Tool Suggestions For New Leatherworkers

[JD Alan]

Well Partners, this web site has been a wealtth of information for a newbie like myself, and I sure do appreciate ya'll sharing your experience so freely. I'm wondering if some of you guys with lots of experience would weigh in on tools needed for leathercraft.

What I'm looking for is advice on what to buy before something else. I wonder what you would do if you had it to do over again, tool wise. Most people are like me; buying a few at a time, as the need presents itself.  I've already bought a few I wish I had waited on.

Assuming the end products are going to be primarily CAS oriented, what should I be looking to have on the tool bench?

Thanks alot guys, JD

   

[panhead pete]

Howdy J.D.,

Welcome to our passion, Sir!   

If you are looking as a hobbyist, Tandy has a good starter kit with what I mention below and more.  I think we all started with Tandy and I feel that they have really upgraded their products.  If you have a business license, Weaver Leather are good folks to deal with.  Tandy and Weaver both carry C.S. Osborne.  They make a good quality tool, but if you have the extra money, go with Jeremiah Watt, Beard or some of the other professional grade tools.  I still use a lot of tools from my original Tandy leather kit.  You probably already have a knife of some sort.  I would recommend starting with a maul, a stitch-groover to make the channel for your stitches.  A stitch marker to neatly space the stitches.  A edge beveler to round the edges.  You can make an edge slicker out of wood or bone using a round Dremel bit.  As far as stamps and tooling go, a medium backgrounder, medium beveler, medium veiner and a swivel knife.  Look at some of the work you see here and you may want to get a few border stamps and perhaps a border roller.  I am sure the other Pards will have some good ideas as well!     

Good luck and Have fun,

Panhead Pete
www.rdoublec.com

[knucklehead]

the one tool that i bought i wished i hadnt bought was a bag punch.
i bought the basic bag/oblong punch that i saw on dusty johnson's holster video.
it was junk for me.

turned around and got the spendy ones from leather factory.
to me the bag/oblong punches need to be good from the getgo or you will not be happy.

also i am now learning that the craftool stamps are not as good as the more expensive ones like barry king stamps.
the barry king stamps make such a better impression than the crafttool stamps.
if you are going to do some baskettweaving stamping i would suggest that you pick one of the barry king baskettweave stamps and buy that one instead of the crafttool one. yes i know its spendy but after you use it you will understand the price is worth it in the long run. hidecrafter also has some really good baskettweave stamps.

also get a good hammer. i just recently bought the al stohlman round 1 pound hammer and will not go back to my other hammer.
it is so well balanced and easier to use than the other one i have.

[kid sheleen]

Like most starting out,  I started with a Tandy Kit.  Then I bought some extra tools and things as I went along.  Then I bought better ones.  But one thing I DIDN"T buy for a long time was a better mallet.  And once I did get one,  I couldn't believe the difference.  So I'm with Knucklehead, get a good mallet or even two in different weights and take care of them.  I have the Al Stohlman Rawhide 16 ounce as well, and I love it.  But I also have a 14 oz. poly headed mallet for assorted jobs that need a harder whack.  That's probably what caused ol Jack Marbles demise,  but he was old anyway.

[knucklehead]

Im almost finished with a wallet that i stamped with my hidecrafter baskettweave stamp.
when i get done i will post a pic of it.

you may be able to see what the tool impressions look like in the picture.

[JD Alan]

I bought a few stamps from Barry King while I was at the leather show in Pendleton, including two basket stamps, and two border stamps. Barry's a really nice guy, very helpful. I also bought a Henley swivel knife from E-Bay, which I really like.

I started out with a Tandy kit early this year, and I've been adding tools as the need arrises and the $$$ is available.

I'm wondering about stitching chisels, creasers, bevelers, skivers, the list goes on.

I appreciate all the great info so far, JD
 

[panhead pete]

J.D.

I have 2 Osborne creasers, a single and a double.  I also made couple of creasers from hardwood pen blanks from Woodcraft.  I used a Dremel tool and file to round the ends and create a sharp edge and a guide edge.  I use an awl and double needled thread for stitching.  I use tacks to hold the piece together while I am stitching.  Hope this adds some idears!

Panhead

[Marshal Will Wingam]

There's another thread on learning to work leather. It may have some useful information for you as well.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,17208.0.html

[JD Alan]

Thanks for that link Will. I didn't see that while looking through the site here. I even read a post by one of the guys who shoots where I do, Sawdust Jim. He's a very nice guy, and really does quality work. He's made a generous offer of going to his shop to see what he does, but I really hate to get in the way of a guy who does this for a living.

Thanks again everyone who responded, JD

[Gun Butcher]

Take him up on it JD. There is nothing a leatherman likes better than to show off a little and help someone get started at the same time. Watching him work and gettin' a few tips will help you along a good bit.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

GB's right, JD. You can learn a lot from someone who is in the trade.