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Leathercraft - The Best (Beginner) Tools
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items The best leathercraft tools that won’t cost you an arm—or a hand! (And yes, you can find most of them on Amazon.) But beware! Those big pre-made kits? Overpriced, low quality and overrated. Let me show you what’s actually worth it!
Sections
5
1. The Basics: Cut, Glue & Stitch
2. Intermediate needs: Edge Finishing tools
3. Time Saver: Not Mandatory Tools
4. Fine Tuning & Alternative Methods
5. Snap buttons, rivets and install tools
1. The Basics: Cut, Glue & Stitch
This section gathers what I need the most everyday to be able to do leathercraft. Other tools can be bought later when learning more professional techniques.
My favourite leather: Badalassi Pueblo. Use the code LORD7 to get a discount!
Italian Leather : Badalassi Pueblo - VegTan leather
The best way to cut anything without damaging your workstation
A2 - Auto-healing Cutting Mat
I tested 5 different knives. Some expensive. This one is the best I have and the blades are sharp and strong. Don't bend easily.
SDI Precision Knife 3006C, 9MM Zinc Alloy
The exact same leather glue I use daily
Leather & Suede Glue - Water based glue
My ruler 💕 don't slip, don't damage the leather, has a high side to help cut at 90⁰ angle, protect your fingers. Just perfect!
Safety Ruler
It's the best way to punch your stitching holes straight. I have a pretty similar one that I can't find anymore.
Adjustable Spacing Compass Wing Divider 150mm
The most versatile hammer to control the strength you put into your punches (pricking irons and other metallic tools)
WUTA - Leather Mallet - Hammer
You'll need these to avoid having to spread the glue with your fingers 😁 Simple but indispensable.
Applicator Glue Spreaders
The brand Wuta is a good start. See the more advanced list if you want the upgraded version.
WUTA - French-Style Pricking Irons
An equivalent of the thread I use for all my creations. Between 0.5 and 0.6mm for small and medium leathergoods 👍🏻
Thread: 0.6mm Ritza 25 Tiger Waxed in Polyester
The best (to me) needle on the market. N⁰2 and 4 are the most used on my projects.
John James Needles
I'm still using the first basic one. Do that, and upgrade if you really need to.
Stitching Pony
Don't go for the overpriced one. It's a bit of metal on a piece of wood. I've got mines for 4 years now. They helped me for thread shaping, hole piercing, hole extension, leather scratching and even edge painting. It's a small must-have practical too...
WUTA - Craft Awl - Leathercraft tool
I had this kind of model for 2 years. It's a solid option with lots of rooms. Now I have a custom made IKEA desk that I can change the height.
Leather Work Benche
Consider buying a pattern to get some guidance on making your leathergoods. Get mine on a discount with TENONLORD coupon.
Leathercraft Patterns & Guides
2. Intermediate needs: Edge Finishing tools
When you advance in your leathercraft skills, you might want to get more finished edges. Follow this list of tools I use!
The size #1 is the one I use the most. The size #2 is for thicker leather, like 4mm belts, for example.
OWDEN Professional Leather Edge bevelers
My favourite kit for flat surface, big edges or small spaces. To be combined with Tokonole and used after beveling.
WUTA Ebony Wood Leather Edge Burnisher Set
I use mostly the white (transparent) one, but the black is perfect for darkening leather or for black leather.
Tokonole - Burnishing Gum
If you want a decorative line on your edges. I use a 2mm one. The beveling it made at 0.5mm, the stitching at 3mm, so 2mm decorative line is perfect.
OWDEN - Leathercraft Edge Creaser
You'll need to heat the creaser with a flamme to make it hot enough but not too much. (Shouldn't burn your skin when touching it)
WUTA - Stainless Steel Alcohol Lamp Burner
When finishing edges by Burnishing them, always go from 500 grit to 2000 grit sand paper before applying Tokonole. It's the best way to reinforce your edges and get them smooth.
Sand paper - Premium Waterproof - 45pcs
3. Time Saver: Not Mandatory Tools
Some tools are really useful to save time, or to get more consistent with some shaping, cutting or glueing.
If you want to get straight rounded ends or finish a belt with consistency. Perfect punches.
OWDEN - Punch Cutter
They are not the best on the market, but it's really good value for money. Mine lasted 4 years without the need to be sharpened.
Leather Half-Round Shaped Cutter Leathercraft
Mine saved me some minutes on every pieces I need to glue. I recommend it over scratching awl if you do a lot of pieces.
DIUDUS Pro Detail Rougher, Leather Roughing Tool
Ideal to low down the thickness of your leather. Useful when doing t-pockets in my craft. Unless you prefer a classic skiving knife.
OWDEN - French Style Skiver
Multiple shapes of skiving knife. I've used the circular, flat, and diagonal shaped ones. My favourite is still the diagonal one, but you might have another opinion.
Classic Skiving Knife
4. Fine Tuning & Alternative Methods
Adjust, adapt, fine tune. Maybe upgrade some of your tools when you are used to using them? Here we go.
A bone folder will help removing the excess of glue around the seams, and shape a little bit the leather on the card slots for example. It can also help you with folding process or even burnishing large areas.
WUTA - Bone Folder for leathercraft
Ideal for thick leather when you need to create a folding line. Some people also use it to groove a line where the stitches will lay down, mostly on really heavy leather.
OWDEN - Grooving Tool - Leathercraft
My current and main pricking irons. I use the French-Style ones in 3.85mm in 2, 6 and 10 prongs. I also have a round hole one with 5mm spacing and 5 prongs. They are solid and sharp!
Sinabroks - High quality pricking irons
My current and favourite edge beveler. I got a size 1 and 2 for all my wallet, belts and bags. They are beautiful, handy and sharp!
Kemovan Craft Edge Beveler - Leathercraft
A single flat, round or diamond shaped awl to adjust your stitch line. You know you'll need one when you know it. Trust me 😂
Kemovan Craft - Simple Flat Awl - Leathercraft
5. Snap buttons, rivets and install tools
When comes the time to install buttons and rivets, you might get lost with all the choices. Follow me.
The first kit I've bought when I needed to install buttons. Works perfectly for first timers and occasional installations.
120pcs Snap Button Kit
If you install a lot of buttons a day, I would definitely recommend you this press. Easy to set up, functional and not really expensive. Check the adaptor sizes to match your button sizes.
Snap Button Press
I use these for a stronger grip and better maintenance option than classic rivets.
Juvielich 55 Sets 4mm Chicago Binding Screws
I use them instead of classic rivet when I need better maintenance. (Belts for example)
Chicago Screws - Gun metal multi-size