Leather Novice

[DaveBromley]

Hi Guys

Just got some Veg Tanned leather off ebay, I want to make a few things from it like a sheath for my new knife and a mask for my axe. Now my issue is that i dint know where to start regarding tools, i have a couple of awls one it i diamond shape and the other is round.

I want to get the right stuff for the job BUT i'm on a VERY tight budget ATM and cant afford the basic leather tool kit in the GB section. can you give me a clue as to the bare necesities i need to do what i want to?

any links and such would be appreciated

Thanks Dave

 

[MSkiba]

thread, bee's wax, needles.

To make a good sheath you will also need :

stich groover, stich marker, leather dye, edge kote, resoline or wax.

I can start you off on needles, bees wax and some thread. Just pop round im in mancheste too.

 

[DaveBromley]

nice one fella where are you?

Drop me a PM

Dave

 

[Mesquite]

Have a look at the recent group buy for leaterworking tools thread for ideas Click here

 

[John Fenna]

Budget alternatives....
Stitch groover - depress rather than gouge out the groove by getting an old fork and bending the right hand tine down a bit.
Soak the leather and run the fork around the edge pressing the remaining "normal" tine or tines into the leather and using the bent one as a guide by running it along the outside edge of the leather. One "normal" tine gives just the sewing groove, two gives the sewing groove and a decorative line as well.....I have a variety of old "Air France" 4 tine forks (nicked when you still got metal cutlery on planes!.

Stitch marker - go to your local haberdashery and get an embroidery tracing wheel (50p on our market stall) snip off every other tooth (easy done with wire cutters) and you get a good spacing for sewing leather with linen thread.

Awl - Blackspur red handled Awl (£1 in our local Pound shop) file to the shape you want.

Instead of Edge Cote wet the edge of your finished piece and burnish it with a smooth bit of wood, plastic, bone or glass (traditional method)

Instead of Dyes make a black dye for Veg tan by putting rust a (or iron tablets) in vinegar and then painting this onto the leather - used "strong" you get a pure black - used weak a kind of "field grey" or generic "dark" colour. finish it with a strong boot polish (ie Cherry Blossom" and it comes out a good "Dark Brown".

Finish your leather with a good boot wax or shoe polish (I find resoline makes for a "plastic" look). Botwax and sunlight on undyed leather gives a great "Light Tan" finish which I prefer to any dye.

Most haberdashers have linen thread in small amounts - some come complete with a needle!

If you are realy mean dip the end of the thread in superglue, allow it to harden, sharpen it on the side of a matchbox and you have a built in needle that lasts a fair while (this works best if you pre-drill the stitch holes!)

Burnishers and folders - the handle of a toothbrush can be cut and sanded to any shape and works well!

Bees wax - I got a couple of beeswax candles off a charity shop for pennies.

This is the kit I use - plus an edge beveller (propper one! you could just trim by eye with a sharp knife tough if you have a steady hand.... or just burnish the edges to a round profile) - for all my work.
I do have real stich markers - but I prefer my DIY model as the length is ideal for my wants!

 

[MSkiba]

Brown dye and carnauba creme will set you back £5 or so. needles 80p or so,

Most expensive is the stich groovers and markers as they are around £7 a pop.

 

[DaveBromley]

SPOT ON John

Thats soooo helpful you have no idea

Thanks much matey

Dave

 

[MSkiba]

I used a dremel tool to cut a notch into a flat head screwdriver, works great as a edge beveller. All rights reserved blacksheep for this tip!

 

[Tadpole]

go to a crafting shop and buy a bone folder (plastic) it works just a well as a one 'for' leather, but costs £1.50

 

[John Fenna]

I used a dremel tool to cut a notch into a flat head screwdriver, works great as a edge beveller. All rights reserved blacksheep for this tip!

I will try that NOW!
I love a cheap tip!

 

[John Fenna]

That works a treat - almost as well as the bought version!
I cut a slot with the cutting disks, bevelled the back with a diamond cone (all on an Aldi Dremmel clone) and polished it up with a bit of wet and dry.
Now to go with my bought 2mm and 4mm I have a (aprox) 3mm!
A great tip!

 

[Bardster]

....

If you are realy mean dip the end of the thread in superglue, allow it to harden, sharpen it on the side of a matchbox and you have a built in needle that lasts a fair while (this works best if you pre-drill the stitch holes!)

.....

This pretty much how it used to be done by cordwainers, but replace the superglue hardened end with a boar bristle rosined to the end of the thread. Metal needles are a fairly recent usage in leatherwork.

 

[John Fenna]

This pretty much how it used to be done by cordwainers, but replace the superglue hardened end with a boar bristle rosined to the end of the thread. Metal needles are a fairly recent usage in leatherwork.

That is where I got the idea!

 

[topknot]

Like John said, I do have real stich markers - but I prefer my DIY model as the length is ideal for my wants!
Its all about the guy behind the tool that makes it work.

Topknot.

 

[stekker]

Hi there,i am very interested in your leatherworking tools.
I am a greener in leatherworking,so would you be so kind to post some pics of your DIY tools?

cheers Theo

 

[Mojoracinguk]

This is still up on offer....in swap shop

Mojo

 

[ex-member Raikey]

Budget alternatives....
Stitch groover - depress rather than gouge out the groove by getting an old fork and bending the right hand tine down a bit.
Soak the leather and run the fork around the edge pressing the remaining "normal" tine or tines into the leather and using the bent one as a guide by running it along the outside edge of the leather. One "normal" tine gives just the sewing groove, two gives the sewing groove and a decorative line as well.....I have a variety of old "Air France" 4 tine forks (nicked when you still got metal cutlery on planes!.

Stitch marker - go to your local haberdashery and get an embroidery tracing wheel (50p on our market stall) snip off every other tooth (easy done with wire cutters) and you get a good spacing for sewing leather with linen thread.

Awl - Blackspur red handled Awl (£1 in our local Pound shop) file to the shape you want.

Instead of Edge Cote wet the edge of your finished piece and burnish it with a smooth bit of wood, plastic, bone or glass (traditional method)

Instead of Dyes make a black dye for Veg tan by putting rust a (or iron tablets) in vinegar and then painting this onto the leather - used "strong" you get a pure black - used weak a kind of "field grey" or generic "dark" colour. finish it with a strong boot polish (ie Cherry Blossom" and it comes out a good "Dark Brown".

Finish your leather with a good boot wax or shoe polish (I find resoline makes for a "plastic" look). Botwax and sunlight on undyed leather gives a great "Light Tan" finish which I prefer to any dye.

Most haberdashers have linen thread in small amounts - some come complete with a needle!

If you are realy mean dip the end of the thread in superglue, allow it to harden, sharpen it on the side of a matchbox and you have a built in needle that lasts a fair while (this works best if you pre-drill the stitch holes!)

Burnishers and folders - the handle of a toothbrush can be cut and sanded to any shape and works well!

Bees wax - I got a couple of beeswax candles off a charity shop for pennies.

This is the kit I use - plus an edge beveller (propper one! you could just trim by eye with a sharp knife tough if you have a steady hand.... or just burnish the edges to a round profile) - for all my work.
I do have real stich markers - but I prefer my DIY model as the length is ideal for my wants!

this is really good stuff John,...

thankyou so much,...

i have 7 knives without sheaths at the moment,...

cheers

Stu

 

[Adze]

Am I really the only one who saw the title and giggled?