beginner tools

[desertwastes]

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..

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2017 by desertwastes
left out photo

[JerseyFirefighter]

General tools being (but not exlusively)

Utility or exacto knife (with plenty of spare blades)

A interchangeable punch set or rotary punch to get you different sizes. 

A solid work surface inclusive of a granite slab or steel plate for pounding. 

A cutting board or heal-able cutting surface to extend the life of your blades and save whatever you'd otherwise be cutting on. 

Hardware....hardware.. buckles, rivets, keeps,.. If you have a tandy near you at least you can check out the goods first hand until you know what type of hardware you will need on a regular basis.

Leather, leather, leather. Learn from your mistakes (more than we all care to admit) practice on scraps, and welcome to an awesome new hobby/venture. 

[Brianm77]

When I first started, I bought a bunch of leather from a local saddle shop's scrap bin.  Shoe/boot maker or upholstery shop may also work for some of the stuff one might make wallets out of.  

 

Also so as far as tools go the advice is vast. If you decide to stick with it, I would buy the best you feel like you can afford.   The set pictured is a pretty good start.  I would not go crazy in the Tandy store, quality and price is more times than not an issue.  You may have better luck with getting advice by asking about a specific item or searching about a specific item.  

Welcome to the club

Brian

Edited April 18, 2017 by Brianm77
Fat finger syndrome

[bikermutt07]

If you go into a Tandy location, know what you want when you get there. Otherwise you will be pointed towards lots of stuff you don't need.

Everything in a Tandy store is grossly overpriced and mostly poor quality. They feed off of newbies. 

I have a large Tandy right down the street. I never buy their leather or tools any more. Maybe a river setter or the like, but that's about it.

I only go in these days to peruse their clearance aisle for deals on hardware. That is the only time their stuff is reasonable.

Don't get me wrong, they have a few things in there I think are quality, but the prices on that stuff is astronomical.

[zuludog]

The tool kit you've shown looks reasonable enough for the money, but you still need to add a few items, such as -

A cutting mat; the usual green thing; get the biggest one you can manage, they're cheap enough

Don't be tempted by the 4-in-1 awl sold by Tandy, and others. It's expensive and not very good. You will need a saddler's awl and a round awl. Looks like you already have a round awl in the kit. Tandy's tools do receive their share of criticism, but their Craftool range is reasonable enough. Traditionally an awl was sold as a separate blade and haft which you mounted and sharpened yourself, and this is a right pain. The Craftool awl 83020-00  is ready for use and not too expensive, especially if you can find it on offer or with their discount scheme

You will need two knives - get a Stanley type knife for cutting leather. That will be good enough to start with. The blades are disposable, but they seem to work better if you resharpen them. The second knife can be anything you like; use it for cutting string, sharpening pencils, opening parcels, and so on. It's purpose is to make sure you use the first knife exclusively for cutting leather

The key to good leatherwork is to have razor sharp tools. Get a fine oil-, ceramic-, or diamond- stone, whatever takes your fancy, and a strop. Search YouTube for sharpening techniques.

Make your own strop from oddments of wood & leather; this will be just about the easiest piece of leatherwork you will do. Go to a good tool store or Online for some stropping compound. Same shop might also have a soft hammer and beeswax

You will need to buy consumables like stains, dyes, edge coats, leather treatments like oils & greases, as well as a few odd tools now & again. So consider if it's worth joining one of Tandy's discount schemes. Get on their email list and you will hear of offers

I see there is a Japanese style knife in your kit. It can be used for cutting and skiving. Search YouTube for 'Japanese leather knife' for how to use it

Edited April 18, 2017 by zuludog

[Grumpymann]

Hope if you don't mind if I jump in here. There a few things that didn't get mentioned here that I fine I cant live with out.

 

1)  2 good rulers. 24 inches and another for finer measurements at 1 foot. I use a cork backed non slip ruler for finer measurements. And they are great for straight edges.

2) Wing dividers I found I use 2 but 1 is enough to get started. You can find a really cheep set on line to start.

3) A weight. I have a little anvil  When you have a piece of leather that moves and you need another hand to hold it ... pulse I can hammer on it in a tight spot

4) Roofing square a straight 90 degree angle is a must for some projects. and when you need it straight 1 degree can kill a project.

5) Poster board. A sketch is a great place to start, a measured out drawing is a step in the right direction and finally a mock up will get out those little bugs that don't pop up till your in the real world and not just in your head. And you can use it as a template a few times. ( on my very first project I spent almost a month on a bag that didn't have the right measurements to start with jiggering and regiggering it almost drove me nuts! And all the while the craftsman that got me started would walk behind me and LAUGH out loud AT me. "Whats so funny?"  I would ask. "Tell you later"  he would say. When I finished the project and showed it to him. He asked me how I did it. Smiling as I explained my woes and solutions. then he said. "Wouldn't it have been easier if you had done a mock up in cardboard?" ... Then he sharpened my knives and helped me make one for him.)

6) Scrap. Experiment, play, have FUN,

7) A computer. This place has HUNDREDS of years of knowledge if not thousands of experience. And as mentioned youtube is your friend!

8) A good sorse of light. Its hard to follow a line when it's hidden in the shadow of your hand as you cut.

 

If any of this is silly or remedial, sorry for wasting anyone's time. These are the problems I have run into that I WISH someone had told me after I figured it out for myself.

[desertwastes]

23 hours ago, Grumpymann said:

Hope if you don't mind if I jump in here. There a few things that didn't get mentioned here that I fine I cant live with out.

 

1)  2 good rulers. 24 inches and another for finer measurements at 1 foot. I use a cork backed non slip ruler for finer measurements. And they are great for straight edges.

2) Wing dividers I found I use 2 but 1 is enough to get started. You can find a really cheep set on line to start.

3) A weight. I have a little anvil  When you have a piece of leather that moves and you need another hand to hold it ... pulse I can hammer on it in a tight spot

4) Roofing square a straight 90 degree angle is a must for some projects. and when you need it straight 1 degree can kill a project.

5) Poster board. A sketch is a great place to start, a measured out drawing is a step in the right direction and finally a mock up will get out those little bugs that don't pop up till your in the real world and not just in your head. And you can use it as a template a few times. ( on my very first project I spent almost a month on a bag that didn't have the right measurements to start with jiggering and regiggering it almost drove me nuts! And all the while the craftsman that got me started would walk behind me and LAUGH out loud AT me. "Whats so funny?"  I would ask. "Tell you later"  he would say. When I finished the project and showed it to him. He asked me how I did it. Smiling as I explained my woes and solutions. then he said. "Wouldn't it have been easier if you had done a mock up in cardboard?" ... Then he sharpened my knives and helped me make one for him.)

6) Scrap. Experiment, play, have FUN,

7) A computer. This place has HUNDREDS of years of knowledge if not thousands of experience. And as mentioned youtube is your friend!

8) A good sorse of light. Its hard to follow a line when it's hidden in the shadow of your hand as you cut.

 

If any of this is silly or remedial, sorry for wasting anyone's time. These are the problems I have run into that I WISH someone had told me after I figured it out for myself.

This is all great information! And honestly, most of it I haven't come across yet! Thank you for taking the time to write it all out!

On 4/17/2017 at 11:57 PM, Brianm77 said:

When I first started, I bought a bunch of leather from a local saddle shop's scrap bin.  Shoe/boot maker or upholstery shop may also work for some of the stuff one might make wallets out of.  

 

Also so as far as tools go the advice is vast. If you decide to stick with it, I would buy the best you feel like you can afford.   The set pictured is a pretty good start.  I would not go crazy in the Tandy store, quality and price is more times than not an issue.  You may have better luck with getting advice by asking about a specific item or searching about a specific item.  

Welcome to the club

Brian

Thanks!

[desertwastes]

On 4/18/2017 at 1:50 AM, zuludog said:

The tool kit you've shown looks reasonable enough for the money, but you still need to add a few items, such as -

A cutting mat; the usual green thing; get the biggest one you can manage, they're cheap enough

Don't be tempted by the 4-in-1 awl sold by Tandy, and others. It's expensive and not very good. You will need a saddler's awl and a round awl. Looks like you already have a round awl in the kit. Tandy's tools do receive their share of criticism, but their Craftool range is reasonable enough. Traditionally an awl was sold as a separate blade and haft which you mounted and sharpened yourself, and this is a right pain. The Craftool awl 83020-00  is ready for use and not too expensive, especially if you can find it on offer or with their discount scheme

You will need two knives - get a Stanley type knife for cutting leather. That will be good enough to start with. The blades are disposable, but they seem to work better if you resharpen them. The second knife can be anything you like; use it for cutting string, sharpening pencils, opening parcels, and so on. It's purpose is to make sure you use the first knife exclusively for cutting leather

The key to good leatherwork is to have razor sharp tools. Get a fine oil-, ceramic-, or diamond- stone, whatever takes your fancy, and a strop. Search YouTube for sharpening techniques.

Make your own strop from oddments of wood & leather; this will be just about the easiest piece of leatherwork you will do. Go to a good tool store or Online for some stropping compound. Same shop might also have a soft hammer and beeswax

You will need to buy consumables like stains, dyes, edge coats, leather treatments like oils & greases, as well as a few odd tools now & again. So consider if it's worth joining one of Tandy's discount schemes. Get on their email list and you will hear of offers

I see there is a Japanese style knife in your kit. It can be used for cutting and skiving. Search YouTube for 'Japanese leather knife' for how to use it

Perfect, thanks for the help. Will do!