from a person who's done just a small about of wood carving, what he says about a dull blade being dangerous is so true. Sharpen your tools, whether they're chisels, knives, whether they're for wood or leather or whatever else. If you're using a razor blade, replace it often. It'll make your work SO much easier AND safer

It’s wonderful to see an artist say use his templates their free you know that’s a real artist who wants to share his craft with beginners

this man is so pure... omg, you're so nice, telling that it's ok to make mistakes, to take our time and you give us templates to sell leather stuff that you made, for free... this is real passion for a job and this is what a nice person is, you like to do what you do and you like to help others, expecially if they just started, that's amazing

Mistakes... More like happy little accidents. If they do not ruin the project, keep them in. Gives the project character and soul.

OK I've subscribed to so many Leatherwork channels that I'm reluctant to add anymore to my scrolling time but your little trick of using the cereal box before its empty sold me. 🙃

I picked up leather working as a hobby 2 years ago, looking to turn it into a side business soon. Some things I can add. 1. Keep your workspace clean. Not just before starting a project but between stages as well, leather is easy to mark and a stray bit of leather that you punched out earlier can get caught under the piece you are working on and make a mark or dent. 2. One project at a time, nothing is more demoralizing to me than seeing that unfinished project that I had to put aside for one reason or another, in most cases it was because of the next point. 3. Make sure you have all the parts you need for your project. I have only one saddle shop near me that carries the quality of buckles, rings and keepers that I like to use, they aren't open on weekends and I already have a full time job so I have trouble getting there most days. I occasionally order on line in bulk, but I also like to have that local connection to people that share my hobby. 4. Keep an eye out for people getting out of the hobby. I have twice found someone who was giving up the hobby for various reasons, I managed to get a full set of carving tools and stamps for a fraction of the retail cost. 5. Your first project will probably suck. My first project was a small pouch, it was terrible, if I made something like that today i would be embarrassed to give it to somebody. I still have it, it reminds me how much I have improved. I am good enough now to be happy to take private commissions and confident I can make what they want.

Thank you so much for this video. I have always struggled with the problem of being paralyzed by wanting to get things right rather than just getting in and finishing a project warts and all, so to speak. Not wanting to screw up a few hundred dollars worth of leather while also having zero experience and zero skills, what you said makes a lot of sense. I'm off to get myself some "scribble" leather to learn on before attempting a masterpiece. 😊😊

I've been leather crafting for over 20years and still use granite sink cut outs. My wife actually saw them one day and thought of me. They are great. We move quite often and they transport well. That is excellent advice. Thanks for sharing. .

All good points! I'd add to the hobby lobby leather by saying, on of the best things I ever did was find a whole sale cobbler supply locally in my city that was selling scrap by the pound. Opened me up to getting small test pieces of nicer tannages. I also developed a good relation with them, and now buy several higher end hides every year from them at prices way lower than most online stores.

I subscribed when you stuck the cereal box back into the cupboard.

I agree about buying leather for a beginner. When I shop for leather I figure the cost per square foot. A good quality vegtan can be had for about $5.00 a square foot. Premium goes for about $15.00. Different parts of a hide tool differently also and are reflected in price. That I don’t worry too much about when practicing. Main thing is cost per foot. Would you rather screw up $5.00 or $15.00? As far as weight of leather I like 8 to 10 ounce for what I do. That is another consideration. The thinner is usually cheaper.

Started my leathercraft journey when covid started back in early 2020. I try to discover everything on my own, as that's exactly the challenge I wanted. Started out with scrap leather but was able to move up to more expensive leather fairly quickly. The only thing I have yet to actually get into is stamping and carving leather. I can do simple things like like lines and cuts but when it gets to abstract, especially with carving, I reach my limits really quickly. Not to mention the loss of concentration. Maybe some day...

There's so much valuable information in here. I feel like you went back in time and watched my Leathercraft career mistakes and lessons learned, took notes and posted it here lol. Awesome stuff. btw (i got corrected on this in an embarrassing way myself) detrimental means bad so saying that advice will be detrimental means it would be a negative thing. 😉✌

Excellent pointers. I've been dying to get into leathercrafting, and research alone has been very enlightening. The best tip you gave is "Don't be afraid to fail." I heavily look forward to using cheap leather and copying many people with fun ideas, and I don't mind failing at all. Learning and becoming good is impossible without failures along the way. Fails teach us what to do differently, and things to avoid. Failure is one of the greatest teachers.

I've been doing leatherwork for 40 years; you gave some great advice to those who want to begin leather work. I have taught many people the craft and like you, I tell them to get what they on thier budget, and upgrade through the years. Had a student drop 1500 bucks at (insert leather supply store here) just to quit 3 months later and put his tools up for sale and he lost 1400 bucks. Start small and work up.

Putting the cereal box back into the cupboard gave me a good chuckle.

I found this one of the most honest videos I've watched and love your candor and reminder to remain humble in the beginning stages of learning since mistakes WILL happen. Thank you for the awesome advice, and willingness to share your knowledge. I have a lot of respect for the craft and am definitely still learning so look forward to watching your other videos!

if you cut the eyes and mouth out before cutting the outline shape you have stronger bigger project to safely work on. cool advice thanks!

You have a very calm and easy-going demeanor that makes the video a joy to watch all the while actually learning something. I thank you for excellent content.

Starting out and leather shopping, I recommend you grab some $20 bargin bin veg tan belly cuts. Find you one that’s firm on the back side, doesn’t look like it’s furry on the back. It’s usually 6-8 oz thickness which I good for sheathes, holsters, a lot of what’s typical early projects for most guys.

Great advice for beginners, that is basically how I started out and eventually branched out into western saddles, harness racing repair, and draft harness (except the collars - had an older gentleman that whipped them out almost as fast as we could keep him supplied). For myself it was great therapy for recovery from a severe concussion and drug addiction (avoid both, they ain't worth it) before I moved on to other pursuits - the small items could be made fairly quickly (where you make mistakes and learn) then you can start to make them fancier and start to explore and design your own items. Dull tools are dangerous tools - got a few scars to prove that 🤪. Wet your leather then wet it again and again for stamping and forming - too dry and your patterns fade, then again too wet and the leather goes mushy. A piece of shoe sole leather is great as a backing for punching holes, cutting mats are a great new fangeled item to protect and control your cuts (wood grain doesn't help for straight cuts). Snap off knives are a great tool, just snap them away from yourself just in case it doesn't snap cleanly. You can't beat a piece of marble for backing to stamp patterns on nor a good heavy bolted on vice or a piece of rail for rivets Long time away from it now but still have my tools - assisted children with scout projects, and made some inserts for my shoes to adjust for a leg length issue following a knee operation and a few other fixes and repairs now and then. Maybe one of these days I'll finish up a 60% completed saddle 😜.

Best way to sharpen cutting leather tools

I must have missed the tip about recycling cardstock from packaging for pattern templates. When I set up my new shop I was on a tight budget and reused the card paper from cases of ginger ale to make my first patterns. I still have pouch patterns that say Canada Dry on one side, lol. 😁 Grabbing poster board from the dollar store is also super economical if there's one around.

Love this video! Very encouraging!! Thank you!

Good advise. I’ve been working with leather for ten years, and I agree with your comments. The intermediate leather is a good start. Starting out, I went to a local leather company (they were great!) and asked for the basics. I have built my collection of leather tools from there. Just finished a 30 page paper on the thinks I have learned in leatherwork.

Great advice and thanks for the free patterns

Beautiful work Thanks

I bought my Juki 1541S at Keystone Sewing Machine in Philadelphia about a couple years ago. It had a brushed motor when I got it. I replaced it with a Consew CSM3000 brushless motor. I am very happy with the combination. I also have a couple of industrial blind stitch machines that I use to hem clothes.

Great video! Thank you

I made a leather bound coptic stitch book for a friend several weeks ago, and I've been getting interested in making gear for larping. Those things have led me to a fondness for leather and I'm glad to find your channel. Your sense of humor is great too lol. Thanks for the video man!

This video was great, just subscribed! My first ever project was as sheathe from a very old scrap that had been on a quiver. Maybe it was because the leather was so old, but it wouldn't wet form at all! That was 2 years ago and after making some more sheathes and even armor, I think I'm ready to start my journey into the world of tooling. Thanks for all the advice in this video!

And thanks for such nice video 👏🏼

Great video! Spot on utilizing a countertop store. When I was in search of a piece of granite I went to my local store with money in hand. They pointed to the dumpster out back and said take all you want.

My favorite part, hands down, is when you put the cereal box with a big hole in it back in the cabinet.

New to the world of leather work and still trying to find my nitch.Thank you for the information, it's a far cry different from what I've been exposed to.

Thanks

I started w thick faux leather from big z, I wasn't able to do as much, sure, but it taught me the basics of leathercraft in an inexpensive and not too frustrating way. I was able to learn how to punch, stitch, etc on something tough and thick enough to mimic real leather, while also costing maybe $1 a square foot in big enough pieces to allow for me to start w a big project (I prefer to start w something kinda difficult when learning a new skill and scraps wouldn't allow for that), ended up making a corset bag that taught me enough to where I could start big when I moved to real leather

Thank you. A worthwhile video. No music is a plus. Yes I subscribed.

I appreciate your advice.

Love it … straight forward info.

Tandy Leather stores have boxes/bins of scrap leather that are free. They aren't fancy or big...but they are great for practicing!

One thing I would like to add. When tooling vegtan you might not be satisfied as you go along thinking this is going to look like crap. My advice, let it dry then critique it.

6:45 I buy used, second hand bags. The once expensive bags come with really nice hardwares too.

So helpful!

Great advice!!

Cheap material to start with: used leather from flea market's etc like leather jackets, couches, bags and so on.

Sound advice! I wish when i got started (about a year ago) i would of seen your video. Keep 'em coming.

Your channel is awesome😊👍 Your directions are clear, you understand the journey and struggles to get to the level you want to be someday, and you’re hilarious. Bravo. Good job.

I recently made a hilariously awful set of bracers from a Walmart purse for my Halloween outfit and I’m definitely glad I figured out how grommets work on that first. Your sense of humor is great and this video helped settle my nerves about leatherwork. 🤓

Thanks a lot

Thanks for this lovely advice! I really liked you last advice, since I recently started a small buisnes. I learn from challenging commissions from friends and yes, copying what I see. But this gives me great oppotunity to learn and try new technikes.

Thanks for the tips. I'm just starting so I need all the help I can get ;)

I cover all of these when I teach classes. I think you hit just about all the points. Awesome job. :D

So happy to have found your channel. I am learning so much. You have a new subscriber.😊👍

Great video. Definitely subscribing.

I'm just about to have a go at leatherwork, and actually just bought some hobby lobby leather on sale a few days ago😆. thankfully I hadn't heard nor would have believed these myths, but I appreciate your video. definitely want to try to find a sink cutout!

Great advice.

Great advice , thank you From Egypt with love

Thanks.

I LOVE Leathercraft & in my beginner time I use a lot of Pattens from Dieselpunkro & some more ! Very good Pattens whit really good tutorials!!! After that I make my own Pattens & work everyday whit lot of love!

very sound advice, honest attitude and a good deal of humour :) just subscribed. greetings from greece

I have a small case that has my tools and some small projects. When I have to wait somewhere I take it out and cut or sew or things like that. For some reason this brings me joy. I only have a few tools like the advice here and I am able to do quite a lot. I made a lot of projects from kits before I started making my own templates. This video was spot on.

Been working with leather for s few years now. I agree with all of these points.

Great video and great advice. I really like your advice that is OK to copy others when you are a beginner, this really is good advice, you will learn and this will give you experience and confidence. Before you know it you will be creating your own unique designs, learned from the skills that you learned from coping others. Good advice. Thank you.

And I never thought of waxing my punches before but I typically have only done quick projects or repairs.

3:32 - as for the hard surface - it's even better to go and visit a tombmaker - might get a marble piece for a song...

The learning never stops in leathercraft

Perhaps someone has already said it, but if not: That is NOT an X-ACTO knife. It is a UTILITY knife. Fortunately, it's a properly colored one, i.e. BRIGHT AND LOUD, so it is easier to find when you forget where you set it down.

Underrated channel. Subscribed

The “do not push” sign behind you kept grabbing my curiosity.

Yeah, with any craft there's a section of folks who will do intro videos and suggest expensive tools/ materials bc they actually want to exclude people by creating barriers to entry and seem much more awesome

Ordered a Tandy coin purse kit, 20-piece stamp kit from amazon, made it for Mom for Mother's Day this year. Thank you for the advice, the stamping was a bit frustrating since I worked off my tool bench. You are right a lot of bounce. Had a piece of granite from a water fountain project I did 25 years ago lol Mom always said save stuff you might need it. I needed it and it is the best. My consistency on the stamping has improved greatly.

Can’t copy? Well there goes leather working can’t make belts wallets or anything. Like really. Seriously I love your videos as I’m new to leather but your information has been very useful and now my go to source. Thank you my good man keep up the great work.

when newbies come into the shop to buy stuff I always tell them start with basics to make sure you enjoy this before you buy a 90 dollar knife just get the box cutter first. All the tips you gave I give to my customers before i had a tandy near me i use to do Couch hunting and would cut off the backs, and the seats. Was so happy to use this cheap stuff just to get my skills down.

First off, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's made a lathe burnishing tool! So much time saved with a dowl and 10 minutes of work! I have been using the hobby lobby scrap packs for about 6 months now and they actually have been getting fairly high quality scraps recently! On the "Don't copy" bit: I've recently run into some fairly bad wallet patterns, so much so that I ended up grabbing some graph paper and made my own style of the same thing as what they sold, with much less waste. As someone who has experience with designing laser files, I'm not stranger to throwing my own flair on a concept I like. Thanks for the wise words!

A great one I heard was to buy your headstone early and use that for a base. You'll have to buy it someday, and if you use it for leatherwork at least you'll get to enjoy it for a while.

Dude, i love you!

I buy my leather by the 1/4 and 1/2 cow, I can sometimes get deer,rabbit and sometimes exotics from the Tandy leather supply company 40 miles away, it’s a trip but I get to pick out what i want including if I want colored hides or any parts like rivets and buckles and a lot of other stuff while I’m there

To be honest, if i would like to start agian , i will just buying cutting dyes, chinesse one, and with arbor press, with less than 200$ you will strart makeing great high quality work Even if you are new, cutting leather by hand is nice and you will learn alot, but for me was a waste of time and less quality product, make few projects, like 1-3 but make it perfect is the right way. To start. Inshalaah.

Good tip for the granite I looked on offer up and got a 3x4 slab for 25.00 on offer up of all places.

I made e few great (little) projects with the old boots of a friend. Nice leather and it didn't cost me an arm or leg :-) And tools from "way over the ocean".. 🙂

I fully agree with you on starting out with hobby lobby leather. That's exactly what I did and it also provided a great reference to see how tough it is but I learned a great many things with it. There is a place called Maverick leather Company that sells Horween Leather Second runs meaning they are tannery rejects. I have bought three sides of veg tan from them and got all of them for half price or less because they had defects in them. So if you can afford say 100-150 on a side of leather then I advise getting some of that too. The first side I got was a 21 sqft side of brown essex for 95 and this is leather that sells for 300 per side.

Thanks for this. A lot of the bad advice I've heard is in this video. Thanks for covering it. Good job.

"Cheap" Hobby Lobby leather? Saw a veg belly for 39.99 at my local one. Best places for cheaper leathers I've found are Springfield Leather, Rocky Mountain Leather, and Tandys runs some great black Friday and Christmas sales. Springfield is also really good because for $30 a year you can purchase a wholesale subscription. This applies to their hardware and they have a lot of nice Conchos, buckles, and many other things.

I like to use the cheap cutting plastic cutting boards from harbor freight for my cutting surface.

LOVE THE SHIRT!! POYB!!

i buy hobby lobby leather and it works PERFECT! thank you for supporting them i will say that hes saying the truth about veg tan! get it first always....

6:33 Don't be ashamed to take a dive in the bargain bin. Cut-offs and leftovers are dirt cheap but still.offer great possibilities. Recently found a great piece of chrome tan for just €10. Already got 2 nice projects out of it and still got most of it left.

I have not done much leather work but my father worked horses and I spent many hours watching him repair harness , then as adult I riveted thousands of sections in swather and mower knifes . Two things I learned , use as solid a workbench as you can build , hardwood top 4-6 inch thick . And a section of railroad track for anvil

Sometimes you need to add a little more moisture to your leather by wiping a damp sponge over the leather as you tool

The cutting mat made my life 100 times better

Good Advice Sir, I always start with a fresh blade, my fingers are worth it! Blades are cheap compared to a missing finger or stitches. With each new project from Sheaths, key chains, Belts and soon I will be making Back packs and bags. Leather ended up being a passion and my shop slowly expands 😉👍

Interesting and helpful video. Can you give some tips on using recycle leather from a jacket and for earrings, bracelets and the crown of a bucket ladies hat.

There r good ironsmiths around my place, made me knives, just have to give them the design. They were happy to make it to me, as they also learned three different styles of knives

I love the part of cutting the cereal box and put it back in the cabinet,🤣

You remind of my incredibly smart BIL. He always makes me laugh, with his clever comments. Ill subscribe.

😅 Really enjoyed your video. Thx sir👏

I've designed templates in Corel Draw. Print them out at a place like Staples and have them laminate them. Then punch them out and then use thumb tacks to mount it to the leather and then cut it out in the leather.

Hokieland, eh? Anyway, got a couple projects I've been wanting to start, but have been hesitant. Think I may get started with some practice pieces tomorrow now. Thanks!

I started with a piece of ply-wood... that I put the cheap cutting mat I got at Walmart on. Then I found an (expensive) adjustable height worktable with a solid wood butcherblock top at Home Depot. Couldn't resist the upgrade and told myself it was my Christmas present to myself for the next 5 years. :)