What should a beginner's leatherworking tool kit contain ?

[badgeringtim]

a bit of a bump and a question;
Burnishing, can someone explain - i think i understand it but am not very good at acheiving it. im thinking on the stitched edge of a sheath for example.

 

[Bardster]

There are several ways to burnish leather but the simplest is spit and a bit of smooth hardwood. Essentially you are compressing the edge fibres and "glueing" them together. Gum traganth works really well for this as does beeswax, but saliva contains enzymes that will do a similar job.
Tak a piece of leather and wet the edge with saliva then rub it fast and reasonably hard with a smooth object. Both slickers are made of bone or hardwood though modern ones are plastic. You will see very quickly what effect it has.

 

[Bardster]

I have just started doing Leatherwork courses for people (outside my magazine work) and as such have built up a set of tools.
Each student gets their own set of tools to use comprising the following.

A3 Cutting mat (yes i know the one in the pic is a4 )
Wooden slicker
detail knife
stitch marker
edge beveller
stitch groover
awl
pencil
wax
needles
pliers
plastic edger.

They also get access to shared tools like the heavy duty knives, rulers, other edgers, hole punches, stamps etc.

 

[TeeDee]

Bardster , for the tools shown and listed what does the 'kit' costing come out at per student??

 

[telwebb]

one thing that occurred to me seeing the previous posts is the need for a case - for me at least - otherwise specialist tools end up in with everyday ones and end up wrecked. Not necessarily as part of the kit, but anyone know a good source of wallet type cases as shown in Black sheeps post?

 

[Matt.S]

one thing that occurred to me seeing the previous posts is the need for a case - for me at least - otherwise specialist tools end up in with everyday ones and end up wrecked. Not necessarily as part of the kit, but anyone know a good source of wallet type cases as shown in Black sheeps post?

Perhaps that would make for a leatherwork project

 

[Bardster]

Perhaps that would make for a leatherwork project

indeed - a good starting project hehe. Though soft leather behaves a lot different from hard leather.

 

[Bardster]

Bardster , for the tools shown and listed what does the 'kit' costing come out at per student??

shopping around and using different suppliers as well as using discounts due to buying several at once, I think its about £60 per student. Was a bit of an investment to be honest and hopefully it will pay back, otherwise I will have to sell them.
Tandy do a "deluxe hand stitching kit" for £66 but it doesn't contain all the same tools. Though it can be had at discount for around £40. I did work with the identity store on producing some kits to sell at my courses but you really need to shop around and source from different suppliers to keep costs down. Also not every supplier sell the tools I like. The awls I like for example are only sold by one supplier.

 

[redandshane]

From real life I think Bardster has got it pretty close on the tool front
Take away the tools you probably already have and you are left with specific tools you will use

A3 Cutting mat (yes i know the one in the pic is a4 )-use a chopping board
Wooden slicker-A bit of wood
detail knife-stanley blade or penknife sharpened
stitch marker- possibly but a fork or steel comb will do
edge beveller-Required
stitch groover-required
awl-againi its easy to improvise but Yes nice to have one in the kit
pencil-you know the answer
wax-cheap enough but again put it in
needles-easy to get but put them in the kit
pliers-oh come on
plastic edger.-well its lovelybut I think we can improvise here lol

So that means
we need

edge beveller
stitch groover-
awl-
Beeswax
needles
Linen thread
A nice pouch or container
That makes a starter kit
but I think good info on what and why you need it; is invalueable and more relevant
Hope this is helpful as its meant to be

 

[mcniac]

i do some leather stuff, but my tools are not that many
two awls, one diamond shaped, very sharp to make te holes and a rounded one, slightly blunt to help me braid leather
two needles
a very sharp victorinox for most of the cutting and beveling
a piece of glass and some sandpaper to prepare the leather for braiding
a very polished piece of wood to help me form the leather
a small tool to cut leather strips made with some plastic and a very sharp blade
i do veg tanned and raw hide stuff with these tools

here a pic from a small poch i made for a victorinox

and the sheath for this small knife

i was trying to find some pics from he actual tools, but no luck so far, will take some soon
Esteban

 

[telwebb]

Perhaps that would make for a leatherwork project

it would, but a hell of a lot of stitching for a beginner!

 

[Bardster]

From real life I think Bardster has got it pretty close on the tool front
Take away the tools you probably already have and you are left with specific tools you will use

A3 Cutting mat (yes i know the one in the pic is a4 )-use a chopping board
Wooden slicker-A bit of wood
detail knife-stanley blade or penknife sharpened
stitch marker- possibly but a fork or steel comb will do
edge beveller-Required
stitch groover-required
awl-againi its easy to improvise but Yes nice to have one in the kit
pencil-you know the answer
wax-cheap enough but again put it in
needles-easy to get but put them in the kit
pliers-oh come on
plastic edger.-well its lovelybut I think we can improvise here lol

So that means
we need

edge beveller
stitch groover-
awl-
Beeswax
needles
Linen thread
A nice pouch or container
That makes a starter kit
but I think good info on what and why you need it; is invalueable and more relevant
Hope this is helpful as its meant to be

Excellent post, yes for most things you can make do, obviously if i am teaching then i need the proper tools...
Bowstock do some nice kits, Third one down on this page http://www.bowstock.co.uk/acatalog/Starter_Kits.html will get you started, or this one from Tandy

 

[Chance]

Any update on Le Prevo / Decorum / etc. GB?

 

[decorum]

Any update ...

I'm still waiting on an answer from the Boss as to whether it's OK for me to run a GB in this instance. I strongly suspect that I'll need to take on Trader status to do it.

 

[Calurix]

Bump,

I've been watching this thread for a wee while, I would be interested in a Group buy if it takes place if a tool list is finalised.

Regards,
Cal

 

[Wayland]

This is most of my mobile kit, with the addition of a bit of thread and some wax.

I have seen some extraordinary leathework produced with even less.

 

[Calurix]

Thanks Wayland,

I am amazed how great you kit looks, the braid to hold and lock the kit in place i would never have thought of, I fancy trying to copyBlack Sheep Tankard. look forward to getting together a sewing kit

 

[decorum]

I'm still waiting on an answer from the Boss ...

I've had a response and we're discussing how to proceed. As I thought the business interest is an issue - which is why I was up front about it from the out set. Watch this space.

 

[TeeDee]

I've had a response and we're discussing how to proceed. As I thought the business interest is an issue - which is why I was up front about it from the out set. Watch this space.

Thanks for the update.

 

[katsass]

Gentlemen, I am brand new to this forum, however, I have been working leather for over 40 years. I am a retired law enforcement officer (Deputy Sheriff) from the desert area of California, USA, and run a very small business making pistol holsters and items for shooting sports such as trap and skeet. I concur with Black Sheep's list for a basic tool kit but with the addition of some sort of burnishing tool. These can be made from almost anything smooth; from deer antler to a piece of hardwood. With the tools listed I make items such as the the following: Mike