Recommendations?

[sonnyboone]

Hi Leather working friends!  This is my first post on the forum.  I'm happy to be here and to be getting more involved in leather work.  I'm sure this question has been beat to death, and if there's a comprehensive thread please point me there!  Otherwise, here it is :

I've been diving in head first and have purchased a wide range of tools, from Tandy (Craft tool) and CS Osbourne to Sinabroks.  I'm seeing a huge disparity in quality and also a lack of transparency in the materials used, especially in steel and heat treat but also place of manufacture.  I've seen that Chartermade has this info available... but I'm wondering if you can make other recommendations on where to buy good quality, long lasting tools that hold their value and have specific info on the materials used.  Having dabbled in knife making, I've ended up making some of my own knives because of this - but I'd rather not!  It seems crazy to me that with so many excellent tool steels available - I'm having to strop my leather tools with every use. Surely there's a better way!

Right now I'm specifically looking for a high quality #0 edge beveler.

Thanks in advance!

Edited September 26, 2020 by sonnyboone

[tsunkasapa]

You ALWAYS strop your tools for every use. That is just a fact of life.

[sonnyboone]

1 hour ago, tsunkasapa said:

You ALWAYS strop your tools for every use. That is just a fact of life.

I don't mind stropping, and do so for upkeep of all my cutting tools.  The core of my question is more about quality and transparency, specifically concerning leather cutting tools and the steels and heat treats.  If you have some recommendations It'd be great to check them out.

[Hardrada]

Kyoshin Elle for the edger. Get it at goodsjapan.com.

[chrisash]

Really it's impossible to say, few will give what steel is used. some of the well known names make good workmans tools that will last for years and generally have quite basic Beech handles etc, whilst some have fantastic high prices and it appears your paying either for the name or the fancy wood

Of your choice Craft tools are run of the mill items that are reasonably priced and do a basic job, where as Abbey,England or Osborne are what you would call tradesman's tools sold under their name but who knows where they were made

Nigel Armitage does a good series on tools and is a master leatherworker so his selection may be a good guide for you and he also has a vimeo site https://www.youtube.com/c/NigelArmitage/videos

[sonnyboone]

3 hours ago, Hardrada said:

Kyoshin Elle for the edger. Get it at goodsjapan.com.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check them out.

2 hours ago, chrisash said:

Really it's impossible to say, few will give what steel is used. some of the well known names make good workmans tools that will last for years and generally have quite basic Beech handles etc, whilst some have fantastic high prices and it appears your paying either for the name or the fancy wood

Of your choice Craft tools are run of the mill items that are reasonably priced and do a basic job, where as Abbey,England or Osborne are what you would call tradesman's tools sold under their name but who knows where they were made

Nigel Armitage does a good series on tools and is a master leatherworker so his selection may be a good guide for you and he also has a vimeo site https://www.youtube.com/c/NigelArmitage/videos

It seems strange that so many leather hand tool companies don't put that information up front.  I'll keep digging.

Thanks for the link to Nigel's channel.  I've come across it a few times but will have a deeper dive into his videos.

[chrisash]

I doubt that if you posted a steel type that you considered the best for the job, there would be loads of posts that say something else is better

For the leather workers does it make any difference as long as it does what they want after all most tools are not stupid money, its not like you are spending on a top sports car

Are not some Hermes bags now made in the Far East but sold as Hermes France just like many other items, I doubt Cowboy sewing machines are made in the USA

[sonnyboone]

For me it's just about making an informed choice and knowing the type of tool steel and the hardness is part of my personal decision making process when buying cutting tools.

It's been hard to come by on many leather tool seller's sites but it's nice to see that a lot of the Japanese tools on the Goodsjapan.com site have that info.  I'm going to have a look a Barry King's tools too.  It seems like they come highly recommended.

I'm not too concerned about where something is made as long as the quality is there.

No doubt some tools will work better for different people and their preferences.   I try and stay way clear of those arguments!  Thanks for the input!

[chuck123wapati]

11 hours ago, sonnyboone said:

I don't mind stropping, and do so for upkeep of all my cutting tools.  The core of my question is more about quality and transparency, specifically concerning leather cutting tools and the steels and heat treats.  If you have some recommendations It'd be great to check them out.

back in the day tools , even knives didn't have much info on the steels used nowadays the trend by consumers is that every detail of an item is considered before purchase. As for steels the relevance of steel type isn't as important as how the steel was tempered during the construction process but most folks dont realize this aspect and tend towards opinions rendered on line by the most votes. As for stropping, polishing, sharpening whatever you want to call it depending on method of choice of leather tools i will say leather is very hard on edges so the process is needed more frequently than some tools less than others. If your tools seem to soft tempered you can re temper them if you still have your knife making equipment. My beef with the tool selection is the quality of stamps and the quality of the imprint they leave, some you buy are the direct result of the manufacturing processes now a days i feel most mass produced tools are the product of people who never use them or understand just what they are trying to do with them besides making a buck selling them. If you want quality tools your going to have to spend the money for quality tools i haven't found a middle of the road good leather tool company as yet. 

[sonnyboone]

16 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

back in the day tools , even knives didn't have much info on the steels used nowadays the trend by consumers is that every detail of an item is considered before purchase. As for steels the relevance of steel type isn't as important as how the steel was tempered during the construction process but most folks dont realize this aspect and tend towards opinions rendered on line by the most votes. As for stropping, polishing, sharpening whatever you want to call it depending on method of choice of leather tools i will say leather is very hard on edges so the process is needed more frequently than some tools less than others. If your tools seem to soft tempered you can re temper them if you still have your knife making equipment. My beef with the tool selection is the quality of stamps and the quality of the imprint they leave, some you buy are the direct result of the manufacturing processes now a days i feel most mass produced tools are the product of people who never use them or understand just what they are trying to do with them besides making a buck selling them. If you want quality tools your going to have to spend the money for quality tools i haven't found a middle of the road good leather tool company as yet. 

I do have some knife making tools still but to re-do the heat treat and temper I would still need to know the steel since some are oil hardened, air hardened, brine etc, etc.  I've been playing around a bit making some leather knives and ended up making a edger to test this morning to try to hold me over while I'm trying to decide what to get.  I do notice a big difference in hardness from the O1 that I'm using vs some of my Tandy mystery steel.  Maybe making is the way to go?  I feel like buying the tools is a good way to get a point of reference if I do decide to make more.

I haven't jumped into stamping yet but it's next on the list.  I have a small Sherline mill and am wondering about converting it to cnc to try and cut diy stamps.  Like I need another hobby....  While on that topic, if you have any recommendations on shops that produce stamps I'd love to hear those too. 

I definitely agree, if you want quality you usually have to pay.  If there's no middle of the road leather tool company maybe there's a market opportunity there!