Newbe needing some direction

[ABC3]

I am a newbe to leather craft but have been lurking around this as well as other sites for a while now.Just a world of information & looks like a great forum. I think I have the bug but know absolutely nothing about the craft. I'm so new - I don't even know where leather comes from.

I've got enough room for a shop & was interested in starting with belts for those that carry concealed (mainly friends & fellows at my gun club) & if I like it then move into other areas.

I am a NRA certified instructor & shoot competitively in some local stuff so I know the guys that would like a belt now & then. This would be just a hobby & not interested in getting into mass productions.

Been to several of the Tandy stores & frankly not impressed. (maybe it's just my area). Have a million questions & hopefully many will be answered by a couple of Al Stohlmans books I have on order.

I guess the big question or questions I have, that probably will not be in any book is: Is there a list of supplies, suppliers, equipment, hardware for belts, type & weight of hides, things in general to get started.

I know that with my shooting, reloading & collecting 1911's I have made every mistake in the book, over the years, which constitutes to dollars lost. Maybe I'm looking for a "shortcut" that doesn't exist. I don't have a Business License or Tax ID# so Weaver & others are out.

Without stealing any trade secrets, can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for any & all help. Hobby Tom

[Rawhide]

I am a newbe to leather craft but have been lurking around this as well as other sites for a while now.Just a world of information & looks like a great forum. I think I have the bug but know absolutely nothing about the craft. I'm so new - I don't even know where leather comes from.

I've got enough room for a shop & was interested in starting with belts for those that carry concealed (mainly friends & fellows at my gun club) & if I like it then move into other areas.

I am a NRA certified instructor & shoot competitively in some local stuff so I know the guys that would like a belt now & then. This would be just a hobby & not interested in getting into mass productions.

Been to several of the Tandy stores & frankly not impressed. (maybe it's just my area). Have a million questions & hopefully many will be answered by a couple of Al Stohlmans books I have on order.

I guess the big question or questions I have, that probably will not be in any book is: Is there a list of supplies, suppliers, equipment, hardware for belts, type & weight of hides, things in general to get started.

I know that with my shooting, reloading & collecting 1911's I have made every mistake in the book, over the years, which constitutes to dollars lost. Maybe I'm looking for a "shortcut" that doesn't exist. I don't have a Business License or Tax ID# so Weaver & others are out.

Without stealing any trade secrets, can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for any & all help. Hobby Tom

If belts are all you want to do, the "Belts Galore" book by Al Stohlman should get you going with what's needed to create them. If you want to expand on that, the book by Valarie Michael "The Leatherworking Handbook", has just about everything a shop will need to produce belts, handbags, wallets, and the like,

Saddlemaker....different story.

Since you're a shooter, you might consider making holsters as well.

[ABC3]

I've looked at holsters & have 20 or 25 from some of the top mfg's. But they all look complicated & I need to crawl before I walk, so to speak.

Thanks for the information.....

[Hilly]

I am a newbe to leather craft but have been lurking around this as well as other sites for a while now.Just a world of information & looks like a great forum. I think I have the bug but know absolutely nothing about the craft. I'm so new - I don't even know where leather comes from.

I've got enough room for a shop & was interested in starting with belts for those that carry concealed (mainly friends & fellows at my gun club) & if I like it then move into other areas.

I am a NRA certified instructor & shoot competitively in some local stuff so I know the guys that would like a belt now & then. This would be just a hobby & not interested in getting into mass productions.

Been to several of the Tandy stores & frankly not impressed. (maybe it's just my area). Have a million questions & hopefully many will be answered by a couple of Al Stohlmans books I have on order.

I guess the big question or questions I have, that probably will not be in any book is: Is there a list of supplies, suppliers, equipment, hardware for belts, type & weight of hides, things in general to get started.

I know that with my shooting, reloading & collecting 1911's I have made every mistake in the book, over the years, which constitutes to dollars lost. Maybe I'm looking for a "shortcut" that doesn't exist. I don't have a Business License or Tax ID# so Weaver & others are out.

Without stealing any trade secrets, can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for any & all help. Hobby Tom

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but on the Leatherworker.net main page, there's a link to many suppliers. Once you know what you need, you'll have a place to start looking for supplies.

Have fun with your new addiction hobby.

Hilly

[TrooperChuck]

Tom:

I understand your reluctance to take on something that seems complicated, but to be honest, holsters really aren't very complicated. And, with your contacts as an NRA instructor, you already have a ton of portential customers.

I wish I had gotten into leathercrafting when I was a state trooper. When in uniform, we had to wear the department-issued gear, but off-duty or working in plain clothes we could use our own leather gear. I could have sold a LOT of concealed-carry type holsters back then.

For what it's worth, one of my best buddies is also a NRA instructor. They keep him pretty busy, traveling around the country teaching cops.

Welcome to the forum.

Chuck

[tashabear]

I don't have a Business License or Tax ID# so Weaver & others are out.

I don't know where you are, but here in MA, it's free to register your business, and worth the effort for the doors it can open. I know you don't intend to do this as much more than a hobby, but my dad did the same thing as a gunsmith and registered his business to smooth the way for ordering some things he just couldn't get as a hobbyist. Might be worth taking a gander at your state's Department of Revenue website.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Tom, Don't discount Tandy to quickly. Since you are just wanting to start out I feel that Tandy is a great place to start. First you can buy a "starter kit" that will include the necessary tools for a beginner along with some beginner kits, such as a wallet, belt, and checkbook cover. This is how I got started for a minimal fee. Then you can invest in more tools etc... Their leather is fine for most projects and when starting out you don't want to pay big bucks for leather that may end up getting hacked, chopped, dyed wrong, and experimented with. If you didn't like the store check out the website. Plenty of tools, patterns, and kits for us newbie's.

By the way I'm not affiliated in any way with Tandy but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Scott

[calanneh]

Hey Tom!

I am not sure what you were unimpressed with but I love to help our customers. I work at a Tandy's but I am the first person to tell our customer's we ARE NOT the only place to get the stuff you need and if I know you can get something for less money elsewhere I'll point that out to ya!

I don't post and push Tandy stuff normally, but since you've asked I am going to go with what I know best, which is Tandy product....

There are a few basic tools that most leatherworkers start out with, BUT everybody goes their own route. There are two 'basic' tooling kits sold by Tandy. One is 6 stamping tools with a swivel knife and the other is 7 basic stamping tools. Both run about $20. They are items #8170-00 & -99. You can view them on the website to see which tools the include.

If you are looking for a good kit to start out with, the Deluxe Leathercraft Kit (#55510-00) is a good one to start out with. It even has a belt in it as one of the projects you start with. It is normally $200, but it is on sale for only $99 to the wholesale club members right now. IF you do shop at Tandy, spend the $35 for the wholesale club as it is well worth it!! Lotsa free tools and great discounts.

As Tasha said, in some states the Tax ID # is free to obtain and it can open lotsa doors AND get you great discounts! Weaver's is a great place to get stuff.

Springfield Leather is another good place I am told. I haven't purchased from them but their name comes up quite often. Maybe somebody else here can add firsthand input on them.

The 'Belts Galore' book that mentioned above is a great belt pattern book. There are others but you mentioned you have some on order already.

I hope this helps!

[ABC3]

William, Thanks so much for the input. I will continue to stop in at the Tandy stores as I travel around. Have checked with Weavers but not at the point yet of getting a Tax ID or Business Lic so not much help there.

"Will check w/ Springfield leather.

Have a great day & again thanks,

[calanneh]

William, Thanks so much for the input. I will continue to stop in at the Tandy stores as I travel around. Have checked with Weavers but not at the point yet of getting a Tax ID or Business Lic so not much help there.

"Will check w/ Springfield leather.

Have a great day & again thanks,

No prob Tom, that's what we're all here for!!

Can I ask what area of the country you are in? There may be a leatherguild or other local resources we can point ya to!