Hi there, I'm brand new to leather, but I've been a woodworker for years. You are right about stropping. That's how I keep my hand carving chisels nice. When you make a strop, avoid using a 2x4 as your wood base. As temperature and humidity changes the wood will move and distort its shape a bit. Instead use a piece of 3/4" MDF, or a scrap of cabinet grade plywood. Those are dimensionally stable, so there will be no wood movement issues to change the shape of your sharpening surface. Happy crafting 😊
My man!!!!! One of the best videos I’ve seen so far. The presser foot trick....heat gun to get out scratches....edge beveled sharpening!!! Daaaayyyymmmmnn !!!! Jim & Erin / Riptide Leatherworks
Another quick tip for beginners, a soldering iron can also burn your threads and if you adapt your small stamps to thread into where the tip goes you can use itbrand with. You can also adapt a cheap drill press for handheld drills to hold the soldering iron to use as a hot stamp.
I made a 'saddlebag' (about 16" x 8" 4") for use on an antique bicycle. This would get rough use over the years so I used slight bits of epoxy to lock the stitching in hidden areas. Several spots along long lengths of stitching and on stitching of straps and buckles. In case the stitching gets nicked or cut, the stitching won't all pull out. Thanks for the heat sealing of the waxed thread to lock the ends.
Have been doing leatherwork off and on since 1969.....Still have all my original tools, plus a gazillion more I've collected over the years depending on what new projects I work on....Never knew anything like the Thread Zap existed.....Now I know.....Am ordering one today.... ;o) Thanks!
I've been doing leather for a few years, and you showed me some new tricks. Especially the heat gun for scratches, and the string trick for stropping edge bevelers. Good stuff!
I'm just learning about bookbinding, but would love to combine it with leatherworking someday to make beautiful leatherbound journals and/or books. I love how your explanations are clear and to the point.
I really appreciate your timely and useful hacks and tips! Although I work a full time job, my heart longs for creativity. Since I create several different genres, I forget the basic skills sometimes when starting a new project. I create custom journals, from dyeing and baking my paper to creating a 300-page book. So I’ve made all the book innards and I want to make a leather cover, 1st leather journal 😬. Can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted and leather I’ve ruined 😡. But I’m not giving up, I keep searching and researching and that’s how I found you. Thank you for stepping up and sharing your talent and your love for it with others. I’m listening …
You convinced me to try leather crafting out. I only bought the leather and the tools you used for tracing and cutting out the leather pieces, just to see if I could do that part lol. I did it pretty dang well and now i'm motivated to go further. Just purchased the rest of the tools to finish the job, hope I can do it. Thanks for all of these videos!
Haha now I know what that piece leather is for that came with the kit 🤪I can also use this on my wood chisels. Thank you. I love all you guys that post these DIY videos. You all have made the Pandemic just a little, no A LOT!!! More bearable. Must add this. I just saw this thread burner in an art store. Guess what I'm buying tomorrow 😁
I realized this 8 yrs ago. I was taught to use it and toss it. I learned about stroping my knives in general. After a month i was in my craft room and was think about all the razor blades i was collecting from projects. I had a half a shoe box (500) of double utility knife blades. I started stropping the blades after each cut or project. I was shocked! I had spent a lot of $$$ using and throwing away used blades. I stropped all the blades and now i have enough blades i should never need to buy blades again.
Gracias por todo los que nos compartes. Es una maravilla ver tus videos, por todo que aprendo y sobre todo con el sentimiento que trasmites. Mis mejores deseos para tus proyectos. Saludos desde España.
A lighter with the right distance will not burn your project. Hammering the stitches it to prevent wear in the stitches. Water is free for burnishing; dye isn't. I love that scratch fix.
Hi Ryan! You are really a cool man! Your advice to pull out the spring on the sewing machine divided my sewing into before and after. Respect from Ukraine, thank you very much for what you are doing!
Thank you for all the small and important notes and tips on using leather tools. Greetings to you from Syria, from Damascus. I am interested in the videos you make and I can learn from you from a distance. Thank you and I will subscribe to your channel.
Agreed with all of these but didn’t think about the thread zapper. Speed reducer is critical, especially for learning, but even as a pro. +1 for Smiths.
Thnx!! Great tips!! Regarding marking of leather by pressor foot or feed dogs: my machine (inexpensive one) came with really sharp teeth that were tearing the leather up. So, I ground the teeth down and then coated the nubs with epoxy to get a smooth surface. Worked great. Don’t understand why they would supply such horrible feet/dogs but, stuff happens, hacks to the rescue.
Thanks for sharing🙏🏿 I came up with a hack for the foil, too. I heat a cast iron skill with maybe a 1/2 inch border. I set my stamp(s) on it and heat the stamp(s) up, then pick up the stamp handle with a mitten and press into the foil. Still trying to perfect the process, though. It doesn’t always come out neat and clean.
Thank you 10000x over for putting such quality content out. Your channel has inspired me to finally start learning leather craft. I’m excited to try some of the projects on here.
These are all great tips! I don't have any tips, but I would really enjoy seeing a video about what you do with your leather scraps. In sewing, it's easy to avoid fabric waste and fabric scraps can be used in so many different ways, so I'm curious to know how leather scraps can be repurposed or recycled.
I like your videos, I am locked down in the UK right now and wanted to learn something new so ordered tools and will be learning by the end of this week virus permitting! Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Wow….. priceless ! Thank you thank you, for the time and effort you put in these videos. God bless u brother and gives prosperity in every way ! I mean it.
Those were truly useful tips - for me anyways!! Thanks so much for sharing - especially sharpening rotary blades - I spend so much money on them, but always save the used blades for paper and pattern cutting - (I make clothing) - now I know I can sharpen them and use them on my leather projects!!!
Thank you SEW MUCH for the spring hack for my Juki!. Had no idea you could do that to reduce the pressure, but will take mine out in the morning! It’s been driving me crazy! I already filed down the bottoms of my pressure feet with a Dremel which helped too.
For the pressure foot - it pays to sand off the very sharp edges. I did this to mine and it also made a big difference. Spring tension reduction and sanding the edges is the trick to preventing marks on the leather.
Love your work. Thanks for sharing your tips. The string for the beveler perfect. But trim allowance is a key tip. Thank you. Cant wait to get some more leather.
When you use a rotary punch to punch holes in leather, it helps to take a piece of scrap leather and place it under the project leather piece. Then, when you punch the hole, and hear a certain sound, the result will be a precise and clean cut.
wow. thanks for this. so simple i would have probably never thought of it, but i just randomly saw this comment and tried it on some soft scrap leather i was working with earlier, and it works so well. i was having to go in an dig the plugs out with a knife.. thanks!
Look in sewing notions for a rotary blade sharpener and save your fingers. It's basically a circle sharpener. Add some jewelers compound and you're good.
If you have a power burnisher, and want to clean all the crud (waxes & dye) from it, a good method to use is the following: Take a paper towel and fold it to the size, 2"s X 2"s and moisten it with denatured alcohol, hold it rather snuggly against the cocobolo burnisher and turn on the motor.
Before I got myself some I would use worn out hole saws. Use a bench grinder to knock off the teeth, mark out the radius you want grind a step in and then put an edge on it. Works alright
Jeremy Kinnear nope I grind all the teeth off and a step in to it and then grind the radius to a sharp edge. Best of all you can get a large bolt that’ll screw in to the holesaw and you have a handle and something to punch
Man, you are so inspiring! I admire your enthusiasm and devotion. Since I discovered your videos on RUclips you've been encouraging me to pursue my own leather craft thing. God bless you! Greetings all the way from Bulgaria! :)
Sticky Contact Cement Lid: B4 I learned petroleum jelly was ok or putting can in bag and storing upside down worked...I cut a small piece of 2 x 2 and with liberal use of gorilla glue made a great leverage handle. I still like the leverage.
Great video, thanks for the trick about the corners. I got my corner punch but I can never get to cut straight, it always flares out as I punch it down; maybe cuz of the thickness of the leather. I've got a new back up plan now!
I do wood carving also, when I first started I used x-acto knives. I stropped the blades and I could use the same blade for months. I just started leather craft and I love it. My hands are getting too crippled to carve wood and leather is so much easier on my hands.
I don't make leather goods but I find your videos so entertaining (and relaxing) to watch. Even this video where I am learning about all the different tools, hacks, and techniques. Keep up the good work! P.S. The wood burnishing tool is my favorite part of every video for some reason!
Fantastic video. Dull edge bevellers have been a consistent difficulty for me; the string trick is just genius! Thanks so much! Once you get your cheesy intro/outro thing sorted your channel will easily be one of the best! 😁👍
This has got to be one of the best tips video i have seen in a while! Thanks for sharing and I hope you make more. I'm new to leather and learning stuff like this makes it more fun and less scary. xoxo
Great video thank you! Had no idea dye would burnish well on vegtan. Thank you for listing all your tools in the description, may I ask though, where did you source your makers marks? They are unreal.
Hey . I really enjoyed your video . Would you be so kind to create a video demonstrating the process of foil stamping without using a machine .. that would be really cool to watch😍💪💪
Hi Ryan! Thank you for all your tips and tricks!! I've picked up so much from watching your videos. And thanks for the two free months of skillshare. I just signed up!!
Ok just the heat gun arrived today and oh man it was fun. Just one thing, i see the gold stamp is not really perfect there are missing spots. What you think may cause this? Not enough heath or bad folio?
That bit about fixing scratches with the heat gun is awesome! Thank you for the tips
Hi there,
I'm brand new to leather, but I've been a woodworker for years. You are right about stropping. That's how I keep my hand carving chisels nice.
When you make a strop, avoid using a 2x4 as your wood base. As temperature and humidity changes the wood will move and distort its shape a bit. Instead use a piece of 3/4" MDF, or a scrap of cabinet grade plywood. Those are dimensionally stable, so there will be no wood movement issues to change the shape of your sharpening surface.
Happy crafting 😊
Greetings,
Thanks for the overall video, with practical tips and hacks.
My man!!!!! One of the best videos I’ve seen so far. The presser foot trick....heat gun to get out scratches....edge beveled sharpening!!! Daaaayyyymmmmnn !!!!
Jim & Erin / Riptide Leatherworks
Another quick tip for beginners, a soldering iron can also burn your threads and if you adapt your small stamps to thread into where the tip goes you can use itbrand with. You can also adapt a cheap drill press for handheld drills to hold the soldering iron to use as a hot stamp.
I don't leather craft but man its soo satisfying to watch you work. It so awesome to see leather working. Keep it going.
I made a 'saddlebag' (about 16" x 8" 4") for use on an antique bicycle. This would get rough use over the years so I used slight bits of epoxy to lock the stitching in hidden areas. Several spots along long lengths of stitching and on stitching of straps and buckles. In case the stitching gets nicked or cut, the stitching won't all pull out.
Thanks for the heat sealing of the waxed thread to lock the ends.
These tips are so genuine, I don’t know much about leather craft , but I can see them be actually helpful
Have been doing leatherwork off and on since 1969.....Still have all my original tools, plus a gazillion more I've collected over the years depending on what new projects I work on....Never knew anything like the Thread Zap existed.....Now I know.....Am ordering one today.... ;o) Thanks!
I've been doing leather for a few years, and you showed me some new tricks. Especially the heat gun for scratches, and the string trick for stropping edge bevelers. Good stuff!
I'm just learning about bookbinding, but would love to combine it with leatherworking someday to make beautiful leatherbound journals and/or books. I love how your explanations are clear and to the point.
I really appreciate your timely and useful hacks and tips! Although I work a full time job, my heart longs for creativity. Since I create several different genres, I forget the basic skills sometimes when starting a new project. I create custom journals, from dyeing and baking my paper to creating a 300-page book. So I’ve made all the book innards and I want to make a leather cover, 1st leather journal 😬. Can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted and leather I’ve ruined 😡. But I’m not giving up, I keep searching and researching and that’s how I found you. Thank you for stepping up and sharing your talent and your love for it with others. I’m listening …
You convinced me to try leather crafting out. I only bought the leather and the tools you used for tracing and cutting out the leather pieces, just to see if I could do that part lol. I did it pretty dang well and now i'm motivated to go further. Just purchased the rest of the tools to finish the job, hope I can do it. Thanks for all of these videos!
how’s it going now?
Haha now I know what that piece leather is for that came with the kit 🤪I can also use this on my wood chisels. Thank you. I love all you guys that post these DIY videos. You all have made the Pandemic just a little, no A LOT!!! More bearable.
Must add this. I just saw this thread burner in an art store. Guess what I'm buying tomorrow 😁
I realized this 8 yrs ago. I was taught to use it and toss it. I learned about stroping my knives in general. After a month i was in my craft room and was think about all the razor blades i was collecting from projects. I had a half a shoe box (500) of double utility knife blades. I started stropping the blades after each cut or project. I was shocked! I had spent a lot of $$$ using and throwing away used blades. I stropped all the blades and now i have enough blades i should never need to buy blades again.
Gracias por todo los que nos compartes. Es una maravilla ver tus videos, por todo que aprendo y sobre todo con el sentimiento que trasmites. Mis mejores deseos para tus proyectos. Saludos desde España.
A lighter with the right distance will not burn your project.
Hammering the stitches it to prevent wear in the stitches.
Water is free for burnishing; dye isn't.
I love that scratch fix.
I bought a corner punch which is smaller than I wanted so I exclusively use the cutting method for nice rounded corners.
Hi Ryan! You are really a cool man! Your advice to pull out the spring on the sewing machine divided my sewing into before and after. Respect from Ukraine, thank you very much for what you are doing!
Thank you for all the small and important notes and tips on using leather tools. Greetings to you from Syria, from Damascus. I am interested in the videos you make and I can learn from you from a distance. Thank you and I will subscribe to your channel.
I never thought about sharpening my rotary blades! That’s going to save me a ton of $$! Thank you!
Glad to help
I use a tobacco filters for coloring edges of my leatherworks, it's very simple and comfortable :)
Fantastic tips, especially burnish/edging & #10 re: scratches. Thank you! 👜👞
Before watching this video I wondered if there was anything new or useful here. Uh... yeah! Thanks for all the great tips!
Haha yay!
Agreed with all of these but didn’t think about the thread zapper. Speed reducer is critical, especially for learning, but even as a pro. +1 for Smiths.
Thnx!! Great tips!! Regarding marking of leather by pressor foot or feed dogs: my machine (inexpensive one) came with really sharp teeth that were tearing the leather up. So, I ground the teeth down and then coated the nubs with epoxy to get a smooth surface. Worked great. Don’t understand why they would supply such horrible feet/dogs but, stuff happens, hacks to the rescue.
Thanks for sharing🙏🏿 I came up with a hack for the foil, too. I heat a cast iron skill with maybe a 1/2 inch border. I set my stamp(s) on it and heat the stamp(s) up, then pick up the stamp handle with a mitten and press into the foil. Still trying to perfect the process, though. It doesn’t always come out neat and clean.
Thank you 10000x over for putting such quality content out. Your channel has inspired me to finally start learning leather craft. I’m excited to try some of the projects on here.
Everytime I feel like im not getting anywhere i watch this guys videos and I get perked up.
Thanks a million for your tips and the way you share it. Love your workshop.
These are all great tips! I don't have any tips, but I would really enjoy seeing a video about what you do with your leather scraps. In sewing, it's easy to avoid fabric waste and fabric scraps can be used in so many different ways, so I'm curious to know how leather scraps can be repurposed or recycled.
I like your videos, I am locked down in the UK right now and wanted to learn something new so ordered tools and will be learning by the end of this week virus permitting! Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Wow….. priceless ! Thank you thank you, for the time and effort you put in these videos. God bless u brother and gives prosperity in every way ! I mean it.
Those were truly useful tips - for me anyways!! Thanks so much for sharing - especially sharpening rotary blades - I spend so much money on them, but always save the used blades for paper and pattern cutting - (I make clothing) - now I know I can sharpen them and use them on my leather projects!!!
Love this video man
Thank you SEW MUCH for the spring hack for my Juki!. Had no idea you could do that to reduce the pressure, but will take mine out in the morning! It’s been driving me crazy! I already filed down the bottoms of my pressure feet with a Dremel which helped too.
For the pressure foot - it pays to sand off the very sharp edges. I did this to mine and it also made a big difference. Spring tension reduction and sanding the edges is the trick to preventing marks on the leather.
Loved #9 figured it out about 6 months ago. Dye for edging is brilliant
Thanks for this mate, for an old bloke starting a new craft, this was a cool insight. Cheers from Australia!
Love your work. Thanks for sharing your tips. The string for the beveler perfect. But trim allowance is a key tip. Thank you. Cant wait to get some more leather.
Thank you so much for helping us with theses important tips, tricks and hacks 😅 , hope you have all the best 🌸🌸
OmG!! The edge beveler one got me! I have to keep buying new ones cause no one knows how to sharpen them.. thanks for that !
When you use a rotary punch to punch holes in leather, it helps to take a piece of scrap leather and place it under the project leather piece. Then, when you punch the hole, and hear a certain sound, the result will be a precise and clean cut.
wow. thanks for this. so simple i would have probably never thought of it, but i just randomly saw this comment and tried it on some soft scrap leather i was working with earlier, and it works so well. i was having to go in an dig the plugs out with a knife.. thanks!
Look in sewing notions for a rotary blade sharpener and save your fingers. It's basically a circle sharpener. Add some jewelers compound and you're good.
About to get my first leather and tool and learn how to do this jazz.
Trim allowance is so good. Thank you so much for the tip.
"Creating corners. There's a way around this." Nice pun.
Thank you!
Thread zap to melt the wax buildup is genius!
If you have a power burnisher, and want to clean all the crud (waxes & dye) from it, a good method to use is the following: Take a paper towel and fold it to the size, 2"s X 2"s and moisten it with denatured alcohol, hold it rather snuggly against the cocobolo burnisher and turn on the motor.
Great video as usual.. Big fan from Egypt and just starting in leather handcraft
LOVING the new space, man. Watched your videos on it with Peter, and your tour and it makes an epic backdrop :) Keep smashing it.
Damn! I was really wondering how the hell to sharpen my edge beveler!
I'm just getting into the craft and rounded corners have been giving me a problem. Thanks for the tip!
Before I got myself some I would use worn out hole saws. Use a bench grinder to knock off the teeth, mark out the radius you want grind a step in and then put an edge on it. Works alright
@@lukeaugustini7866 That's a great idea. The teeth don't cause lines in the edge at all?
Jeremy Kinnear nope I grind all the teeth off and a step in to it and then grind the radius to a sharp edge. Best of all you can get a large bolt that’ll screw in to the holesaw and you have a handle and something to punch
Man, you are so inspiring! I admire your enthusiasm and devotion. Since I discovered your videos on RUclips you've been encouraging me to pursue my own leather craft thing. God bless you! Greetings all the way from Bulgaria! :)
Thanks so much!!!
Sticky Contact Cement Lid: B4 I learned petroleum jelly was ok or putting can in bag and storing upside down worked...I cut a small piece of 2 x 2 and with liberal use of gorilla glue made a great leverage handle. I still like the leverage.
Could you make a video on sizing your projects? Love your vids man.
all I can say is AWESOME! as a beginner I am sometimes overwhelmed and even intimidated with leathercraft. THANK YOU. you got a sub today! :)
Great video, thanks for the trick about the corners. I got my corner punch but I can never get to cut straight, it always flares out as I punch it down; maybe cuz of the thickness of the leather. I've got a new back up plan now!
Thank you so much!!!!! I’ve learned something amazing. Definitely gonna do the foil hack.
I do wood carving also, when I first started I used x-acto knives. I stropped the blades and I could use the same blade for months. I just started leather craft and I love it. My hands are getting too crippled to carve wood and leather is so much easier on my hands.
Man the stroping advice alone was gold.
I don't make leather goods but I find your videos so entertaining (and relaxing) to watch. Even this video where I am learning about all the different tools, hacks, and techniques. Keep up the good work!
P.S. The wood burnishing tool is my favorite part of every video for some reason!
Thanks Thomas!
Fantastic video. Dull edge bevellers have been a consistent difficulty for me; the string trick is just genius! Thanks so much! Once you get your cheesy intro/outro thing sorted your channel will easily be one of the best! 😁👍
Thanks for all the tips! Where do you get your big roll of foil? Thanks!
Thanks for the video! Lots of great tips for details I might have missed if you hadn't highlighted them.
Your videos are so easy to watch and helpful!
Putting out amazing content and has pushed me into leather craft. #handmade #leathercraft
LKG droppin' knowledge babyyyy
Thanks Ryan for good tips! Signed up for Skillshare too.
Magic eraser sponge for dyeing edges. Cut a little cube and game changer.
Topic request: leather glue... what do you use and why? Not happy with the one’s I’ve tried, so need some ideas.
Nice one nice, thanks for the tips. Am a beginner and i appreciate your advice. Thanks
Dude yes! I always burnish with dye alone!
A round glass vinegar bottle makes for a sizeable roller, for gluing leather. It's cheap, too!
This has got to be one of the best tips video i have seen in a while! Thanks for sharing and I hope you make more. I'm new to leather and learning stuff like this makes it more fun and less scary. xoxo
Great video thank you! Had no idea dye would burnish well on vegtan.
Thank you for listing all your tools in the description, may I ask though, where did you source your makers marks? They are unreal.
Thanks for another great video. Love your workshop.
Gracias por todo el aporte de conocimientos que haces, DIOS TE BENDIGA !!!
I noticed #9 tips in your other videos,
I keep wondering if its edge oil or dye. Thanks for sharing!
Very helpful, thank you. Where do you get your stamps made?
Hey . I really enjoyed your video . Would you be so kind to create a video demonstrating the process of foil stamping without using a machine .. that would be really cool to watch😍💪💪
You're the best! Loves you from Russia
The magic marker / dye the edge trick? Just took my workplace by storm. Thank you!
Well presented. Been working with learher for 40 plus years. Learned some new tricks from you . Thnx.
Glad I've been watching a ton of videos before going on a buying spree lol
oil the leather for the strop. many people don't realize you have to, but it will help polish the blade.
Awesome video! I love the tips and tricks videos. I’m gearing up to start leather work and really appreciate all that extra help.
Your videos are the best 👍
Senang ketemu channel yutub ini 😍
Thank you for sharing these insights ! Sending up some love to you and your family from Brooklyn ! ✌️
Wow! Great vid! Thanks! Did you make this video in your new shop?
Thank you. I learn so much from your videos..
Love the input on the gold foil! What brand foil do you use & where can I get some!? Thanks!
Great tips. Thank you.
We love this growth. Love this channel
Thanks for the support Susie!!
Here ive been folding sandpaper in half with rouge and fighting to hone my edge bevelers . Works but cant wait to try string to hone them. Thanks
Awww, good stuff.... Where do you get your stamps made? And what material is your cutting table topped with?
I found that superb and very usefull
Hi Ryan! Thank you for all your tips and tricks!! I've picked up so much from watching your videos. And thanks for the two free months of skillshare. I just signed up!!
Hola, no hablo inglés, pero siempre veo tus videos, y son geniales
The Thread Zap can be replaced by soldering iron, it's easy to find in any hardware store.
Exactly my thought
In a pinch I use a wooden skewer, light it on fire blow it out and use the red hot tip.
Ok just the heat gun arrived today and oh man it was fun. Just one thing, i see the gold stamp is not really perfect there are missing spots. What you think may cause this? Not enough heath or bad folio?