Tool Question

[mike02130]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

Your #5 - I hope you mean a skiving knife. A skinning knife is a very different tool and would not be much use to you

He's doing cowboy stuff.  Gotta have a skinning knife.  How else is he going to get the leather off the beast?

[sbrownn]

Don't let anyone tell you everything from China is junk because it isn't.  Shop around and read reviews.  Some of the Chinese made tools are actually quite good.

 

[JDsims]

55 minutes ago, mike02130 said:

Wow, that's quite the list.  I'm really not as bad as I sound. I make women's handbags and smaller items using 1-4 ounce leather.  Your wants and my work are sort of at opposite ends.  I do make a pretty damn good belt, though.  There are plenty of other westen-type workers here that can guide you better than I.  When you get into my "genre" I can be of more assistance.  Hmm, a thousand  bucks huh.  Your covid check come in?  Good luck and have fun.

 

 

No on the Covid Check. That's my bonus this month from work. I guess I could up my budget some also since the covid check and tax returns are coming give me some extra cash also.

1 hour ago, fredk said:

One tool I'd advise getting is wing-dividers or the screw adjusted version.

  

Most useful in my instances

Your #5 - I hope you mean a skiving knife. A skinning knife is a very different tool and would not be much use to you

Buy high quality hole punches, don't skimp on them. You'll also need a range of item such as files, whetstones etc for making sharp things sharp and keeping them that way

 

I did mean Skiving knife. I already have skinning knifes. We raise Beef and Sheep in a way if I wanted to go through the process I could tan my own hides.

[mike02130]

4 hours ago, sbrownn said:

Don't let anyone tell you everything from China is junk because it isn't.  Shop around and read reviews.  Some of the Chinese made tools are actually quite good.

 

Not much is good.  Certainly not the greatest.

[eglideride]

Don't forget used tools. I have made some excellent purchases from folks on this site. I also check out flea markets and antique stores. ASK! Surprising what people have and don't want. One of my best all time tool purchases was at an auction years ago, three boxes of tools, leather and books. Some of my most prized, I got for $70.00!! No one at the auction (besides me) knew what those boxes were (or cared)....when the time came for bidding, I asked if all three boxes could be auctioned for "one money". Auctioneer says "sure". I said $70.00....no one else says anything! I went home and inventoried. Retail pricing (back then) added up  to $800.00. I have several stories like this. 

I have told my hot wife and my adult kids: when I pass,  Please sell these tools to someone that appreciates and will use them. PLEASE don't have a yard sale!

Good luck!! (and yes, I have more tools than I use, and some I may never use.  For me, the hunt is so much fun)

Chuck Dorset, Weaver Leather supply has some good videos. Make Leather Supply (he uses very few tools for his projects) http://makesupply-leather.com/

Edited March 13, 2021 by eglideride
web site

[chrisash]

6 hours ago, mike02130 said:

Not much is good.  Certainly not the greatest.

If you were to go onto Alibaba.com and look at the vast amount of top end machinery that's made in China you might have a more open mind

Its easy to look on eBay and see the bottom of the market, displayed there at cheap prices and ignore the top end goods they also make

[zuludog]

You've had some good advice in these replies. Something you will quickly realise is that the same sort of tools and techniques are used for most items, whether it be belts, wallets, or bags & pouches; and that there is a lot of information on YouTube 

Search it for beginners tools and you will see that each leatherworker has a slight variation, though they all follow the same sort of ideas. Also Search for methods such as saddle stitch, edge burnishing etc, and items, both those that interest you and some that might not at the moment, and you'll see what other people use, and how they do things

Search on Etsy for tools that interest you, maybe Japanese leather knives, leather edge bevelers, stitching chisels, and so on. There is a wide range, from the cheapest to the best and most expensive

Hadrada's video channel suggestions are good, but I can also recommend J H Leather. Her videos are clear and well made, and she has several on making dog collars  

[mike02130]

4 hours ago, chrisash said:

If you were to go onto Alibaba.com and look at the vast amount of top end machinery that's made in China you might have a more open mind

Its easy to look on eBay and see the bottom of the market, displayed there at cheap prices and ignore the top end goods they also make

My mind is not open to supporting totalitarian countries with questionable labor practices, mass surveillance and forced labor in order to save a few bucks. Not to mention many more questionable practices. 

[mike02130]

Here is a tool set to make unsewn dog collars.  You could eliminate the slot punch and use an 1/8" punch  to punch two holes at a distance and then cut the slot out with a knife.  

[chuck123wapati]

23 hours ago, JDsims said:

Hello All - 

I'm new to leatherworking. I'm looking to buy my first tools.

My plan is to make belts, dog collars, wallets, book covers and gun slings to start with. 

I have been learning on which tools to get but I'm curious on which brands you recommend?

I want something about the middle of the road to start with. 

Thank you for your time.

go to tandys ebook site and download all the free ebooks. everything you need to know can be found there as well as how to do it. there is not much in the line of middle of the road IMO except the older used craftools from tandy but there are tons of tools not related directly to leather work that can be used that are much cheaper than "leatherworking " tools. 

https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/category/79/ebooks?pagenum=1