You can't afford starting with leathercraft?

[Danne]

18 minutes ago, Klara said:

I have a friend who thinks the same way. She went to buy an electric kettle and came home without one, because they were all made in China. Even European companies produce where labour is cheap...

That said, at least some times (possibly most times, but I only have one example) there is a difference between cheap things off Aliexpress and almost the same once bought from a reputable shop: Today my new pricking irons arrived which cost about a third of what I paid here. They look the same, down to the marking of the distance between the tines (of course it's a different number). But the tines are not polished. Which I saw on the photos, but as I use pricking irons only for marking the stitches, not for punching through the leather I figure it won't matter.

When I make wallets I pre-punch the exterior before assemble and then use an awl to open up the holes when assembled. And which pricking iron I use wouldn't really matter. Sure I like the ergonomy or Ksblade, they feel good in my hand, and they are easy to align. But the only real time where slim pricking/punching irons where I can punch all the way through, and with polished teeth really shine is when I make thin watch straps and punch all the way through. When I use an awl I personally don't see any difference in the result.

[jcuk]

1 hour ago, Klara said:

have a friend who thinks the same way. She went to buy an electric kettle and came home without one, because they were all made in China. Even European companies produce where labour is cheap.

Yes how many countries are in the EU and they cant produce something such as a simple Kettle at an affordable price,  you would think the size of the EU that would be possible. I started to notice even some really basic things were being shipped in from the Far East had to ask myself want was the point of the EU, in a pact that size we were having to have a lot if not most of there goods shipped in from the Far East. Maybe the EU has to take a cold hard look at itself.

 

JCUK

Edited September 24, 2021 by jcuk

[tsunkasapa]

5 hours ago, Danne said:

There are a lot of high quality tools and other things made in China also. Kevinlee make and resell some really good tools as an example. One of the best leathercraft threads are made by Meisi in China. A lot of the parts in your Techsew is made in China. 
 

And there are a lot of tools made in other places that are more expensive and not suitable for a beginner. 
 

Let’s take an example, a Blanchard awl is certainly not Suitable for a beginner, unless that person have experience from other crafts and can reshape/sharpen/polish the awl. Yes the steel quality is probably really good, but a new awl from Blanchard is more or less useless unless before you have finished the tool. 
 

Let’s take another example. Without having used them, I would certainly buy SPC hole punches instead of a lot of European (Germany France) or made in US, just by looking at the photos (talking about hole punches for fine leatherworking. 

100% immaterial, I WILL NOT support the Chinese economy, OR those companies trying to get rich off of cheap labor. I will NOT knowingly buy ANY "Made In China" products. Even if I have to pay twice the price. "F" them very much!

[Cumberland Highpower]

When I started working leather 25 years ago I spent most of my BORROWED budget on a side of Herman Oak leather. Actually most all of my budget....

Besides that, an Osborne stitching chisel from Weaver, an awl, round knife and speedy stitcher from an estate auction ($5 total).  Now, I need a creaser, so I made my own from a timing belt tensioner from a 1986 jetta, a piece of metal from a door, a spring, large washers and a piece of pvc pipe connector....Creased all the 1-1/4 straps I needed.

Not long after I was able to afford it,  a plow gauge from Ebay....I was a big shot with that tool.

 

Klara, I tried every awl I could find on the market, but I never really liked any of them...They just don't feel right to me.  Never tried the Barry King (might have to?)   The only awl that ever felt right to me is the century old one I've used for the past 25 years and I have no idea who made it. I still do some fair amount of hand sewing w/linen on a few items.  

Edited September 25, 2021 by Cumberland Highpower

[Klara]

12 hours ago, Danne said:

... But the only real time where slim pricking/punching irons where I can punch all the way through, and with polished teeth really shine is when I make thin watch straps and punch all the way through. When I use an awl I personally don't see any difference in the result.

Exactly what I thought. I figured I'd rather spend time on learning how to use an awl than lots of money on the search for the perfect pricking iron.

@tsunkasapa Your house must be really empty. And how did you get your post online?

 

[kgg]

13 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

I WILL NOT support the Chinese economy, OR those companies trying to get rich off of cheap labor. I will NOT knowingly buy ANY "Made In China" products. Even if I have to pay twice the price.

A little more harsh then myself but when I need a good quality item I look at items made in North America first, then Europe, then Japan, then South America with China being a last resort. I have bought fabric out of Paraguay, desktop fabric strip machine for making binding out of Brazil, 3d printers made in Czech Republic and sewing machines made in Japan.

kgg

[chuck123wapati]

14 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

100% immaterial, I WILL NOT support the Chinese economy, OR those companies trying to get rich off of cheap labor. I will NOT knowingly buy ANY "Made In China" products. Even if I have to pay twice the price. "F" them very much!

I agree 100% its not about the quality of the tools or products. Its about who makes them and how they are treated in China. Slave labor is what is happening over there and no country can compete with them when they have no labor cost. They captured the world economy while everyone slept now we buy Chinese because there is nothing else in our stores.

[Handstitched]

Meanwhile.....going back to OP....in regards to affordability...

get the violins out... 

When I first started leather, the majority of my tools were S/H , scouring the classifieds...the 'antiquated' paper ones,  some the tools I bought were from ex- leather crafters etc. Many came with books and heaps of other stuff. A leather shop in Perth had S/H tools,  as well as   leather off cuts. I also looked around in hardware shops to see what tools can be utilised for use with  leather .  It kept costs  way down . I still use them today  .  Only a few tools I threw out in the early days, a rotary punch, it bent after a few uses, and rotary cutter that couldn't cut the skin on a custard.   But I learnt from that. Only after I  became more interested in leather & gained a lot of experience I bought new tools.    The most lethal tool I have ever bought was a thumb strander  It strands thumbs , not leather   Its in a box,  at the back of a shelf, .......where it stays . 

HS

 

[tsunkasapa]

On 9/25/2021 at 12:08 AM, Klara said:

Your house must be really empty. And how did you get your post online?

On the contrary. My house is FULL of early to mid 20th century furniture. Furniture made with real wood. Like walnut, maple, oak. I don't have a cheap POS recliner, I have a Morris reclining chair. As for my computer, it's a 10 year old model and still using Windows 7. Bought before my anti-China decision. One doesn't have to surrender to the flood of garbage.

[sbrownn]

On 9/24/2021 at 3:25 PM, tsunkasapa said:

100% immaterial, I WILL NOT support the Chinese economy, OR those companies trying to get rich off of cheap labor. I will NOT knowingly buy ANY "Made In China" products. Even if I have to pay twice the price. "F" them very much!

Well now at least we know the real reason you won't buy anything from China; seems like it really has nothing to do with the quality of the product at all.