Leather Tools Every Beginner Needs (And a Few You DONT)
There are so many specialized tools and products out there that it can be overwhelming. This is especially true in the crafting world and leathercraft is no different. I’ll save you some time by wrangling together to best tools every beginner needs. I’ll even save you some money and let you know what you DONT need as well. For now, strap in and rouge up your strop because we’re starting with the carving essentials.
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Carving Essentials
If you’re planning on carving your leather, you’re going to want a few tools to do it. For someone who is just getting started in the world of leather, there is an overwhelming number of stamps out there. Heck, for someone who knows their way around a hide there is still a heap of products to sift through before finding what you really need. To simply things for you, I’ve rounded up a few of the essentials and even linked them for you.
The Swivel Knife
If you want to carve, you’re going to need a knife. You can do a lot with stamps, but a swivel knife is going to make all the difference in the world. And it’s not just the knife! You’re going to need to be able to strop it as well, so grab some jeweler’s rouge while you’re at it. Trust me, you’re going to need it.
Antique Finish
This is how you bring contrast to your carvings and stamps. Its a dark paste or gel that you smear into the crevices of your carvings and wipe away. This may not be a leather tool per say but an antique finish takes your work from a 7 to a 10. Be warned that it can have a few steep lessons in store for you if you’re not sure what you’re doing. At any rate, antique finish goes on top of anything that I’ve tooled and I can’t recommend it enough as a leather tool.
Stitching Essentials
After you’ve carved to your heart’s desire, you’ll probably want to stitch your project together. That’s where the next product comes in. I personally bought this kit when I first got started. I still use it to this day. There’s actually very few things you don’t need in this one.
I still use most of these. The only items in here that I have not used are the hook awl and the metal thimble. I don’t see why they included two stitch marking tools but I have used them both so I really can’t complain. Are they both necessary? No. But they work.
The wooden burnishing tool, hole punches, and tiny whetstone have been staples in my kit since day one.
In short, this kit has everything you need to stitch your projects together and very few things that you do not need. Plus it comes in a convenient zipper case!
What you DON’T need.
Need? No. But I sure do want the cool knife.
This may be a hot take, but you really don’t need a fancy knife or shears. I’m sorry, but a plain old utility knife does just fine. More than fine. A utility knife is actually my go-to for cutting my leather. If you don’t believe me, by all means drop $30-90 on a knife that you don’t know how to sharpen. Or you can mosey on down to the local hardware store and pick up a utility knife and a pack of blades for what, $15?
That being said, there are things that knives like these are capable of that you just can’t do with a utility knife. Try skivving with one and let me know how it goes. Granted, they do make fancy skivving knives. If you’re not going to buy one of these you will likely have to buy one of those. But for a beginner it is probably better to avoid the knives you don’t know how to sharpen. At least until you learn.
