I have done a little bit in the past, mainly using paint & my wood burner. I have added some leather stamps & dyes to my repertoire Here are some projects; This morning I started restoring my husband’s casual belt. The finish is wearing off the edges. So I went over them with black leather paint & will burnish them later today. Any of you do any leather work?
I've been thinking about getting a Tandy starter/beginners kit. My uncle was big into leather craft - wallets, belts, purses, he even did a couple of bowling ball bags. Unfortunately he passed many years ago, so I don't have the opportunity to learn from him.
When I was still living in NY state, I used to do leatherwork. I made some wallets for friends and ended up making concealment holsters. Mostly friends and a few cops.
I've made a boatload of stuff... belts, pouches, holsters, sheaths, camera cases, etc. I sorta had to when I was a kid due to lack of other options (if you want it, you'll have to make it). Leatherwork can be fun if you take the time to use the right resources (tools, dies, etc), or it can be utilitarian if you just need to meet an immediate requirement. Maybe someday, long after I retire, maybe I'll take up leatherwork from a decorative perspective, to make stuff that's not just functional, but pretty, too! - Bax
They do have some fairly nice starter kits. Check the site, as they just started a sale. They have a store in Lyndhurst, NJ. I don't know if that is anywhere near you. If you enjoy it, you will probably want to invest in a heavier mallet early on. The one in the kit looks pretty light. BTW, I just finished re-burnishing my husband's belt. It isn't "good as new" as it has had a lot of wear, but it looks much better.
@Sara-s There's a Tandy store in Northeast Philly about a half hour away. Gotta get some time to check it out.
I went to the one in Nj. It’s about a 40 minute drive from here. It was most enjoyable. They have a testing table where you can try some of the stamps. Also, it smells great.
Lyndhurst is an hour and 30 minutes for me. You mentioned the smell of leather. Now I may have to hasten my plans to get there!!!
Sounds like the Philly store is a better choice for you, but I bet that one will smell great too. @swarden43 , I found a leather stamp that is perfect for you; https://tandyleather.com/products/craftool-mini-2-d-stamp-mustache?_pos=1&_sid=042fb1667&_ss=r
@swarden43 indeed you do! After I made that knife sheath I discovered that I didn’t have a knife that fit it. Those I have are too small or too big. But this weekend, hubby bought me a Buck knife that fits perfectly.
I'm just glad that Sara used real leather. I mean all those poor pleathers fighting for survival is a real pity and it's about time that someone thought about their plight.
I just started another Tandy kit. This one is for an eyeglass case. I have done some stamping (right-handed, which is a bit awkward). I am waiting for some items that I ordered, to do the next steps. While I'm waiting, I got started on a couple of valet trays. I have cut the leather, marked where the holes (for snaps) go and rounded the corners. Corner-rounding punches are quite sharp, so yesterday, I took some oven bake clay & made a blade cover for it.
I got some more goodies today. My favorite is the 2 lb. Anvil. It’s useful as a work surface for punching holes, setting rivets, dropping on cartoon coyotes, etc. But there is just something really comical about a 2 pound anvil. See for yourselves;
