a sponge, paper towels, and a runnning tap before, too. Dampen the leather, then allow it to dry until the surface looks dry, but is still cool to the touch. There's probably as many methods as there are members, and can include bagging the dampened leather and parking in the fridge overnight to equalize the moisture content through the leather and adding Lexol, or EasyCarve solutions to the mix. There's several threads on just this topic, and through experimentation, you'll find what works best for you.

[Washroad]

Check here.... http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?dept=354

There are several kits here that can help you get started. Not that I'm an expert, but this is where I got started many years ago. I still have the tools and the book.

Going this way, you're not out too many $$$ and you'll learn a bunch.

One caveat! Once you get started doing this, you'll never want to quit.

[dar]

I'm interested in this as well, though I don't think I fully understand the ins and outs of how tooling works: any videos or books?

[ferret]

I'm interested in this as well, though I don't think I fully understand the ins and outs of how tooling works: any videos or books?

"Leathercraft manual" here is a good book to start with, covers the basics and has a few projects.

Edited January 6, 2009 by ferret

[dragonspit]

I was in the same boat just two weeks ago. Something I wanted to do for a long time and just didnt know how. I was close enough to a Tandy store to visit and did this past weekend, well, its a done deal now. they have a couple of great beginner kits that depending on your financial abilities, arent to seemingly bad. but thats a relative statement isnt it? I bought a delux beginners set, it has several tools, a mallet, swivel knife, cement, dyes, transfer paper, a couple of kits to learn from, a beginners book and a dvd in the box. there is everything included to the projects and move on to some simple self made projects. It was about $150, this weekend, there are better deals at times, and bigger and smaller beginner kits. The staff was as friendly and helpful as could be. they threw in some scraps of leather to practice on. showed me some cutting techniqes and a few other interesting tidbits. You can tell they see folks like us allll the time. I would say if you do get to go into one, you will both be excited at all you see, and completely overwhelmed by the stuff you COULD purchase. and get on their mailing list. they have sales allll the time. be ready to jump at the deals. I can see how it could add up very quickly, but the all inclusive kits really would get you almost everything you need. at least I feel it does. I will wish you the same good luck I am sure I will need. And by the way, there are a couple of great tuts on here, and links to even more, so spend some time looking around this site, its vast, but it has a tonage, of what I have found to be responsive interesting insight and help. It really did put me over the edge to get along with my new hobby.

Edited September 8, 2010 by dragonspit

[hidepounder]

Trinity and dar,

I think Dragonspit's advice is excellent and is exactly what I was going to suggest. You need to find a Tandy store because so many of your basic questions can be answered there. They have a number of how to books and I would recommend any of the starter info that Al Stohlman published through Tandy. Tandy can get you started in leatherwork without spending a fortune. It is a good way to get introduced to the tools and techniques you'll need to learn. Later on if you become addicted you will want to begin upgrading tools and learning new techniques....but that is a ways down the road.

Here is an article which will help you understand what Mike is talking about with regard to casing leather. Like he said there are a lot of techniques out there. This is just the one that works for me. CASING LEATHER

Hope this helps.....

Bobby

Edited September 8, 2010 by hidepounder

[jazzdude1200]

Also if you are near a Tandy Leather Company ask if they have classes, thats what I did, and it has helped me alot. It is true the the staff are very friendly and helpful. Good Luck!!!

[dragonspit]

Trinity and dar,

I think Dragonspit's advice is excellent and is exactly what I was going to suggest. You need to find a Tandy store because so many of your basic questions can be answered there. They have a number of how to books and I would recommend any of the starter info that Al Stohlman published through Tandy. Tandy can get you started in leatherwork without spending a fortune. It is a good way to get introduced to the tools and techniques you'll need to learn. Later on if you become addicted you will want to begin upgrading tools and learning new techniques....but that is a ways down the road.

Here is an article which will help you understand what Mike is talking about with regard to casing leather. Like he said there are a lot of techniques out there. This is just the one that works for me. CASING LEATHER

Hope this helps.....

Bobby

Directly after I wrote my note here, I logged off and watched most of the dvd that came with my kit. Now mind you, I have been talking with a buddy who has been doing this for about a year, and was talking me through stuff, besides all the info I get on here. but the dvd, simply answered sooooo many questions. and not so much answered the questions, showed you what it would look like and how to, in real time. the dvd is set up to be a step by step visual video of the projects that are included in the kit. He first takes you through the carving, then stamping, then dying then assembly of each of the projects. its nicely paced and you can hit pause at any given moment. He talks tips all the time, little things and shows them and why. I mean, I feel other than a live person holding the stamp for ya, its about as helpful as your gonna find. really. I got so excited I pulled out a few scraps the tandy guy gave me and started messing around. lets just say, I was late for work, lol. so my first impression is pretty good about the dvd. and like i said early, there are links around this site to others. they are stickies up at the top.

good luck, I hope you have as much fun as I did to start. now,,,,, I need a piece of cardboard, cause this little piece is walking around my table faster than walking my stamp!!!

Bob

[dragonspit]

Here is an article which will help you understand what Mike is talking about with regard to casing leather. Like he said there are a lot of techniques out there. This is just the one that works for me. CASING LEATHER

Hope this helps.....

Bobby

Bobby, I almost missed that link and that was my next big thing. That was perfect and about as clear as....well as clear as I need it to be. thanks for that, it was awesome.

[harry phillips]

10/20 tools will get you going,bevelers,background,pear shaders, you can do a lot of work with just a few. Most of the time I use 5/8 tools. I used a swivel knife,smooth and fine checkered beveler, medium and pointed background tools, a sharp point pear shader and that's pretty much it. Peace

[treybecca]

I'm a tool junky, I have collected a little under 200...and use four frequently lol. I have yet to master a swivel knife, so my go to tools are a few bevelers, a modeling spoon and a round stylus. Depending on my work I may use a back ground tool but most times I don't. The MOST important thing in any tooling project is nailing your casing process more so then the tools used. I have found success in Bob Parks method.

For example this corset and belt was created using only a beveler, modeling spoon, swivel knife (about the extent of my skill with one) and a few decorative stamps.

[r lenna]

I would take advantage of all the knowlege that you can get here, and on youtube. Here at The Paul Burnett pages here http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=214 just search and you shall find. There's a lot more free lessons that you find here if you just look. If I was starting over again I would skip the tandy swivel knife and get one at Barry King. If you can't afford that you can get a blade there that will fit the Tandy swivel knife. I'm a too; junkey myself, since I can't afford to buy all the tools I need I make them. It dosn't cost a fortune to do this. I have 25 Barry King tools that I have collected over the years, but I have a bunch of tandy tools I still use. You can do great work with either. Just have fun. This is the best place to learn. Rob