Beginners Guide to Leather Crafting, Part I

One can come to discover that the art of leather crafting can be an enjoyable and leisurely hobby, providing an aspiring artisan hours of creative enjoyment and satisfaction that can possibly stem into profitability after acquiring some basic tools of the trade and practice as to create high quality handcrafted leather goods.

Before we get into the subject of leathersmithing tools lets keep in mind that a hobby should be affordable, fun and enjoyable. However one should strongly consider that the art of leather crafting should be taken seriously in regards to the subject of safety. Some of the tools used in leathersmithing are very sharp, that said, please use appropriate safety measures and protection when needed.

You should also conduct aspiring artistry and creativity on a solid table and or preferably atop a work-bench strictly dedicated for your new found hobby. Working from a solid surface will render satisfying results and allow you a safe environment for you and your tools.

Build Or Buy A Study Work-Bench For Leather Crafting

As mentioned above, a sturdy work surface will serve you best in your introduction into the art of leather craft. That said, you have a 2-3 options to choose from. Since you're considering getting into a creative hobby such as leather craft you may consider an introductory crash course in carpentry while you're at it and construct your own work bench. If you simply wish to jump right into your leather craft hobby right away and spare yourself from an additional hobby of carpentry you can purchase one at Lowes, or any home improvement retailer. They typically start at around $125.

Don't Take Leather Craft For Granite

Yes indeed were still on the subject of solid work surfaces and work benches and the above mentioned title is not a typo. That said, another important addition to your work bench is a solid 12X12 slab of Granite that allows an aspiring leather-crafter to pound-out clear and defining designs with leather craft tools. It also allows a stable base in which to cut leather from, only after purchasing a "poundo-board." A poundo-board can be used under the marble slab to absorb noise, or most importantly as to protect your tool's cutting edges.

Some Basic Starter Tools Of The Trade In Leather Crafting

Now to get really down to business and get something down on leather you will need at least the Craftool Basic 7 Tool Set from Tandy Leather Factory. With a little imagination and a creative mind-set The Craftool Basic 7 Tool Set will allow you to come-up with a myriad designs that can be "carved" out onto a piece of leather hide. The Craftool Basic seven Tool Set comes with, including a fine swivel knife, plus the six basic tools used in most floral pattern designs. They feature heavy duty construction, and are precision cast-poured. I was actually amazed at the amount of different designs I came up with when I purchased this very basic tool set. In fact I have not added many more of the almost one-thousand Craftool designs from Tandy Leather Factory available with no complaints from existing and return client's seeking high quality hand crafted leather clients.

Hammering The Needs Of Tools Need In Leather Craft Home

Finally the next tool needed in your new endeavor of leather crafting is a hammer and or mallet as some like to call them. A leather craft mallet can range in price, weight and materials. On the subject of price you can acquire one as low as $9.99 on up to $79.99 for a high quality hand crafted, leather craft legend, Al Stohlman brand. The $9.99 mallet is constructed completely of wood, where as the others may have a wooden handle with a raw-hide head, some are constructed of high quality banded oak, stainless steel fixtures and a poly-head. I purchased the bargain basement solid wood mallet and have now gone to a 1 lbs higher quality mallet, allowing me to use the inexpensive wood mallet to pound out intricate and delicate design and the heavier mallet affords me a very detailed design when using a detail riddled embossing stamp. At $9.99 for the basic hammer and poly-headed with wooden handled mallet at $19.99 you can afford both for more than one use each as mentioned above.

Where To Get Everything You Need For Leather Crafting

Providing you with a list of whom sells what and who sells the best is arbitrary and will not waste your time, nor mine in doing such because the biggest and nearly almost the only provider of leather crafting tools and supplies is Tandy Leather Factory. There are indeed many others on the World Wide Web offering you the same assortment of tools and materials however they are most likely secondary retailers that acquire their supply of tools and materials from the Tandy Leather Factory themselves. Tandy Leather Factory can provide you with a free catalog, and they allow you to apply for different pricing structures in which to buy from them. They offer general retail sales, business sales and non-profit pricing structures.