Very cool!! I’m another grey beard maker. Retired now, grew up and put in 30- some years as a custom cabinetmaker. My first leather projects I “drilled” the stitching holes with a finish nail and hammer on a scrap 2x4. Works great. A small drill press can be mounted sideways on a stud wall or cabinet mount (Dad built a cabinet to mount it in back when I was apprenticing in his shop); we used it as a doweling machine, and in another shop, we used a similar setup to cut tapers and tenons on logs for log furniture. Can also rig a tail stock and turn it into a rough lathe for small pieces; also works for polishing screw heads and such. Heck, a handsaw can make a handy straightedge for cutting straps and latigo LOL
But it only cost about $100-$150 to purchase real mid range type of quality leather working tools made to do the job correctly and more importantly than anything to do the job much much faster which is always most important time is the most expensive asset period if you use those tools and make a wallet and I use my tools it will take you 2-6 times longer depending on skill set so that time is hundreds for me personally thousands. Oh and I had well over $70,000 in woodworking tools every hand tool and power tool known to mankind old and mew cheap and expensive from harbor freight to festool so yes I know what I am talking about but a cheap leather working kit on Amazon for $40-$60 and that’s still perfect for part time/ beginner leather worker oh well I digress lol cool look though never even thought about it
@The Home Wood Worker - I see a lot of kits from overseas which I haven't been very fond of, they come with 3 or 4 decent tools and 15-20 tools I wouldn't use, so it always seemed like a waste of money. I'd rather use the tools I have than the kits I've seen, and spend the extra money on leather and tooling stamps to give my leatherwork more character. Where can you find the kits you are taking about? It's quite possible they are better kits than the ones Ive seen. I'd like to take a look and possibly review them.
Sorry, but I'm getting really distracted! Your videos are reversing when you cut to another frame. I'm watching to see which hand your watch appears on this time, however, I'll try to ignore it, because you talk a lot of common sense and I really like your Channel!
The best savings on tools is to not buy new. I learned using a saddle maker friends tools. Then when I moved I had to get my own. I found an estate auction where the guy bought much of the Tandy catalog. The only buyers I was against were Ebay sellers. I paid more than they wanted to spend and way less than new. I bought $2000 dollars worth of tools for $120. Now granted that was 17 years ago but it is the same for my wood working tools and mechanic tools. Estate sales and auctions. Sometimes you will only get one item. Someday when I kick off this mortal plane someone will come along and buy what I had, so there is always stuff floating the market. Just be patient and work with what you have and expand as you find stuff. The hunt can be as fun as the use. You might have to expend elbow grease to clean tools up for reuse.
@57WillysCJ I have checked estate sales for years and found a lot of cool tools, but I still have yet to see any leather working tools. Must have not been a thing in my area back in the day.
The motor start capacitor has gone as mentioned below. Use a thick wooden disc on the lathe with a good outside edge on it covered in leather with a good scarf joint so that it is regular and use it to polish all sorts of kit. Possibly 2discs, one with 1500 grit on leather and one smooth. You showed a big saw. Interesting steel at a cheap price or even a rusty blunt one - cut with a thin 1mm zip disc on a small hand grinder and turn into a blade, sciver or half moon knife. Also seen old HSS circular saw blades cut in the same way and turned into leather knives or chisels. Can you make an edger from a piece of HSS blade in the same way - probably. Another source of old hardenable steel is old tyre levers from car mechanics. Heat to blood red in a gloomy room without strip lights or until it does not stick to a magnet to anneal - cool slowly or very slowly. Same to harden but quench in light oil, polish to shiny, heat from handle end slowly until colours spread out until tip shows light straw quench in water. Polish and resharpen. This will not work with HSS (high speed steel). Disc sander with a circular leather plate instead and perhaps a disc with a crocus emery grade of paper (jewellers rouge) c 3000 grit. Your edge polisher in another form - thin collars, then touched with sharpening and polishing blocks whilst rotating to sharpen gouges, edgers etc perhaps a composite disc of MDF might do the job better and hold the compunds well. Tray to keep the abrasive off the bed of the lathe.
+Brian Cullen yes, yes, yes! All of the small shop folks out there like us find cool new ways to use our tools, because if we aren't professionals who make these things for a living it can be hard to justify the expense. Thank you.
Even a burn tool with diffrent attachments, or Dremel tool that tool is a must if you are a maker. I've been collecting tool's for a lot of year's now I buy them from anywhere garage sales flea market's shops going out of business to older folks that don't use there tool's any more that are willing to give them to someone else that will put them to good use.
@@snoopu2601 I've bought a lot of old wood working tools from people at garage sales and estate sales, but no one I've ever found sells leather working tools.
Perfect video for me. I just started doing small leather projects; mostly things with rivets and snaps. I am using my HFT 1/2 ton press. I used it to make pens now I use it to set rivets and snaps. Great idea about the disk sander and wood lathe. Thanks.
Cip, I appreciate it. I got into leather craft about six years ago or so and since I had a woodworking background I approach things a little differently. I'm probably never going to make an hand tooled $7000 saddle, but I do enjoy the craft and make all kinds of different items. Have you ever made a pen making video? I am going to check out your channel here shortly.
Hi Try a new capacitor on your sander I had same thing with my wood lathe I had to give a little turn to start it And found it was the capacitor And was only a few pounds Cheaper than a new sander or lathe in my case It holds a charge and it kick starts you sander it stead of turning by hand Give it a go let me know
I use my Dremel tool for a lot of my leather work, it has a lot of different attachments. For stamping leather you can get large nail head's and make your own design on the nail head if you have a Dremel tool it helps to grind the nail head for a pattern small file set from Harbor freight has them for under $10
@SNOOP U 2 making your own stamping tools is a great idea. You can be creative as you want. I've heard of people making these with bolts before, but never nails. Now you've got me thinking. 😄
For 3D stamping with the arbor press, did you cut down the ram mount, or was it that short to begin with? I have a handheld one that I bought for stamping with hammers, that's the 'regular' length of a leatherworking stamp handle.
@@bigstacksshop Also Tandy. Not sure if it's the same brand, but if you look up the "Craftool Hefty Handles" on their website, I've got probably one of the 'standard' size ones. Bought it in store at some point early last year, or late the year before, I think.
@@matthewryan8463 I bought mine maybe 5 years ago. Just used it today, that thing is great. I'm interested in the longer one so I don't have to attach a handle to it.
I don’t have to many tools and I wanted to add textures to my project I used a small hand craft wooded spoon works great! Just started out trying to learn.
Another very good video I have been working leather on and off for about 5years I have been looking at some expensive tools just to have them. Now I realize that I do not need them Thanks Aaron
@Aaron Ionta You don't need the expensive tools, at any level. Think of all the craftsman around the world who live in very poor countries and make the most beautiful things. Now that being said, once you reach a certain level in the craft there is nothing like treating yourself to a quality tool you can really enjoy using and pass onto future generations. You don't have to buy everything at once, but it does pay to reward yourself for your progress every now and then. 😄
@LiseWolfe i mistakenly called it a Ram Mount. It's actually called a Ram Foot, and Tandy Leather sells them. You can buy one on Amazon right here amzn.to/4cETJ6A
I love that you start your disc sander with a push! We all have those tools. My most used tool for leathercraft is a buffing wheel. So much faster than a strop with the same outcome. Best $70 I ever spent on leatherwork.
@@bigstacksshop Oh, I meant I use it to strop leather tools, I’ve never tried the leather itself b/c of all the polishing compound. You can use a box cutter blade 100x as long.
@@roberttaylor4190 Just FYI, these dies aren't of the highest quality, and to my knowledge can't be sharpened. If you get a choice to get the ones with Japanese steel spend the extra money. After you have been using them for a while, you will know which shapes you like the best, and can get a high quality custom one made. They will cost a lot more, but will be well worth the money at that point.
I believe in using the right tool for the job. There is a reason why there are separate leather working tools. Congratulations to you for figuring out alternative methods, but your work will look like you used carpentry tools. When you make a "Hand Tooled" saddle with your methods, and it turns out excellent, then I'll take your advice
I can get with you on that Kevin, the right tool for the job is always the best option, hands down. My channel is really geared for individuals with limited shop space and budgets. Small shop people need to make the most of what they have. As for the quality of the finished product, I guarantee they look great and you can't tell the difference between those made with only traditional tools and the specific tools I use in this video.
Very cool!! I’m another grey beard maker. Retired now, grew up and put in 30- some years as a custom cabinetmaker. My first leather projects I “drilled” the stitching holes with a finish nail and hammer on a scrap 2x4. Works great.
A small drill press can be mounted sideways on a stud wall or cabinet mount (Dad built a cabinet to mount it in back when I was apprenticing in his shop); we used it as a doweling machine, and in another shop, we used a similar setup to cut tapers and tenons on logs for log furniture. Can also rig a tail stock and turn it into a rough lathe for small pieces; also works for polishing screw heads and such. Heck, a handsaw can make a handy straightedge for cutting straps and latigo LOL
Very awesome ideas Rob. You should make a few videos to demonstrate these.
But it only cost about $100-$150 to purchase real mid range type of quality leather working tools made to do the job correctly and more importantly than anything to do the job much much faster which is always most important time is the most expensive asset period if you use those tools and make a wallet and I use my tools it will take you 2-6 times longer depending on skill set so that time is hundreds for me personally thousands. Oh and I had well over $70,000 in woodworking tools every hand tool and power tool known to mankind old and mew cheap and expensive from harbor freight to festool so yes I know what I am talking about but a cheap leather working kit on Amazon for $40-$60 and that’s still perfect for part time/ beginner leather worker oh well I digress lol cool look though never even thought about it
@The Home Wood Worker - I see a lot of kits from overseas which I haven't been very fond of, they come with 3 or 4 decent tools and 15-20 tools I wouldn't use, so it always seemed like a waste of money. I'd rather use the tools I have than the kits I've seen, and spend the extra money on leather and tooling stamps to give my leatherwork more character.
Where can you find the kits you are taking about? It's quite possible they are better kits than the ones Ive seen. I'd like to take a look and possibly review them.
Sorry, but I'm getting really distracted! Your videos are reversing when you cut to another frame. I'm watching to see which hand your watch appears on this time, however, I'll try to ignore it, because you talk a lot of common sense and I really like your Channel!
@tom2move I had some editing issues early on, you should see less of these issues in my most recent videos. I appreciate the kind words
The best savings on tools is to not buy new. I learned using a saddle maker friends tools. Then when I moved I had to get my own. I found an estate auction where the guy bought much of the Tandy catalog. The only buyers I was against were Ebay sellers. I paid more than they wanted to spend and way less than new. I bought $2000 dollars worth of tools for $120. Now granted that was 17 years ago but it is the same for my wood working tools and mechanic tools. Estate sales and auctions. Sometimes you will only get one item. Someday when I kick off this mortal plane someone will come along and buy what I had, so there is always stuff floating the market. Just be patient and work with what you have and expand as you find stuff. The hunt can be as fun as the use. You might have to expend elbow grease to clean tools up for reuse.
@57WillysCJ I have checked estate sales for years and found a lot of cool tools, but I still have yet to see any leather working tools. Must have not been a thing in my area back in the day.
The motor start capacitor has gone as mentioned below. Use a thick wooden disc on the lathe with a good outside edge on it covered in leather with a good scarf joint so that it is regular and use it to polish all sorts of kit. Possibly 2discs, one with 1500 grit on leather and one smooth. You showed a big saw. Interesting steel at a cheap price or even a rusty blunt one - cut with a thin 1mm zip disc on a small hand grinder and turn into a blade, sciver or half moon knife. Also seen old HSS circular saw blades cut in the same way and turned into leather knives or chisels. Can you make an edger from a piece of HSS blade in the same way - probably. Another source of old hardenable steel is old tyre levers from car mechanics. Heat to blood red in a gloomy room without strip lights or until it does not stick to a magnet to anneal - cool slowly or very slowly. Same to harden but quench in light oil, polish to shiny, heat from handle end slowly until colours spread out until tip shows light straw quench in water. Polish and resharpen. This will not work with HSS (high speed steel). Disc sander with a circular leather plate instead and perhaps a disc with a crocus emery grade of paper (jewellers rouge) c 3000 grit. Your edge polisher in another form - thin collars, then touched with sharpening and polishing blocks whilst rotating to sharpen gouges, edgers etc perhaps a composite disc of MDF might do the job better and hold the compunds well. Tray to keep the abrasive off the bed of the lathe.
@hawkercnc8261 Thank you for the great tips!
belt sander ,oscillating spindle sander, framing square , block plane, utility knife Use what ya got and know how to use.
+Brian Cullen yes, yes, yes! All of the small shop folks out there like us find cool new ways to use our tools, because if we aren't professionals who make these things for a living it can be hard to justify the expense. Thank you.
Even a burn tool with diffrent attachments, or Dremel tool that tool is a must if you are a maker.
I've been collecting tool's for a lot of year's now I buy them from anywhere garage sales flea market's shops going out of business to older folks that don't use there tool's any more that are willing to give them to someone else that will put them to good use.
@@snoopu2601 I've bought a lot of old wood working tools from people at garage sales and estate sales, but no one I've ever found sells leather working tools.
I bought a cheap tack lifter a few years ago. Tonight, I found it in a drawer. It makes a perfect edge beveller!
@tom2move I never thought of that, but if you sharpen it properly it should work great
Perfect video for me. I just started doing small leather projects; mostly things with rivets and snaps. I am using my HFT 1/2 ton press. I used it to make pens now I use it to set rivets and snaps. Great idea about the disk sander and wood lathe. Thanks.
Cip, I appreciate it. I got into leather craft about six years ago or so and since I had a woodworking background I approach things a little differently. I'm probably never going to make an hand tooled $7000 saddle, but I do enjoy the craft and make all kinds of different items.
Have you ever made a pen making video? I am going to check out your channel here shortly.
@@bigstacksshop Pens are on the old channel: "Cip's Wood Chips" That channel is mostly about wood lathes, kind regards.
Thanks Cip. Big Stacks also turns, so I'm definitely going to subscribe.
Hi
Try a new capacitor on your sander
I had same thing with my wood lathe
I had to give a little turn to start it
And found it was the capacitor
And was only a few pounds
Cheaper than a new sander or lathe in my case
It holds a charge and it kick starts you sander it stead of turning by hand
Give it a go let me know
Thank you for the advice. I'll check that out
Good job bro
Good advice, I have used all sorts of tools in leather crafting!
@NJ Zeigler Then you know, it is amazing what you can come up with when you stop and think instead of stop and spend.
I use my Dremel tool for a lot of my leather work, it has a lot of different attachments. For stamping leather you can get large nail head's and make your own design on the nail head if you have a Dremel tool it helps to grind the nail head for a pattern small file set from Harbor freight has them for under $10
@SNOOP U 2 making your own stamping tools is a great idea. You can be creative as you want. I've heard of people making these with bolts before, but never nails. Now you've got me thinking. 😄
@@bigstacksshop thanks yeah the large nail head's work best so you can make a bigger design
For 3D stamping with the arbor press, did you cut down the ram mount, or was it that short to begin with? I have a handheld one that I bought for stamping with hammers, that's the 'regular' length of a leatherworking stamp handle.
@matthewyan8463 That is the size of the one I purchased from Tandy Leather. Where did you purchase the full length one? Thanks for sharing.
@@bigstacksshop Also Tandy. Not sure if it's the same brand, but if you look up the "Craftool Hefty Handles" on their website, I've got probably one of the 'standard' size ones. Bought it in store at some point early last year, or late the year before, I think.
@@matthewryan8463 I bought mine maybe 5 years ago. Just used it today, that thing is great. I'm interested in the longer one so I don't have to attach a handle to it.
I don’t have to many tools and I wanted to add textures to my project I used a small hand craft wooded spoon works great! Just started out trying to learn.
@goldiebowtieobs8959 I love it. It's amazing how many different things we can all use in leatherworking. Thank you for the great idea!
@@bigstacksshop thanks for the encouragement video!!
I use 6 in nails and coach bolts to make simple leather stamps
Very awesome. Do you shape them with files or a dremel?
@@bigstacksshop hi
Yes I us any thing that will make it happen
Belt sander
Drill
Hammer
Files are good
Very awesome, Id love to see them.
Another very good video
I have been working leather on and off for about 5years
I have been looking at some expensive tools just to have them.
Now I realize that I do not need them
Thanks Aaron
@Aaron Ionta You don't need the expensive tools, at any level. Think of all the craftsman around the world who live in very poor countries and make the most beautiful things.
Now that being said, once you reach a certain level in the craft there is nothing like treating yourself to a quality tool you can really enjoy using and pass onto future generations.
You don't have to buy everything at once, but it does pay to reward yourself for your progress every now and then. 😄
Good show
Thank you very much, Tom!
Where do you find that Ram Mount?
@LiseWolfe i mistakenly called it a Ram Mount. It's actually called a Ram Foot, and Tandy Leather sells them.
You can buy one on Amazon right here
amzn.to/4cETJ6A
@@bigstacksshop thank you!!!
@@LiseWolfe You are most welcome
I love that you start your disc sander with a push! We all have those tools. My most used tool for leathercraft is a buffing wheel. So much faster than a strop with the same outcome. Best $70 I ever spent on leatherwork.
@Tyler Clark I'm going to have to buy a buffer just for leather. Mine is used for metal polishing, so it's all dirty. Thanks for the tip.
@@bigstacksshop Oh, I meant I use it to strop leather tools, I’ve never tried the leather itself b/c of all the polishing compound. You can use a box cutter blade 100x as long.
@@tylerclark3045 Gotcha.
How do you make your die cutter ?
@Robert Taylor I put my die and leather between two pieces of steel on the one ton press.
@Robert Taylor If you are asking about the leather dies themselves, I don't make them. I buy them from Etsy or Amazon.
@@bigstacksshop hi ok that's what I mean thanks
@@bigstacksshop I will have a look
@@roberttaylor4190 Just FYI, these dies aren't of the highest quality, and to my knowledge can't be sharpened. If you get a choice to get the ones with Japanese steel spend the extra money.
After you have been using them for a while, you will know which shapes you like the best, and can get a high quality custom one made. They will cost a lot more, but will be well worth the money at that point.
What a amazing man...love this man
Thank you very much Kim
I believe in using the right tool for the job. There is a reason why there are separate leather working tools. Congratulations to you for figuring out alternative methods, but your work will look like you used carpentry tools. When you make a "Hand Tooled" saddle with your methods, and it turns out excellent, then I'll take your advice
I can get with you on that Kevin, the right tool for the job is always the best option, hands down. My channel is really geared for individuals with limited shop space and budgets. Small shop people need to make the most of what they have.
As for the quality of the finished product, I guarantee they look great and you can't tell the difference between those made with only traditional tools and the specific tools I use in this video.