Which beginner tool kit ???

[Hardrada]

Second the suggestion about avoiding the 4-in-1 awl: I got it as part of the Tandy sewing kit (hence my previous suggestion about avoiding kits) and the blade is duller than my teeth. Get an awl that already comes sharpened. Yes, eventually you'll have to get your sharpening stones if you stick with the craft, but if you get the Tandy awl you'll have to buy them NOW.

[zuludog]

Hello Woldbill. Remember. of course, that you will need some leather!

Leather is the skin of a cow, and different parts will have differing quality & thickness, and be priced accordingly

Somewhere on Tandy's website there is a guide to the types of leather and what they might be used for

I make knife sheaths from 3mm vegetable tanned shoulders. I've just had a look at Tandy USA website and they're $39-99 each

Veg tanned belly isn't as good, but it would still be OK for making smaller, simple items, like small sheaths, coasters, key fobs, a strop, and general practice. The advantage for beginning & practising is that a belly is $15-99. You probably couldn't make a tool bag out of it, but you could make a belt pouch or a small possibles bag. They wouldn't be as good as using top class tanned & coloured leather, but neither would they be as expensive, and you've gotta start somewhere. Search YT accordingly. Or you could make a roll for some tools & spanners (wrenches to you!)

[Sturme]

you might want to go here, lots of ebook and patterns you can use to get started. and they are free.

tandy leather library

[Woldbill1962]

Thanks everyone for sharing your wisdom and advice. I have decided to take your advice and not get a kit. Have put a list together using your advice and will order today. 

Cant wait to get started. 

 

Bill

[Sheilajeanne]

Woldbill, I always balked at getting that Tandy marble slab. I thought it was ridiculously expensive. I went to Home Depot instead, and bought a 10x10 polished granite tile. So far, it has held up to everything I've done, and if it breaks, it's $12 to replace it!

Places that make counter tops and headstones are also a good source for slabs, if you don't want to pay Tandy's prices. They will often let you have their off cuts for nothing.

 

[Hardrada]

4 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Woldbill, I always balked at getting that Tandy marble slab. I thought it was ridiculously expensive. I went to Home Depot instead, and bought a 10x10 polished granite tile. So far, it has held up to everything I've done, and if it breaks, it's $12 to replace it!

Places that make counter tops and headstones are also a good source for slabs, if you don't want to pay Tandy's prices. They will often let you have their off cuts for nothing.

 

Are those cut offs polished? I've been thinking the same thing: going to one of the countertops places in town, but haven't yet. The Tandy slab does look expensive, especially when you factor in the extra charge to shipping due to heavy weight.

[wizard of tragacanth]

I recommend granite over quartz. I recently got a red quartz (man-made) stone from Tandy and I hate it. This is weird and I will understand if you don't believe it... no matter what I clean the stone with, it always feels dirty. I can wash it with soap and water, then as soon as it is dry, rub my hand across it and it feels like little particles are all over it. I cannot figure out how this happens. Is this real or is it just a perceptual thing? I don't know! Anyone else have this experience?

nick 

[Hardrada]

Yeah, I've had that experience with some stones and it drives me bonkers. Good advice on the granite, thankee.

[Onidori]

As a follow up question to the original post, which tools are better? Tandy's? Weaver's? Different brand(s) altogether?

 

I am also just starting out and kond of lost with all the different tools and selections, and was pondering buying a kit as well (Tandy had a "complete starter kit for about $600). As it looks to me right now, Weaver's tools look nicer/more visually appealing, and that leads me to believe they are better put together and higher quality, but i could be very wrong about this, IDK. Any advice or information on the subject would be greatly appreciated, as id really like to put my limited budget to the best quality i can (within reason).

[DJole]

1 hour ago, Onidori said:

As a follow up question to the original post, which tools are better? Tandy's? Weaver's? Different brand(s) altogether?

I am also just starting out and kond of lost with all the different tools and selections, and was pondering buying a kit as well (Tandy had a "complete starter kit for about $600). As it looks to me right now, Weaver's tools look nicer/more visually appealing, and that leads me to believe they are better put together and higher quality, but i could be very wrong about this, IDK. Any advice or information on the subject would be greatly appreciated, as id really like to put my limited budget to the best quality i can (within reason).

The first place to start is this: what are you planning to do in leather? 
That will help us figure out not only the basics, but what additional things  you might need. 
The "starter" kits may have a bunch of tools you don't actually need for the things you are planning to do (for example, if you're not interested in tooling, there's no reason to have those specific tools.)
You might find Ian Atkinson's videos helpful for  this topic:
https://www.ianatkinson.net/leather/toolset.htm