All About Pocket Knives

I just made a couple plastic sheaths wrapped with duct tape and thought it'd sure be nice if I could do some leather work. Not that the duct tape wrapped plastic sheaths aren't effective......

Never done anything with leather and have no tools for it......

Is there a beginner kit out there? Recommendations/Suggestions please.

Scott I just googled "learning leather crafts." Also googled "leather craft tools." There are an infinity of choices under each heading. Your only difficulty will be in choosing wisely among the offerings.

There are Tandy leather stores that have everything you need. Its a fun and rewarding hobby. Although it's kind of expensive they'll have everting you need. ftd

Scott, let me dig through my leather stuff and see what I have extras of. Maybe I can get you some starter tools. I got quite a bit of my tools from rummage sales and auctions for cheap and I know some are doubles that I just set aside. It will take me a few days.____Dave

Why thank you Dave! That's very generous of you!!

Scott, be warned this leather crafting can be very addictive.

I hope posting this link is within the rules of this forum... this is a link to out local forum here in Australia where I recently did a 'How To' thread.
"Pocket Slip Tutorial/WIP using simple everyday tools on the kitchen table."
Like you; many people are put off when it looks like you need a heap of tools & such. I wanted to demonstrate it is possible to do a reasonable job with just everyday tools found in most homes. And even the leather can be recycled from old high top boots etc.

http://www.australianbladeforums.com/vb ... table.html

Derek

I have the Loveless book on knife making. This is a nice book with beautiful pictures. He has an entire chapter on sheath making showing lay out and tools he uses with a lot of pictures. I'd be happy to lend you this book for a month or so if you would pay shipping both ways. I imagine it would cost $6.50 each way because it is heavy and would be best to sent in a priority padded mailer. I wonder if you couldn't find some of this info on Google and maybe even an on line book? Up to you if you do want me to send you my book just send me a pm with your address.

Scott - I am not a real leather worker, but I make some knife and gun holsters for my own use. I use one of those cheap battery powered Dremels and a drill chuck for it. (I have AC powered Dremels, but the low power and low speed of the battery powered one is better for leather, in my opinion.) I use a ruler and awl to measure and mark each stitch hole, then drill a hole with the Dremel. Walmart (look in the crafts section) sells rolls of waxed cord which are perfect for leather stitching, and I just use a big needle with a big eye for the cord. I keep a small pair of pliers handy to pull the needle through if needed.

I get my leather from this place: http://www.leatherunltd.com/leather/pieces/pieces.html

I do not do anything fancy, just plain utilitarian stuff, so I do not use any special equipment.

Thanks for the help fellas!

Very, very helpful and instructional tutorial Derek!! Thanks much!

Scott,
As many estate sales as you go to, I’m surprised you don’t have a set of leather working tools. Since I do make an occasional utilitarian sheath I look for leather and leather working tools when I go to a state sales. At one sale I purchased a cow hide that had been nicely tanned. I think I paid about $20 for it. It’s pretty heavy leather, too heavy for some sheath applications. I did pick up a very good quality antique leather punch (or nearly antique) for two or three dollars that was still in the original box. It was one of those rotary punches is and better quality than anything I’ve been able to find the last 10 years.

Leather working tools are kind of like pocket knives, they are where you find them and that could be anywhere.

Another good source for the leather tools and supplies is Tandy Leather. We happen to have a shoe store in town that is also carries a lot of Tandy Leather's products. I have found that shoe repair stores in general, when you can find them, are good sources for anything related to leather. It seems they're one of the few businesses that regularly work with and repair leather.