You can't afford starting with leathercraft?

[Klara]

9 minutes ago, Spyros said:

...

But I do disagree with your 100-200 euro tool list because there is the issue of leatherworking punches.  You just need them from the get go, I can't think of anything else that will do, once you get to strap holes and hardware?  The cheap ones break and the decent ones get pretty expensive pretty quickly because you do need different shapes and sizes.  And then you need specific setters for every piece of hardware you choose to use (if you want to set it properly).  A couple of irons, an awl, a cutting surface, a basic strap cutter, bevellers...  I think the minimum starter budget is probably closer to $500.

Actually, I'm happy enough with my cheap mini leather punch set (like this  https://tandyleather.com/collections/tools/products/mini-leather-punch-set , for which I bought a few smaller inserts for small decorative rivets. And a small Ertalon base to keep them in shape. The rivet/snap setters came in a fairly cheap kit (with a rotary punch which is not strictly necessary, but nice to have). I don't need end punches or corner punches or oblong punches... Sure, they'd be nice to have, but the way I see it they are a prime example of a tool I'll only buy when I make so many items that it will save me a lot of time, and then it'll pay for itself. 

Hardware-wise I mostly use snap hooks, rings and buckles which I sew on. I only have snap buttons for bracelets and belts with interchangeable buckles. Hardly any setters needed

I dare say that once you know what you want to make, it's not so difficult to limit spending. The difficulty is knowing what you want when you haven't started yet...

 

 

 

[Spyros]

7 minutes ago, Klara said:

Actually, I'm happy enough with my cheap mini leather punch set (like this  https://tandyleather.com/collections/tools/products/mini-leather-punch-set , for which I bought a few smaller inserts for small decorative rivets. And a small Ertalon base to keep them in shape. The rivet/snap setters came in a fairly cheap kit (with a rotary punch which is not strictly necessary, but nice to have). I don't need end punches or corner punches or oblong punches... Sure, they'd be nice to have, but the way I see it they are a prime example of a tool I'll only buy when I make so many items that it will save me a lot of time, and then it'll pay for itself. 

Hardware-wise I mostly use snap hooks, rings and buckles which I sew on. I only have snap buttons for bracelets and belts with interchangeable buckles. Hardly any setters needed

I dare say that once you know what you want to make, it's not so difficult to limit spending. The difficulty is knowing what you want when you haven't started yet...

 

 

 

You must have a lighter hand than me, I had that mini punch and broke it LOL

I mean I broke the black bit I was using the most, then I had to buy a replacement, then another replacement because I broke it again, and when I broke it again I gave up and bought a good set of punches which I still have.  There's a reason this set is $12, maybe it's fine for someone more careful than me, but I can't recommend it based on my experience.

The odd-shape punches, well just because you don't need them, doesn't mean they're not needed

Edited October 13, 2021 by Spyros

[Spyros]

Actually you know what really helps and costs next to nothing?  those needle tip bottles

I can't live without them, I have a couple dozen for every colour edge paint, for tokonole, for glue, edge kote, you name it.

Also silicone brushes and various silicone-tipped tools for spreading glue, they're like a dollar on ebay

And those $2 doorstops for holding down your pattern when cutting leather.  People actually sell "pattern weights" for $50 LOL

 

 

 

[Danne]

52 minutes ago, Klara said:

Actually, I'm happy enough with my cheap mini leather punch set (like this  https://tandyleather.com/collections/tools/products/mini-leather-punch-set , for which I bought a few smaller inserts for small decorative rivets. And a small Ertalon base to keep them in shape. The rivet/snap setters came in a fairly cheap kit (with a rotary punch which is not strictly necessary, but nice to have). I don't need end punches or corner punches or oblong punches... Sure, they'd be nice to have, but the way I see it they are a prime example of a tool I'll only buy when I make so many items that it will save me a lot of time, and then it'll pay for itself. 

Hardware-wise I mostly use snap hooks, rings and buckles which I sew on. I only have snap buttons for bracelets and belts with interchangeable buckles. Hardly any setters needed

I dare say that once you know what you want to make, it's not so difficult to limit spending. The difficulty is knowing what you want when you haven't started yet...

 

 

 

But I guess you had to sharpen it? Because at least when I bought that punch set years ago, it was far from a hole punch.

The "cutting edge" was 0.3mm thick. 

[mike02130]

4 hours ago, Spyros said:

But I do disagree with your 100-200 euro tool list because there is the issue of leatherworking punches.  You just need them from the get go, I can't think of anything else that will do, once you get to strap holes and hardware?  The cheap ones break and the decent ones get pretty expensive pretty quickly because you do need different shapes and sizes.  And then you need specific setters for every piece of hardware you choose to use (if you want to set it properly).  A couple of irons, an awl, a cutting surface, a basic strap cutter, bevellers...  I think the minimum starter budget is probably closer to $500.

A watch strap requires one hole punch.  Wallets and most handbags don't require a punch unless you are making an adjustable shoulder strap; and then, it is only one punch.  No "setters" are needed.  So, 1 set of irons, and two punches is how much money?  Hmm, you could even throw in a Japanese cutting/skiving knife and a creaser.  

 

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by mike02130
punctuation

[Klara]

8 hours ago, Danne said:

But I guess you had to sharpen it? Because at least when I bought that punch set years ago, it was far from a hole punch.

The "cutting edge" was 0.3mm thick. 

 

I don't have the exact set I linked, I just wanted to show what I meant. I bought my set years ago in a saddle shop.

@Spyros I also broke my first tiny hole thingy when I used a piece of wood as support. Then I bought the Ertalon support. So far it helps. And I never said that other punches are not needed, only that you can't say a beginner will need a big budget to buy punches when said beginner might not need them at all...

Out of curiosity: What are the huge hole punches used for? My leather shop had them on special, but I couldn't think of a need for approx. 4/5-inch holes.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Klara

[Spyros]

12 hours ago, mike02130 said:

A watch strap requires one hole punch.  Wallets and most handbags don't require a punch unless you are making an adjustable shoulder strap; and then, it is only one punch.  No "setters" are needed.  So, 1 set of irons, and two punches is how much money?  Hmm, you could even throw in a Japanese cutting/skiving knife and a creaser.  

 

 

How do you make holes for different size rivets, grommets, buckles, sam brownes, chicago screws etc without an appropriate punch? 

And how do you set spring snaps, eyelets, double cap rivets, saddle rivets without a setter and a metal base? 

I mean sure you can skip all that and only use the rivets that match your one size hole, and mash them with a hammer on the bench until they're flat, but in my mind that's kind of dumb to restrict yourself like that just for the sake of avoiding the proper tools. 

[Spyros]

7 hours ago, Klara said:

Out of curiosity: What are the huge hole punches used for? My leather shop had them on special, but I couldn't think of a need for approx. 4/5-inch holes.

I've never seen a 4-5 inch hole punch, I don't know.

Various size round hole punches are typically used for grommets, holes for pull strings, cutting circles for various uses like reinforcements behind hardware, etc

[Spyros]

7 hours ago, Klara said:

 

@Spyros And I never said that other punches are not needed, only that you can't say a beginner will need a big budget to buy punches when said beginner might not need them at all...

I'd hardly call a $500 tool budget "big", for a hobby that can actually make you money pretty much from the get go.   A couple of punches, a strap cutter, a beveller and a few days of practice and you're making sellable belts.  

[fredk]

8 hours ago, Klara said:

Out of curiosity: What are the huge hole punches used for? My leather shop had them on special, but I couldn't think of a need for approx. 4/5-inch holes.

The largest hole punch I had was about 3.5 inches diameter. They are used for punching holes in special gasket material for mainly engine head gaskets on internal combustion powered vehicles, or for other fittings on the vehicles.  In the vintage car world you need to make your own gaskets. On my 1930 Austin 7 there are several items which need gaskets and I need to cut and punch these myself as replacements are no longer available to buy. On some fittings oiled leather is the choice material for the gasket.