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 Veteran
Posts: 285
 
Location: Murphy NC | Can anyone tell me how to get started learning tooling, stitching, etc? I want to learn to make custom tack but I'm not sure where to start. Any direction would be appreciated. Should I buy a starter pack tool set from Tandy? Amazon? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | I got my first little kit from Tandy. I wouldn't waste a ton of money on a kit though, if you are serious. Just get the most basic kit/not a fancier kit. Spend the extra money on quality tools. Mostly in the sense of knives, and punches. You will end up spending a ton either way-might as well not have tools you need to keep replacing. If you're worried about "ruining" leather like I was, just get a scrap bag either from Tandy or off ebay.
Also, Tandy does have a lot of videos on youtube. I think springfield leather might as well. I bought a couple of tooling books-but watching the videos might be easier. Some of the wording in the books didn't totally make sense to me, but that could also just be me. |
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 I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
 
| I don't suggest buying a starter pack. Most of the time those kits have tools in them that you won't need or tools that aren't the best quality. It's best to piece together tools as you go. I am somewhat new to the game, but I am learning quite rapidly. lol Couple things that I have learned right off the bat. Don't waste your time with a stitching awl. Go ahead and learn how to saddle stitch from the get go. It will save you a ton of headache! Also, Google is your friend. :) |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | I would not invest a whole lot of money in tools until you really see if you like carving leather. Lots of really neat leather items are made with designs using "leather stamps" .........To "learn" to hand tool (carve) leather, you need a small group of specially designed tools: swivel knife, camouflage, beveler, pear shader, veiner, seeder, backgrounder and mallet. Then I would check with your nearest Tandy's for a list of classes that they have....lots are free. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I would start with a class or 2 at Tandy’s, become familiar with the tools and then start acquiring them, I’ve seen folks selling sets on Facebook and eBay from time to time of higher quality tools than you’ll get in a starter kit.
It’s an investment and it takes time... if your end goal is to make and sell custom tack, remember that Facebook and peoples opinion on Facebook is forever - make sure what you’re letting leave your possession is good quality and something you’d be happy to see again in a few years. That means you’ll have more investment up front in practice pieces, but if you turn out pieces for other people that aren’t quality and end up falling apart, you’ll have that much bigger of an uphill battle to gain a good reputation. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| You can find everything you need to learn on YouTube and on Tandy’s website. They have a video for pretty much every tool ever invented. Pinterest is a good resource too.
Just so you know, I’m about $10,000 in on tools and materials and I don’t even have half of what I really want.
It’s addicting.
Edited to add:
Just buy basic tools. You don’t need a fancy mallet. My favorite tooling hammer is one of those little sand filled hammers from Lowe’s (my Dad just flinched visibly, he does not approve), but I have way more control over it. A good swivel knife with a couple blade sizes is huge, learn how to properly sharpen it every fifteen minutes of use. A basic set of stamping tools, basket stamp, border, etc. Go for five or six pieces. A couple different kinds of bevelers is a must. Buy a really good modeling spoon, you’ll thank me. Then an extremely cheap piece of Tandy tooling leather, learn how to properly case it. A book of Al Stohlmans will have really fun, tested and true patterns to try, with instructions.
Once you’ve destroyed every surface of your cheap leather order, and you can’t stop reliving every moment, it’s time to buy more stuff.
Edited by classicpotatochip 2018-04-04 10:33 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | I always thought that would be fun to learn! Right now I’m into sewing though. Springfield leather is a good resource. I’ve never actually purchased anything from them but they have a better variety than Tandy from what I saw window shopping. They have some good instructional videos too. |
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