Starting out tools required

[83Paulp]

Morning leatherworkers, I bet you have all been asked this question before.

I'm about to start adventure in leather craft, I'm needing good quality leather tools to start making leather wallet, wallet lanyards, belts and bags. Not really 100% sure on the tools required! I know I will need things like pricking iron but I'm so confused about sizes etc, and other tools required. My grandfather done a lot of leather work but is unfortunately not around anymore to share his knowledge and all his tools are unsalvageable. 

It would be great if you could help, I don't have a bottomless pit of money. But I do understand it's worth buying good quality tools. I'm based in the UK, so any suggestions on suppliers would be great also.

 

Thanks Paul

[chrisash]

You canot go far wrong making a visit to the Tandy store or looking at their UK site, they are not the best tools (if there is such a thing) but of reasonable quality and price, once you get experienced you may feel the need to update some of the tools to top end tools as your experience tells you where you need to improve.

https://www.tandyleather.eu

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/knives.htm is a good supplier but basically a crap web site

Artesian leather is a good and frendly place and very helpful https://www.artisanleather.co.uk/leathercraft-starter-kits.html

Abbeyengland.com wide selection of tools

Ian Anderson and Nigel Armitage both have plenty of youtube help guides and Nigel has a £3.00 per month big subscription site that will teach you at present about 50 lessons at 

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/armitageleather/247495554

Quite a few UK members on this forum for more info

[83Paulp]

Thanks Chrisash, I'll take a look at the suppliers. Regarding the tools, I know I need 

-Mauls/mallet, scratch awl, wood slicker, craft knife and rotary cutter, skiver, cutting mat and board, strap cutter, stitching groover, metal rules, stitching pony, needles, pricking irons, punches, edge beveler. Is there anything else? 

Regarding needles, pricking irons, punches, edge beveler. What sizes would you suggest I would need for making wallets, wallet lanyards and belts? 

Thanks Paul

[bikermutt07]

You could do a lot worse than this kit here. It has just about everything needed to get started.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153332451784

Decent quality.

[CraftsmanUK]

Hi Paul

I can help you with a few leather suppliers and besides Tandy who have moved up to Manchester a good friend of mine has a company suppling leather and tools to the saddlery industry. They are  http://abbeyengland.com/

They have now their own brass foundry and produce an excellent range of brass buckles.

Oak tanned leather - http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/

http://www.sedgwickandcoleather.com/our-leather/provenance/

http://thomasware.co.uk/our-leather-process/

https://leather4craft.co.uk/

https://www.identityleathercraft.com/index.php/

They supply tools etc

https://gdhleathercourses.co.uk/

Courses

Hope that will get u started.

Ive been involved with since the late 70's so I'm now down sizing. so check out my lists for anything that might be of interest.

Send me  a message if I can be of any further help.

Cheers Peter

 

[mdawson]

Hi Paul

Ian Atkinson has a couple of videos on tools to start out which may help.

Top 25 Recommended Leatherwork Tools More recent

The Tools You Need for Leatherwork! Older

Mark

Edited February 6, 2019 by mdawson
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[dikman]

I know this depends on whether you have both the gear and the abilities, but old kitchen cutlery can be re-shaped to make suitable knives for leatherwork. With the right sharpening technique they can be made very sharp!

One thing you'll want to make is a leather strop (loaded with polishing grit) to keep your cutting tools sharp. Search the forum for how-to articles..