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- Mar 19, 2007
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I have only been bending leather a year or so, but in that year I have learned a lot. I put this post up in another forum for those wanting to get into leather sheath making and thought I would post it here.
Please feel free to add to it:
Here is what I would recommend in terms of research:
1) Buy two Al Stohlman books "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather." and "The Art of Making Leather Cases Vol 1"
These are about 10 bucks each and are worth their weight in gold. You can find them at Tandy leather or Amazon (check your library - you never know).
2) Buy Chuck Burrows Video "Custom Knife Sheaths" - this can be rented on line as well. Chuck posts on BF, is a member, and have been bending leather longer than I have been alive.
I learned a TON about making my work better from his video - I would recommend it to just about anyone.
Those are the three things I would read and watch to get you started.
With that said - here are the tools I would buy (I will post 'Craft Tool' brand because they are easy to find - but they are the lower end. These are GREAT however for getting started - and they are what I still use. Also, I post links to Tandy leather. You certainly don't have to use them - but they are where many people start.)
Tools:
1) A Stitch Groover. This guy makes grooves in the leather that allow your stitching to sit at surface level, and not above.
2) A Stitch Wheel.
3) Needles and Thread
Needles come in many different sizes and thread in even more. I linked you to the ones I use the most. Check out different colors and size needles too.
4) An Awl. I don't use just an awl for my stitching - but this is a great thing to have no matter what.
5) A bone folder and a piece of bone or antler. You can just use the bone folder - but if you have a bit of deer antler - sand it down - it is GREAT for doing your edging. Also - get a scrap of canvas. It helps with burnishing your edges.
6) A small hammer - for tapping your stitches and other things. I would advise something like a jewlers hammer - but you will know what you need when you need it. (Be careful with anything steel on wet leather - it makes a black mark).
7) Needle Nose Pliers - indispensable for hand stitching and possible a stitching pony. The stitching pony holds you work as you work. I don't use one however - I just let my stuff fall all over the place.
8) Edge Beveler - You will want at least a #1 edger - although I use a #2 almost exclusively.
9) A SHARP knife. I use a Bark River Mikro Tusk for almost all of my leather work. Have a small nimble sharp knife on hand.
10) A skiver and extra blades. Buy the cheapie - it is great. You will use this to make leather thinner. You NEED it to make welts and the like.
In terms of liquids and chemicals. You should start with:
1) Dyes and daubers. Whatever color you like (I use Fiebrings) and wool daubers.
2) Rubber gloves - your hands will get STAINED.
3) Gum Tragacanth. You use this to slick your edges and flatten the under side of leather.
4) Some form of leather protectant. I love Montana Pitch Blend but have seen awesome results with Leather Balm (with Atom Wax) and Tan Kote (by Fiebrings).
5) Contact Cement. Barge is the name to trust here - but I have seen DAP Contact cement work very well. This is what I use currently - but the big kids use Barge.
6) Rubbing alcohol - you will use this to deglaze your leather.
7) Spray bottles - good for water (wet forming)and other chemicals.
8) Yellow sponges. You will see the masters use sponges a LOT. They can 'case leather' with them - you will read more about this.
Other considerations:
1) One thing that I use and would probably not do leather without is a Drill Press. I chuck up a thicker needle and punch/drill my holes for stitching. Life is just a lot easier with it. If you have one - use it. If not - I have seen people use their dremel and do a VERY clean job.
2) KEEP A CLEAN WORK SURFACE. The messier it gets - the uglier your leather.
3) GO SLOWLY. Never rush leather - you will pay. When someone says 'let it dry' - they mean it.
4) Don't buy a bunch of tools. Other than what I listed above - you just don't need it until you can do a good stitch, a good edge, and good glue work. This will take some time. Be patient. When you get better - but a few tools - but the masters all tell me that they USED to have a shit load of tools - now they use about 15. Pay attention to them - they know their stuff.
5) Buy GOOD LEATHER. American tanners are still the best - and make sure you get good leather. There are many places - but many many people that I trust use Wickett and Craig.. Buy a good 8-10 ounce double shoulder - and you can get a PILE of sheaths out of that.
I don't know a lot - but I can at LEAST get you started. Mentioned above is about 300 dollars in sheath making equipment. You don't need all of this, and can get started with much less, but I wanted to mention what I think you will need to make sheaths if you want to make a few, especially if you plan on selling them.
TF
Please feel free to add to it:
Here is what I would recommend in terms of research:
1) Buy two Al Stohlman books "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather." and "The Art of Making Leather Cases Vol 1"
These are about 10 bucks each and are worth their weight in gold. You can find them at Tandy leather or Amazon (check your library - you never know).
2) Buy Chuck Burrows Video "Custom Knife Sheaths" - this can be rented on line as well. Chuck posts on BF, is a member, and have been bending leather longer than I have been alive.
I learned a TON about making my work better from his video - I would recommend it to just about anyone.
Those are the three things I would read and watch to get you started.
With that said - here are the tools I would buy (I will post 'Craft Tool' brand because they are easy to find - but they are the lower end. These are GREAT however for getting started - and they are what I still use. Also, I post links to Tandy leather. You certainly don't have to use them - but they are where many people start.)
Tools:
1) A Stitch Groover. This guy makes grooves in the leather that allow your stitching to sit at surface level, and not above.
2) A Stitch Wheel.
3) Needles and Thread
Needles come in many different sizes and thread in even more. I linked you to the ones I use the most. Check out different colors and size needles too.
4) An Awl. I don't use just an awl for my stitching - but this is a great thing to have no matter what.
5) A bone folder and a piece of bone or antler. You can just use the bone folder - but if you have a bit of deer antler - sand it down - it is GREAT for doing your edging. Also - get a scrap of canvas. It helps with burnishing your edges.
6) A small hammer - for tapping your stitches and other things. I would advise something like a jewlers hammer - but you will know what you need when you need it. (Be careful with anything steel on wet leather - it makes a black mark).
7) Needle Nose Pliers - indispensable for hand stitching and possible a stitching pony. The stitching pony holds you work as you work. I don't use one however - I just let my stuff fall all over the place.
8) Edge Beveler - You will want at least a #1 edger - although I use a #2 almost exclusively.
9) A SHARP knife. I use a Bark River Mikro Tusk for almost all of my leather work. Have a small nimble sharp knife on hand.
10) A skiver and extra blades. Buy the cheapie - it is great. You will use this to make leather thinner. You NEED it to make welts and the like.
In terms of liquids and chemicals. You should start with:
1) Dyes and daubers. Whatever color you like (I use Fiebrings) and wool daubers.
2) Rubber gloves - your hands will get STAINED.
3) Gum Tragacanth. You use this to slick your edges and flatten the under side of leather.
4) Some form of leather protectant. I love Montana Pitch Blend but have seen awesome results with Leather Balm (with Atom Wax) and Tan Kote (by Fiebrings).
5) Contact Cement. Barge is the name to trust here - but I have seen DAP Contact cement work very well. This is what I use currently - but the big kids use Barge.
6) Rubbing alcohol - you will use this to deglaze your leather.
7) Spray bottles - good for water (wet forming)and other chemicals.
8) Yellow sponges. You will see the masters use sponges a LOT. They can 'case leather' with them - you will read more about this.
Other considerations:
1) One thing that I use and would probably not do leather without is a Drill Press. I chuck up a thicker needle and punch/drill my holes for stitching. Life is just a lot easier with it. If you have one - use it. If not - I have seen people use their dremel and do a VERY clean job.
2) KEEP A CLEAN WORK SURFACE. The messier it gets - the uglier your leather.
3) GO SLOWLY. Never rush leather - you will pay. When someone says 'let it dry' - they mean it.
4) Don't buy a bunch of tools. Other than what I listed above - you just don't need it until you can do a good stitch, a good edge, and good glue work. This will take some time. Be patient. When you get better - but a few tools - but the masters all tell me that they USED to have a shit load of tools - now they use about 15. Pay attention to them - they know their stuff.
5) Buy GOOD LEATHER. American tanners are still the best - and make sure you get good leather. There are many places - but many many people that I trust use Wickett and Craig.. Buy a good 8-10 ounce double shoulder - and you can get a PILE of sheaths out of that.
I don't know a lot - but I can at LEAST get you started. Mentioned above is about 300 dollars in sheath making equipment. You don't need all of this, and can get started with much less, but I wanted to mention what I think you will need to make sheaths if you want to make a few, especially if you plan on selling them.
TF
