Leatherworking

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Hey fellas. I have a buddy that is getting into leatherworking. He is in the process of getting tooled up and wants to know some of the better places to get supplies (leather, punches, fasteners, etc). Thanks!

[Alexn20]

Wont vouch for quality but you cant beat prices on amazon.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Tandy has probably got more people into leather working than anyone!

Do a search and see if a store is near you!

https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx

[N4AUD]

Tandy.

[RonT]

Weaver Leather. My local Amish harness shop and a good friend (Jimmy Acord) both buy from them.
Cheers,
R

[GLL]

Mark, AKA Springfield, might be able to provide some help or answer questions !

http://www.whyteleatherworks.com/

Jerry

[waksupi]

http://www.leatherunltd.com/leather/pieces/pieces.html

I've done a little business with these people.

[Charley]

The other are OK, but Tandy has been around a long time. Always had good service from them.

[Dhammer]

Some of tools Tandy sells are junk. (They literally sent a pic of someone elses tool to a manufacture in China and they attempted to duplicated it but, missed the key angle, chamfer etc that made the original tool work great) So it depends on what he needs, some of tools work perfectly though.. There are a few guys who make highly specialized tools that work great too.
I see Tandy has added some higher end tools recently to their line. I have been meaning to email my buddy and see how he felt about them and if that was to fix issue some of their cheaper line had. Their edge chamfer tools don't round the edge the way I need so ends up being a few more steps for me versus if I had drawing a blank on the name of USA maker's tool. I've borrowed my buddies and it what it does to edge is night and day diffence no more steps needed.

[Bazoo]

The best place to get leather is local. Find a local shop and get a half side. it should run 150 or less. Sometimes you'll find a booth at a flea market, or indoor booth store for a few odds and ends.

[doc1876]

tandys may be a little high, but a quality tool is worth it. I highly recommend this kit. I actually bought one after 50 years sewing leather.
Deluxe Handstitching Set
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/beginning-leather-kits/11191-00.aspx

As to leather, there is a place in St. Louis called S and T leather, and they have everything imaginable from cow hide to alligator to lizard in brown blue or purple or red!! Their prices are better than average.

http://www.stleather.com

[BrassMagnet]

I used to buy all of my leather and leather working tools from Drake Leather Company at 3500 W. Beverly Blvd.

They are not there any more.
My experiences back then were Tandy leather was low grade compared to the same price range of leather from Drake.

The good old days!
I still have all of my leather tools, some leather, and I even still have a belt and wallet I made way back then.
I'll keep the tools forever.

[Firebricker]

I just bought a book "The art of hand sewing" by Al Stolman. Not sure on tools still looking my self. Ozbourne appears to be high quality Tandy will get you going but a lot of them are foreign made. Seems like a lot of people are searching for older used tools. FB

[doc1876]

pm sent

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Thank you all so very much for all the replies! Doc1876, I got the PM and THANK YOU!

[Blacksmith]

C. S. Osborne sells professional grade tools, leather and other, but you will pay for the quality. If you do it for a living it is worth it but it makes a hobby expensive.
http://www.csosborne.com/

(http://www.csosborne.com/)
Where else can you get cast iron lead pots with a 240 pound capacity or ladles with a 50 pound capacity for those really big smelting jobs?

[BrassMagnet]

tandys may be a little high, but a quality tool is worth it. I highly recommend this kit. I actually bought one after 50 years sewing leather.
Deluxe Handstitching Set


http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/beginning-leather-kits/11191-00.aspx

As to leather, there is a place in St. Louis called S and T leather, and they have everything imaginable from cow hide to alligator to lizard in brown blue or purple or red!! Their prices are better than average.

http://www.stleather.com


This is what you need for sewing leather:

http://www.awlforall.com/merchant2/index.html

It will also sew boot soles on!
I bought my #12 Awl for All from Drake Leather Company over 40 years ago and the awl from the "Awl for All" company looks exactly like mine. You can't go wrong with this. Buy extra waxed nylon thread.

[Firebricker]

Those do work well I have one but it does a lock stitch. If he wants the most durable or traditional way the saddle stitch will be stronger. FB

[MaryB]

I learned the saddle stitch, read up on the lock stitch and decided it wasn't that great.

[Rick Hodges]

I learned the saddle stitch, read up on the lock stitch and decided it wasn't that great.

X-2
Saddle stitch is the way to go. Those "sewing awl's" are ok for emergency repairs to canvas and leather goods but not much else. I have a couple of them, but the saddle stitch is stronger and more durable. It looks better too.