Desperately need advice for quality hand tools!

[buzzardbait]

Take a look at Weaver Leather, Barry King , Ranch2arena.com is Jeremiah watt's website and Ron's Tools. all make great hand tools.

[Handstitched]

G'Day,  You could also consider second hand, books,  tools etc. 

 For tooling & stamping,   I started with a ' basic 7piece set' , that helped me learn. I then looked out for good S/H tools. I ended up with some  quality S/H  ' Craftool USA ' brand tools without blowing my budget , and it went from there, the more I learnt, the more engaged I became...and the better I got , only then, I decided to invest in some new quality tools.....16 years later....... 

You could spend a small fortune on quality tools but then later decide that leather work is not your preferred vocation, just a thought   

HS

Edited April 8, 2021 by Handstitched

[Klara]

Nobody has mentioned a stitching pony, which I consider essential. It's easy and cheap to make, if one has a workshop with the necessary bits and pieces lying around. Living on the road probably less so, and it'll take a lot of storage space...

[mike02130]

7 hours ago, TravisRising said:

I wasn't aware that my question was vague. How might I expound upon it? I simply need suggestions for quality beginner hand tools that won't fail on me and will have optimal edge retention and dependable construction appropriate to leather crafting. I'm not looking for specialty tools yet. Thanks for reaching out.

What is your definition of "quality beginner hand tools"?   What is your budget?  Are those something that are disposable or that will work okay or something of high quality that will last you forever?  

What one would use to make saddles, various sheaths and holsters would be different than what one would use to make wallets.  Narrow down what you want to make and that would narrow down the tool selection.  Do you want to use Japanese style chisels of European type?  Will you be using thick or thin leather or a combination of thicknesses?  Will you be using rivets or stitching or both?  What about hardware?  Are you going to use veg tanned leather or chrome tanned?  Will you be burnishing your edges or using edge paint? Are you competent at sharpening a knife?  That may direct you to the type of blade; fixed or disposable.  Will you be doing strap work and need hole punches, half round or English point punches?  Would you need a #1 or a #3 edger?  Will you be skiving leather with a knife or a French edger?  How about edge creasing?  Do you just want to have fun and make a few things or do you want to do serious work?  

Other than you doing a little bit of tooling and stamping, we know nothing.  What do you consider "specialty tools"?  I may sound like a dick but the more specific you are, the better the answers you may receive.  I wonder if you're getting ahead of yourself?  I suggest you invest 20 bucks and buy a few cheap tools--not a kit--and make something.  Show the work here for a critique and ask questions.  That would help narrow down that what you seek.  

 

[Handstitched]

@Klara  Thats exactly what I did, made my own, 2 different  jaw sizes . I bought my first one,a bit ex$y I thought,  but then  soon realised how simple they are to make out of a few off cuts of wood  in my shed and a few screws with wing nuts. I put some pieces of leather on the tips to protect the projects. 

For larger  items, I use a saddlers clamp....that I got S/H from a clearing sale. 

@mike02130 Good quality   S/H leather tools etc.  can be found  , markets,  antique shops  etc. on-line , if people are prepared too put in some effort...and are patient    It also helps to keep costs down if budget is tight  . 

HS

[Klara]

I think whether one will be happy with second-hand tools depends on ones sharpening skills. And whereas I'm capable of keeping the edge on a new tool, at least for a while, I've found out with a handful of scissors from a thrift shop that a ruined edge is a very different thing.

Ian Atkinson, linked above, goes so far as to recommend tools with disposable blades for beginners. (Doesn't mention a stitching pony either, in his list of 25 indispensable tools, but a battery-powered thingy for zapping threads...)

[Nailbanger]

Rocky Mountain Leather is a good source for decent tools, even the old standby of Tandy is more than sufficient to get pretty much anything you will need, honestly, from my own experience, the best tools are the ones you have, there is no substitute for practice, i know old leather workers who started with basic stuff from Tandy decades ago and still use those tools today, its not necessarily the tool but the hand guiding it.

[Mbsz53]

Hello,

 

You've gotten lots of great feedback. Just thought to share my two cents. You can literally get away with a box cutter, dinner fork, awl and needle with thread. You will definitely produce some 'bushy' projects. My recommendation is get one of the cheap kits for under $100 that comes with all the basics and then some. You will have what you need to get started and in time be able to determine what you use regularly and need to upgrade. Some of the tools from the kit will last years. Once you determine what you like building, the need for upgraded, specific tools, will make themselves apparent. Working off your bike, you will have to keep it relatively simple. Toting a slab of marble around for tooling, probably isn't an option.

Hope this different approach will offer some ideas.

Knees in the breeze,

 

Maurice