Homemade tools and ways you have saved money on tools

[zuludog]

JENGRANGER - I've just been on Tandy USA website. They currently have the Craftool Pro Stitching Awl # 83020 - 00 for sale at $ 19-99

[JenGranger]

Awesome

[JenGranger]

On December 30, 2016 at 11:42 AM, tnhomestead said:

Vinegaroon dye -- just dump steel wool pad into vinegar, let it sit till the steel wool dissolves, run through a coffee filter, and voila you have a black dye! just dont put a lid on tightly as it cooks, may blow up on you. Just tested my first batch, wanted to see if getting it rusty etc in advance was needed and seems to work fine this way. Just saw a cool video on using biscuit letters to stamp leather, 2 bucks a set with a holder to line them up! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alphabet-Number-Letter-Biscuit-Cake-Cookie-Mould-Embosser-Press-Stamp-Decorating-/302047824610?var=&hash=item4653740ae2:m:maOZugv6Z-7rRLMdOSkJNgQ is a link to one of them ( just a random one I saw on ebay ) and a cheap accurate way of embossing leather. The video used a 1 ton arbor press and the made a slot in a block of wood for the stamp holder to ride in -- it looked super simple!

I've brewed up some vinegaroon about a month ago, so it's probably ready to use.  I'm going to try it on the wallet that came with the 25-30 year old Tandy beginner kit I inherited after I tool it, then sew it together. I think I should probably soak it in strong tea before I vinegaroon it since the leather is so old. The leather lace is missing from the kit and the leather sewing thread I ordered is coming from China and it will be more than a month before I get it.  So I guess I'll just wax some thick nylon thread that I have with beeswax and sew it together with that.  It's not like I'm giving it to someone, so it's ok that I'm not doing it the proper way.  I'm just putting it together for the expirience and for the fun of it.

[Tob]

Do keep your eyes on craigslist.  I found a set and some leather for free.  I misplaced some of the tools like an idiot.  There was a good amount of everything.  Food coloring works for non brown or black dyes.  I have made a barely passable beveler out of a nail.  550 cord could be a source of thread, use wax.  It is braided, not woven and a bit thick.  Almost forgot to say that you could use a sharpie to color it black brown or whatever color.

Edited January 3, 2017 by Tob
Added info.

[JenGranger]

I wondered if you could dye leather with food clororing.

[VTleather09]

On 12/29/2016 at 9:11 PM, tnhomestead said:

If you have access to a grinder, shouldnt take but a few minutes to make a diamond awl or even a belt sander. Hmm, gives me an idea!~

Yes.  The sky is the limit if you have a grinder.  

[cjartist]

15 hours ago, Tob said:

Do keep your eyes on craigslist.  I found a set and some leather for free.  I misplaced some of the tools like an idiot.  There was a good amount of everything.  Food coloring works for non brown or black dyes.  I have made a barely passable beveler out of a nail.  550 cord could be a source of thread, use wax.  It is braided, not woven and a bit thick.  Almost forgot to say that you could use a sharpie to color it black brown or whatever color.

Ditto on this.  I got several gallons of Fiebings dye for free from Craigslist.  A realtor was tasked with cleaning out a property and posted it.  I probably won't have to buy any dye for years.

[Sheilajeanne]

When I was a kid, I did leatherwork using a pocket knife with a broken blade. I shaped the blade with a file until it came to a nice cutting point, and used that for cutting leather. I also used nails and other bits of metal that I shaped with a hammer and file to cut and stamp. Sewing needles and embroidery needles were used for stitching. I waxed button thread - the strongest thread my mom had - with wax I got off a ball of cheese!

Lots you can do with a bit of imagination!

 

[JenGranger]

I love love everyone's creativity and resourcefulness.  As someone with a very low income, I've always had to be creative and resourceful.

[YinTx]

I have been looking for this post for some time.  Wanted to add some simple items I use regularly.

First, a moving company moved my stuff some time ago, and wrapped everything in this brown paper to keep it from breaking/scratching.  I now have piles of it, flattened and folded, that I draw from every time I glue or dye something.  Keeps the tables clean!

Then, most all laundry soaps nowadays come with a plastic measuring cup as a lid.  When the soap is done, I clean the lid and use it for mixing dyes, 50/50 TanKote, holding alcohol for cleaning, etc.  Also have accumulated a pile of these lid/cups, and use them regularly.

When a sponge is too raggedy for doing dishes, cut it up into squares and use it for dye.  Same for worn out T-shirts, etc.  Great for buffing.

Scrap bits of thicker veg tan leather make great glue spreaders.

Those heavy metal binder clips work great to hold things together while you sew, or to keep something together while the glue dries.  Use them over and over and over...

YinTx