mum & daughter newbies from Australia

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

2 hours ago, cowboycolonel said:

Different strokes -- as they say. I find the box knife dangerous and useless but use the head knife ALL THE TIME.,  Guess it depends on what you're used to and what you become proficient with.  I have a saddlemaker friend who uses box knives and another who uses hand-held razor blades.  AS for me --Head knife.  If I were doing solely strap goods, the first thing I'd buy would be a strap cutter - Draw knife takes some getting used to.  Even after doing this for years I rarely use mine.

I gotta agree with Colonel here. I have a box cutter/utility knife, and other non-leatherworking knives, but if I had to use one, I'd spend half a day looking for any one of them.  I absolutely can't function without my round knife. HOWEVER there is a learning curve to them, and if you don't get a good one and know how sharp SHARP actually is, they can be downright dangerous. In that case, you may be better off with one of the others.  About the only thing I use a box cutter for, is cutting boxes. . Seriously, I burn wood in the shop, and I cut up cardboard to start my fires.  But as I don't know where those knives are, I've been using my Gerber tool, which stays right on my belt.  Anyway, I digress.

At 13 years of age, if you can find a saddler within a decent distance that would be willing to teach here some things, she is not too young. I realize you could run into labor laws, insurance issues, etc, but my boys, all 3 of them, were helping me in the shop before they were that old.  Those were some of the best times of my life.  Of course, I realize that since they were MY kids, none of those issues I mentioned applied.

You've gotten some good advice, best of luck to you and your daughter!

[HBAR]

I always used a utility knife, thinking it was easier.  Then I took a class with Chris Andre of Slickbald.com

I now hate to use a utility knife.  After I was properly taught how to use a head knife and a good one it is night and day different.  The head knife is so so smooth and manuverable.   I have an old osborne head knife and it sucks.  The smaller ones with different shapes and features are great.  I think leather wrangler makes or sells some of them. 

If I was learning from the start again, I would get trained to use a head knife and use it properly.

[daljitgroup]

i like your post and want to give you a suggestion that youtube video search is better.

[tojoful]

Thank you everyone for some great advise and pointers on where to start. Sorry I haven't been back to thank you before now, like I said I'm new to forums as well and have been reading other peoples posts on here instead of coming back to check mine.

Aussiemade - We're in Newcastle/Hunter region NSW. I don't have to encourage her at all, she is very keen to get started.  

JLSleather - thanks for the offer, I'm not sure how to message you but will experiment. Yes I almost went over board on tools etc - looked at total of shopping basket and was up to $600 - without leather and without all the fancy tools and stamps I'd like to buy!  Had to clear it and start again with just the things we need to get started. So many things to get, so little money to get it with 

I've bought pre-cut belt lengths to start with, but will definitely have to buy some leather. I looked at different knifes and didn't know which sort to get. The strap cutters look like a great tool, for now we just have a retractable craft knife, but will get something better when we start buying pieces of leather. My brother used to be a butcher so will get a lesson in knife sharpening off him.

Have also ordered some basic tools off ebay, (9pc hole punch, edge beveller, stitch groover, awls, needles, thread, alphabet stamps and one of those cheap 20pc stamp sets which are probably no good but it's a start. Also got press studs & setter, rivets, buckles, resolene, dye, conditioner and a zoingo boingo (lol -just trying to trick you, that's for my other daughter). Now just have to sit back and wait for the mailman to deliver it all - which since it's almost Christmas will probably be mid January! Guess we'll research some more while we wait and look up the links you guys have given us.

Thanks heaps, will definitely put up pics of her attempts for guidance/feedback.

 

[AussieMade]

5 hours ago, tojoful said:

Aussiemade - We're in Newcastle/Hunter region NSW. I don't have to encourage her at all, she is very keen to get started.  

There are some good suppliers down that way:

Not sure how far Botany is from you but there is:

Birdsall Leathercraft: http://www.birdsall-leather.com.au/

There is also the Leather Workers Guild of NSW, they hold a lot of workshops etc. and are a wealth of knowledge: http://www.leatherworkersguildnsw.org.au/

There are also some good online shops as well up this way in Brisbane,

Maclace is one of them: http://www.maclace.com.au/

Good luck, looking forward to seeing what you and your daughter produce.

Cheers Damien

[tojoful]

Thanks Aussiemade, yes I have just in the last few days stumbled across the Birdsall website, it looks good - in price and in the variety of stuff they sell. I saw on their website they have lessons as well - I'm born and raised in the bush and small country towns, hate driving in more than 2 lanes of traffic and avoid cities at all costs. I might just have to toughen up cause they are only a couple of hours from us and look to have some amazing lessons on different things, for us learners and also for the experienced. Plus it would be great to look and feel (and smell) the products instead just seeing them on my computer screen.

I'm going straight over to look at the leather workers guild website now, I've been looking on facebook for "groups" but not finding much at all. Thanks heaps for your help.

Ta 

Jo

[Chain]

Jo

there is a Facebook page for Aussie Leathercrafters.  Sylvia from Birdsall is quite active there.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/aussieleathercrafters/

 

 

[tojoful]

Thank you Chain, just joined the group this morning after reading your message. Have already been given some great advice/direction from one of the admin on the group.

Thanks heaps