desertwastes Report post Posted April 18, 2017 Hey Gang, I've done some research on which tools I will need to start learning how to work with leather. There is a Tandy relatively close, but little in the way of much else. I ended up purchasing a kit online for very cheap ($25 CAN), and I'm hoping the quality won't be too terrible. I think it was a good decision, with several of the tools being on my list. I'm sure there are some in the kit I didn't necessarily need. Thoughts? I'm interested in being able to make wallets, knife sheaths, harnesses, and belts. I still planned on buying a mallet, saddlers needles, thread, wax, glue, utility and precision knife.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 This looks like a good little kit to get you started. 1st thing. Learn how to sharpen. Probably none of those tools (or most tools for that matter) are sharp enough for leather out of the box. It's just part of the hobby. Al Stohlmans "Leather tools how to use them how to sharpen them" is a great resource. Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alpha2 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 That is an Okay starter kit. You will use some of those a LOT more than others. The edge beveller, for instance, will be replaced soon, and you will wonder why you ever used the basic one. The French skiver needs to be SHARP, or you won't use it again. When it's sharp enough, put another half hour into sharpening it. Guess how I know! The stitching irons. Yep, sharpen them too. They seem sharp from the factory, but that isn't sharp. Do you see a sharpening pattern developing here? Good. A sharp bad tool is infinitely better than a dull high priced tool. Next, read all you can on this forum. Then read it again. File it, write it down, memorize it. We have all made all the mistakes you can imagine, and a LOT that you can't imagine yet. Most of all...don't be dismayed by all this advice. It's all worth it in the end. We have ALL started where you are. Heck, I'm still where you are. I'm still replacing my "trainer" tools, but I learned a LOT with them. Wait until you get into "edge finishing", or even "finishing" in general. Oh, yeah, we'll be hearing from you! That's where the fun begins! Unless you count stitching... There I go again!!! It's worth it, trust me! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danno90 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 That is EXACTLY the beginner's set I should have arriving in the next few days. Except I paid (the UK equivalent to) nearly double that :/ still I guess even as exchange rates go (considering it looks to be Chinese in origin) with all that is happening in the world it's not anywhere near as pricey as a cheap beginner's set could be. My philosophy is the same as yours, I think. Practise with cheap, get as near to mastering them as is possible, then as/when replace them with tools which I will be able to appreciate the subtle differences between an OK one and a Good one. The only thing I'm not sure about whether is included or not is the all important diamond-shaped stitching awl (from photo quality on the various Ebay listings for the same set, it looks like the awl is the round scratch awl. I guess as stitching chisels are included it's not too big a deal to start with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 1 hour ago, Danno90 said: That is EXACTLY the beginner's set I should have arriving in the next few days. Except I paid (the UK equivalent to) nearly double that :/ still I guess even as exchange rates go (considering it looks to be Chinese in origin) with all that is happening in the world it's not anywhere near as pricey as a cheap beginner's set could be. My philosophy is the same as yours, I think. Practise with cheap, get as near to mastering them as is possible, then as/when replace them with tools which I will be able to appreciate the subtle differences between an OK one and a Good one. The only thing I'm not sure about whether is included or not is the all important diamond-shaped stitching awl (from photo quality on the various Ebay listings for the same set, it looks like the awl is the round scratch awl. I guess as stitching chisels are included it's not too big a deal to start with. Since it comes with diamond chisels the awl is not all important in the beginning. These chisels are designed to punch thru multiple layers of leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danno90 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 Just now, bikermutt07 said: Since it comes with diamond chisels the awl is not all important in the beginning. These chisels are designed to punch thru multiple layers of leather. All the better for getting stuck right in! :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 Three years ago at the tender age of 40 I still couldn't sharpen a pocket knife when I dove into leather. Learning to sharpen things makes life easier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertwastes Report post Posted April 18, 2017 11 hours ago, Danno90 said: That is EXACTLY the beginner's set I should have arriving in the next few days. Except I paid (the UK equivalent to) nearly double that :/ still I guess even as exchange rates go (considering it looks to be Chinese in origin) with all that is happening in the world it's not anywhere near as pricey as a cheap beginner's set could be. My philosophy is the same as yours, I think. Practise with cheap, get as near to mastering them as is possible, then as/when replace them with tools which I will be able to appreciate the subtle differences between an OK one and a Good one. The only thing I'm not sure about whether is included or not is the all important diamond-shaped stitching awl (from photo quality on the various Ebay listings for the same set, it looks like the awl is the round scratch awl. I guess as stitching chisels are included it's not too big a deal to start with. Yeah they were more than double the price on Ebay, but I found this set on amazon for way cheaper, I have no idea why. Hopefully they work for us! After we've learned to sharped of course.. 12 hours ago, alpha2 said: That is an Okay starter kit. You will use some of those a LOT more than others. The edge beveller, for instance, will be replaced soon, and you will wonder why you ever used the basic one. The French skiver needs to be SHARP, or you won't use it again. When it's sharp enough, put another half hour into sharpening it. Guess how I know! The stitching irons. Yep, sharpen them too. They seem sharp from the factory, but that isn't sharp. Do you see a sharpening pattern developing here? Good. A sharp bad tool is infinitely better than a dull high priced tool. Next, read all you can on this forum. Then read it again. File it, write it down, memorize it. We have all made all the mistakes you can imagine, and a LOT that you can't imagine yet. Most of all...don't be dismayed by all this advice. It's all worth it in the end. We have ALL started where you are. Heck, I'm still where you are. I'm still replacing my "trainer" tools, but I learned a LOT with them. Wait until you get into "edge finishing", or even "finishing" in general. Oh, yeah, we'll be hearing from you! That's where the fun begins! Unless you count stitching... There I go again!!! It's worth it, trust me! Sharp and sharp, copy that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertwastes Report post Posted April 18, 2017 12 hours ago, bikermutt07 said: This looks like a good little kit to get you started. 1st thing. Learn how to sharpen. Probably none of those tools (or most tools for that matter) are sharp enough for leather out of the box. It's just part of the hobby. Al Stohlmans "Leather tools how to use them how to sharpen them" is a great resource. Good luck. Will do! Thanks for the tip! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danno90 Report post Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) Just a quick note to say my kit arrived today, and also some leather, needles and thread in another package from a different company. Definitely much sharpening to be done. The knife is probably only likely to cut butter at this point - and even then may have difficulty I joke, it seems solid enough, just needs some work on the edge. Overall pleased with the quality of the set, it just seems a little smaller than I thought. Or perhaps my hands are bigger than I realise having only seen tools in use on Youtube so have no real size comparison. Still, will be more than adequate for now :D Edited April 20, 2017 by Danno90 annoying typos are annoying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zuludog Report post Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) Search YouTube for 'sharpening' and watch as many as you have the stamina for, you will start to see how things are done and get an idea of what you think will work for you Perhaps I'm old fashioned but I just can't get me 'ead round the idea of a sharpening stone that uses water! so I use a fine oilstone followed by a strop nevertheless I think this is one of the best videos on YouTube about sharpening. Although it's for chisels the same technique can be used for knives preparing and sharpening a woodworking chisel by Paul Sellers You can improve the stitching chisels by polishing the prongs. Use a needle file followed by a home made polishing wand; glue some wet & dry paper onto a sliver of wood or a lollipop stick If you don't have a needle file use 2 or 2 grades of wet & dry paper. work your way through grades 500 to 1,000 Lubricate the prongs with beeswax to make them easier to insert & remove Edited April 20, 2017 by zuludog Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertwastes Report post Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Danno90 said: Just a quick note to say my kit arrived today, and also some leather, needles and thread in another package from a different company. Definitely much sharpening to be done. The knife is probably only likely to cut butter at this point - and even then may have difficulty I joke, it seems solid enough, just needs some work on the edge. Overall pleased with the quality of the set, it just seems a little smaller than I thought. Or perhaps my hands are bigger than I realise having only seen tools in use on Youtube so have no real size comparison. Still, will be more than adequate for now :D Okay! Good to know. I was worried they might instantly fall apart into dust, since I paid so little for them. Mine should be here in a couple days as well. Thankfully, I happen to be a female with tiny hands. Edited April 20, 2017 by desertwastes typo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertwastes Report post Posted April 20, 2017 46 minutes ago, zuludog said: Search YouTube for 'sharpening' and watch as many as you have the stamina for, you will start to see how things are done and get an idea of what you think will work for you Perhaps I'm old fashioned but I just can't get me 'ead round the idea of a sharpening stone that uses water! so I use a fine oilstone followed by a strop nevertheless I think this is one of the best videos on YouTube about sharpening. Although it's for chisels the same technique can be used for knives preparing and sharpening a woodworking chisel by Paul Sellers You can improve the stitching chisels by polishing the prongs. Use a needle file followed by a home made polishing wand; glue some wet & dry paper onto a sliver of wood or a lollipop stick If you don't have a needle file use 2 or 2 grades of wet & dry paper. work your way through grades 500 to 1,000 Lubricate the prongs with beeswax to make them easier to insert & remove Perfect. I made a note of it, will do. Partway through the youtube video now. Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danno90 Report post Posted April 20, 2017 53 minutes ago, zuludog said: nevertheless I think this is one of the best videos on YouTube about sharpening. Although it's for chisels the same technique can be used for knives preparing and sharpening a woodworking chisel by Paul Sellers He definitely makes it look easy, or maybe that's just me. As for the beeswax I may have to have a chat with a colleague at work who keeps bees, I'm not sure if it's the right time of year to be after it from the hives but he may have some. And rendering the raw stuff seems easy enough: melt in hot water, pour wax/oil mix into containers to solidify, discard dirty water and take the solid wax out, put wax in double boiler then filter through coffee filter to remove any finer dirt and pour the (now much cleaner) wax into paper cups/cupcake cases to cool into easier to manage blocks. Just thought I'd throw that in there. I'm being deliberately frugal as I want to get started ASAP with leather but payday isn't for another week... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zuludog Report post Posted April 20, 2017 Once you start looking and Surfing the Net you will see that new sharpening stones are expensive. There are a couple of markets near me with second hand tool stalls; see if there is one near you. Take your tools along and show the stallholder what you want to do; I have found that they are reasonable and helpful enough You probably won't find a ceramic or diamond stone as they are relatively recent developments, but you should be able to get an oilstone for £3 or £4. Then you just need some general purpose oil have a browse round the rest of the stall while you're at it, you never know your luck. One of my local stalls has a box for cobbler's & upholstery tools, I've had a couple of things from him Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
