Reddit mentions: The best leathercraft stamping & punching tools
We found 115 Reddit comments discussing the best leathercraft stamping & punching tools. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 38 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. SE 7924LP Heavy Duty Revolving Leather Punch, Orange, Pack of 1
- Hardened Punch Heads
- Punch Sizes: 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm and 4.5mm
- Easy to Use
- Revolving Head Clicks into Place
- Comfortable Grip Handle
Features:
Specs:
Color | Orange |
Height | 12 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Weight | 0.34 Pounds |
Width | 2 Inches |
Size | Pack of 1 |
Number of items | 1 |
2. Aiskaer White Steel 4mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits
HIGH-QUALITY STEEL MANUFACTURING:Made of white steel, is durable and useful leather craft tool.100% white steel material, non-inferior stainless steel, please pay attention to identification.PRODUCT PRETREATMENT:Each product surfaces are coated with a rust preventive oil before shipping, Please wi...
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 7.8 Inches |
Length | 5.8 Inches |
Weight | 0.24 Pounds |
Width | 0.6 Inches |
Size | 4mm |
3. CrazyEve Leathercraft 1/2/4/6 Prong 4mm 4/25 Inch Chisel Leather Craft Tools Hole Punch Lacing Stitching Perforate
Material:High quality steel2mm prong , 4mm spacing between the hole (Prong width:Approx 2mm, Prong pitch:Approx 4mm)Package: 1 Prong/ 2 Prong/ 4 Prong/ 6 Prong/ 1+2+4+6 ProngBe careful to use,do not drop or let them fall on the floor,Or the prong will brokeNormally use together with nylon hammer,com...
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 6.1 Inches |
Length | 3.4 Inches |
Width | 2.1 Inches |
4. Vktech Stainless Steel1 2 4 6 Prong Diamond Chisel Leather Craft Tools Hole Punch Tool Set DIY
- Material:Stainless Steel
- Prong width:Approx.1.5mm
- Prong pitch:Approx.3mm
- Length: Approx.10cm
Features:
Specs:
Color | silver |
5. Tandy Leather Craftool� Spacer Set 8091-00
- Tandy Leather Craftool� Spacer Set 8091-00
Features:
Specs:
Height | 6.4 Inches |
Length | 2.7 Inches |
Weight | 0.04 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
6. Aiskaer White Steel 5mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits
HIGH-QUALITY STEEL MANUFACTURING:Made of white steel, is durable and useful leather craft tool.100% white steel material, non-inferior stainless steel, please pay attention to identification.PRODUCT PRETREATMENT:Each product surfaces are coated with a rust preventive oil before shipping, Please wi...
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 0.51 Inches |
Length | 5.98 Inches |
Weight | 0.15 Pounds |
Width | 2.01 Inches |
Size | 5mm |
7. Aiskaer Stainless Steel 4mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits (Upgrade Section Black)
- 1. Adopt high strength steel,is durable and useful leather craft tool
- 2. Knurled Body for a Stronger, Steadier Grip
- 3. One sharp rhombus tooth is helpful to punch quickly and effortlessly
- 4. Prong width:Approx 2mm, Prong pitch:Approx 4mm;Weight per set:Each set Weight: 0.36 pounds
- 5. Color: Black;Package: 1 Prong/ 2 Prong/ 4 Prong/ 6 Prong
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black-4 |
Height | 5.1 Inches |
Length | 0.9 Inches |
Weight | 0.2 Pounds |
Width | 0.8 Inches |
8. Aiskaer Latest Model Stainless Steel 3mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits,Has been polished, more sharp and durable
- POLISHING TREATMENT:Has been polished, more sharp and durable.One sharp rhombus tooth is helpful to punch quickly and effortlessly
- NON-SLIP:Knurled Body for a Stronger, Steadier Grip
- DURABLE:Adopt high strength steel,is durable and useful leather craft tool
- PRONG WIDTH:Approx 1.5mm, Prong pitch:Approx 3mm
- COLOR: Black;PACKAGE: 1 Prong/ 2 Prong/ 4 Prong/ 6 Prong
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black-3mm |
Weight | 0.11 Pounds |
9. Cosmos Pack of 2 Gourd Shape Leather Craft Cloth Wood Handle Scratch Awl Tool Pin Punching
- Length: around 4-1/4"
- Material: wood & metal
- Pinhole tip, convenient threading
- Used in sewing, DIY handcraft for punching, removing stitches and marking etc
- Package Includes 2 pcs gourd shape scratch awls
Features:
Specs:
Height | 0.85 Inches |
Length | 4.25 Inches |
Weight | 0.02 Pounds |
Width | 0.85 Inches |
10. Tandy Leather Craftool French Edge Skiving Tool 88080-00
Condition - NewBrand - Tandy LeatherCraft - LeathercraftProduct - French Edge Skiving Tool
11. AmazonBasics Metal Alphabet And Number Stamp Kit Tools Set With Wood Box - 5/16 Inch
- Stamp kit for creating permanent hand-stamped imprints; 5/16-inch character height
- Includes upper-case A-Z letters, 0-9 numbers, and “&” symbol for exceptional versatility
- Works with metal, leather, wood, clay, and more; great for a variety of applications
- Made from durable alloy steel with a sand-blasted finish for strength and clear imprints, even over time
- Wooden storage box included
Features:
Specs:
Height | 4.53 Inches |
Length | 9.17 Inches |
Weight | 4.78 Pounds |
Width | 6.18 Inches |
Size | 5/16 Inch |
12. WUTA New Leather Chisel All-Polished Leather Die-Steel Chisel French Style Pricking Iron Sharp Leather Punching Tool Kits,Obverse 3.38 mm 2 Teeth+8 Teeth
- Original design! Material:DC53 Cold-work Die Steel, specially applied in punch mold making. This chisel is strong in hardness with high tenacity and great anti-rust property. We adopt this kind of steel to make sure our chisel is in the best quality, meanwhile, it can indeed "serve" better in your craft projects.
- Entirely polished:from handle to prongs helps you to pull our a leather easier. Gorgeous design and handy shape. The stitching hole shape is almost the same perfect as Blanchard.
- Multiple standards: 4 models, Model 7 (3.85mm prong-spacing),Model 8 (3.38mm prong-spacing),Model 9 (3.0mm prong-spacing)Model 10(2.7mm prong-spacing) Each size with 2 standards.Model 7 and Model 8,one with 2 prongs, the other with 8 prongs. Model 9 and Model 10,one with 2 prongs, the other with 5 prongs. Prongs are in 9.8 mm length, this sharp punch can easily go through 4.5mm or 11oz leather.
- Dimensions: Overall length:116mm, Handle width:13mm, Handle tall:8.2mm, Prong length:9.8mm,Prongwidth:Model10 1.6mm,Model9 1.8mm,Model8 2.2mm,Model7 2.4mm,Prong lip thickness:0.2mm.
- Obverse and reverse direction: Chisels are with obverse prongs or reverse prongs. When you look down the holes punched by obverse chisel, from left to right the hole goes "up". Holes punched by reverse chisel, from left to right, it goes "down". This is to meet the higher need in punching and stitching. Furthermore, with this two kinds of direction you can punch hole on both sides of a leather.
Features:
Specs:
Color | 3.38mm-2+8 teeth |
Size | Obverse-French Style2 |
13. IIT 90200 Eyelet Pliers with 100 Eyelets
Specs:
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 1 Inches |
Weight | 0.66 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
Size | 1 Pack |
Number of items | 1 |
14. Co-link 4mm 1/2/4/6 Prong Metal DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits
1.Adopt high strength steel, it is tough in structure, versatile, sharp2.Polished and smooth handle is comfortable to hold3.Strong texture makes it uneasy to distort and break4.One sharp rhombus tooth is helpful to punch quickly and effortlessly5.It can stamp holes evenly into your leather crafting ...
Specs:
Height | 0.16 Inches |
Length | 3.94 Inches |
Weight | 0.19 Pounds |
Width | 0.98 Inches |
15. Aiskaer White Steel 3mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits(3mm)
- Made of white steel, is durable and useful leather craft tool
- Each product surfaces are coated with a rust preventive oil before shipping, Please wipe clean before use
- Polished and smooth handle is comfortable to hold,sharp rhombus tooth is helpful to punch quickly and effortlessly
- Prong width:Approx 1.5mm, Prong pitch:Approx 3mm
- Package: 1 Prong/ 2 Prong/ 4 Prong/ 6 Prong
Features:
Specs:
Height | 0.98 Inches |
Length | 0.98 Inches |
Weight | 0.02 Pounds |
Width | 0.98 Inches |
16. 3mm Leather Hole Punch Tool Craft Pricking Iron Diamond Stitching Chisel
- Made of high carbon steel
- Four sizes 1/2/4/6 Prong Diamond Chisel Punch
- 1.5mm Prong
- 3mm Length
- 10cm
Features:
Specs:
Height | 0.25 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Width | 1 Inches |
17. 3-in-1 Heavy Duty Leather Hole Punch Set 1mm-6mm | Includes Eyelet Setter + Snap Button Tool (Eyelet insertion for 5mm wide hole only)| Professional Leather Hole Punch Tool, for Belts, Fabric, Watch B
- WORK FASTER WITH OUR EASY TO USE LEATHER HOLE PUNCHER. With an ergonomic design perfectly created to fit the human hand, our leather hole puncher tool and snap button setter is ideal for artisans of any skill level who want to create incredible DIY projects. You’ll be able to conceive and achieve beautiful works using leather and fabrics with the eyelet setting tool that includes every craft device you need in one simple product; it’s the perfect gadget for any crafting job.
- SAVE MONEY BUYING JUST ONE TOOL! With our 3-in-1 tool you only have to spend money once to get an eyelet punch tool, snap button tool kit and a heavy duty hole punch tool. Having all three of these necessary implements in one makes this an efficient purchase that lets you get to work quickly without the need to waste money on buying everything else you need. Whether you’re looking for tools for leather belts or for a tool that will let you design and make hand crafted scrapbooks, we have it all.
- TRULY UNMATCHED DURABILITY. Our leather belt hole puncher is made with top-of-the-line materials that result in a trustworthy tool that can withstand the test of time. We built a strong, sturdy and lightweight belt hole puncher kit out of aluminum that can stand the brutality of any project you use it for. Use it to hole punch leather, fabric or canvas and make incredible and impressive creations with the snap button pliers or eyelets setter feature.
- DON’T USE BROKEN TOOLS! This industrial grade belt hole puncher kit contains no rotating parts, eliminating the potential of malfunction and misalignment of the punch head and the base. We even provide complete instructions with our eyelet tool kit, plus 100 eyelet pieces in 4 colors for unmatched creativity. Our scrapbooking tool set also includes a pair of tweezers that allow for accuracy when snapping buttons inside the molds.
- YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED! Your peace of mind is our goal. Purchase our belt hole puncher for leather, fabric and canvas and you’re also getting our guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with your purchase, meaning you have absolutely nothing to lose. You’ll be investing in a quality leather hole punch set that can get any project, professional or amateur, done efficiently. Work with our team and you’re working with a group of craftsmen and women that know what it means to use quality tools.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 0.5 Inches |
Length | 7 Inches |
Weight | 0.33 Pounds |
Width | 2.5 Inches |
18. Amon Tech 12 Pcs Leather Craft Hole Punch Set, 2mm - 5mm Oval Shape Hole Punch for Belt Watch Band Leather Working DIY
- Yes To Tomatoes Repair Treatment is a feather-light, quick-absorbing formula that is oil-free and non-comedogenic
- Salicylic Acid penetrates pores to clear up blemishes and allow skin to heal
- A blend of Bisabolol and Ginger helps control redness caused by acne, and Witch Hazel helps control oil and sebum production
- Can be worn alone or with a light layer of moisturizer
- 97% Natural and formulated without Petroleum, SLS, & Parabens. Cruelty free
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 2.45 Pounds |
19. Tandy Leather Craftool Pro Rotary Leather Punch 3230-00
- Craftool Pro Rotary Leather Punch
- Hand forged solid steel
- Includes tubes 0-1-2-3-4 & 6 (5/64", 3/32", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32" and 3/16")
- Threaded steel punch tubes can be replaced when damaged or dull
- Part number: 3230-00. Color: Silver.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Metallic |
Height | 0.9 Inches |
Length | 9 Inches |
Weight | 0.000625 Pounds |
Width | 2.2 Inches |
🎓 Reddit experts on leathercraft stamping & punching tools
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where leathercraft stamping & punching tools are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
I just posted another comment so you'd see a notification.
Here's the list! Hope it's not too long. All the tools listed are the ones I bought. If I have other suggestions, I've listed them as well. I've also listed details on the functions of the tools, and why they're superior to some other alternatives. If you look for the same amount of tools in one of those "kits," they would set you back roughly 200-400, depending on where you bought it from. The tools in these kits are usually quite inferiorly made as well. This list is a result of about a week long search and perusal. Tandy is a well known and easily accessible aggregation of tools, but they're overpriced for what they do and their quality is mediocre at best.
*Some of the eBay listings might have ended, but I'm sure you'll be able to find identical tools for the equivalent price or even cheaper.
For me the tools came out to a grand total of roughly $115. You can give or take $20 if you want to improvise your own tools, or switch them out. I'd say this setup works just fine for mid to smaller projects like what I made, or wallets, etc.
As for the leather, Springfield Leather sells some quality leather by the square foot, which is nice for first timers, as most tanneries only sell by the side, like what I had, which usually average around 21-28 square feet. Pretty big investment. Maverick Leather Company sells quality leathers as well as Horween "Seconds", like what I got for a very nice discount. These seconds are full sides with minor defects in the leather, but unless you're making huge bags it's easy to cut around the brand marks/scars etc, and your leather will look spotless. I got a full side of Horween Essex for roughly $130, and I'm guessing if I bought the same straight for Horween it would have run me in the ballpark of $300 or so. Since my laptop case only used about 7-8% of my leather, I used about $10 worth of leather. Quite a bargain if you ask me. If you're looking to do many projects like I am, I'd advise you to invest in a nice Horween side. Can't beat it for value and price.
All told, the laptop case itself cost about $11-12 worth of materials** (leather, fabric, thread, glue) and took the better part of 2 days to complete. Granted, much of that time was spent just sitting and thinking as most of it was improvisation, as you can see by my horrible sketch.
As far as my "learning" went, it was literally just Google. Some youtube videos help, and I glanced through some forums, but overall, as I've often found in woodworking too, nothing beats hand-on experience.
Well, hope this helped you guys out and answered some questions. I know I definitely would have appreciated a specialized list like this when I was starting out.
Hey guys, I'm writing mainly from the perspective of a beginner in most areas and what I found to be reasonable purchases. I split my time between braid for chokers, whips, etc & straps for my friends whom like recreational bedroom hobbies. I do a smattering of carving, saddles, repair stuff.
Strap cutters:
Skivers:
Cutting tools
I recently put a lot of time and effort into getting my groomsmen the perfect watches for their groomsmen gifts. When all was said and done I thought it might be fun to make a big effortpost about it, both for posterity as well as to potentially help any redditor grooms looking to do something similar in the future. Enjoy!
I began browsing r/watches and dipping my toe in wristwear culture about 3 years ago. When I proposed to my now-wife she insisted on getting me an engagement gift, so I asked her for exactly this, with the indicated customized bezel, insert, and strap. Wearing that Amphibia daily and experimenting with modifying it in various ways was a fantastic introduction to the horological lifestyle. It is a perfect workhorse watch: reliable enough to keep good time, just finicky enough to force a beginner to learn how to address its quirks, and durable enough to handle any amount of inexperienced fumbling with its components.
When the date of my wedding started to get close, I considered my options and quickly decided that I wanted to get my boys watches for their groomsmen gifts. With that goal in mind, I started to narrow down selection criteria for watch candidates:
Once I started looking around for watches I fairly quickly came across this review on Amazon and instantly knew I had found the right watch. The cream dial fits extremely well with the blue suits we were wearing, the aesthetic was just nice enough to fit a wedding but also function as a daily beater, Seiko is a fairly reputable watchmaker, it really ticked almost every box.
The only two outlier concerns were that the SNK803’s price was a little high on Amazon at the time (the price fluctuates over the year, it’s common to see them listed anywhere from $55-$90) and the watch strap that came with the watch was pure unadulterated garbage. To address the price concern I went to Ebay, found a seller that had experience with putting SNK803’s on the market, and told him I wanted to bulk buy 9 watches (7 groomsmen + me + our family friend officiant). After some back-and-forth we settled on the extremely reasonable price of ~$60 per watch and price was no longer an obstacle. When the watches arrived it was like Christmas morning!
Changing the strap with a budget leather strap from Amazon was the final obvious adjustment that would make these perfect. I took some inspiration from a past r/watches post and decided to leather stamp each groomsman’s initials on the inside of the band using this. All things considered this process went fairly smoothly, the only difficult part was carefully aligning each stamp so that the letters didn’t look off-centered relative to each other, but if you go slowly and carefully the results come out looking pretty decent. Actually changing nine watch straps was a bit of a trial though, and I ended up going too quickly and accidentally scraping a lug along my middle finger and bleeding on my best man’s watch band. Made for a good story later when I gave the watch to him!
The finished product was perfect. The guys all loved their gift, they fit the aesthetic of the wedding perfectly, and they garnered tons of compliments over the weekend of the wedding. 10/10 would do again.
At the very least, most of the research I've done recommends using an awl for the holes, which would probably speed it up quite a bit and be pretty inexpensive. Some people prefer a stitching wheel, which marks out the holes, but still requires an awl to punch through. The irons are great, though; I just put the first tine in the last holes that I punched, and it lines up perfectly.
Backstiching is pretty simple- after you've finished your stitching, do two or three stitches coming back from the way you came. It doesn't require any knots that stick out, and it holds everything in place nicely. Just make sure that you pull the thread tight so that it doesn't stand much prouder than the rest of the stitches. I've read that you can cut a slight groove under the stitches that you want to backstitch to help to keep it down, although i never remember to do so.
I haven't worked with kevlar thread, so I don't know how it compares to waxed. However, the wax is nice, as it (1) is fairly slick, so it slides through the holes easily, and (2) helps to resist stains.
As someone else mentioned, /r/leathercraft is a treasure trove of information, so if you want to go in deeper, they're a great resource! Be warned that it is a time vampire, though- there are hundreds of techniques to try that yield a huge variety of results, so I've spent hours trying out different methods to see what works best for me.
Sling is just thick cotton grosgrain ribbon, QD Attatchments can be found all over the place, and so can the strap adjustment buckle, all for super cheap.
>The stitching on the strap is a little difficult, but other than that...
Nah man, not at all. The real item obviously uses a machine, however you can achieve similar results with some scrap leather (Buy "Vegetable Tanned" leather for crafting, takes dye well and is very strong, you may even find a "Belt Blank" kit already cut into a nice neat strap) and some "leather lacing chisels" also known as Pricking Irons. Simply lay out where you want your stitch-box, double your leather over, line up the fork, smack it with a hammer (into a wooden backstop), and there you have it, nice evenly spaced stitchable holes. From there, you just dye the leather however you prefer (Leather Dye works great, but in a pinch, wood stain works fine and double-brewed coffee can work too), finish the edge with a little bees wax and an edge slicker and hand sew it together with some Waxed Thread and some robust Leathercraft Needles. (I might even lay down a layer of contact adhesive between the leather-strap-leather sandwich for additional hold while sewing). Just take your time and be patient with layout and cutting and it would make for a great afternoon project. For a tutorial on stitching leather neatly, check this out and this edge slicking tutorial. Bonus; you can dye the leather and buy whatever color grosgrain and hardware you want to match or contrast to your heart's content.
I had a really cheap diamond punching iron that I got in a kit I believe it was 4mm , but I just bought a 3mm Kevin Lee French style iron.
They were about 100 bucks for 8+2 prong
I went with 3mm because I want to practice making watch straps.
I personally prefer the look of the French style irons over the diamond style, but personally to me I think the spacing is even more important then diamond vs French style .
I have heard good things about the craft tool diamond chisels , they are supposed to be really good for the money they are 25 bucks a peice . So you can get an 8 prong and a 2 prong for around fifty bucks ... you want the two prong for when you need to go around corners . crafttool
I have also heard the wuta brand on amazon is pretty good , those are a little more expensive they will run you about 85 bucks for two . wuta-amazon
If your looking for budget but still good quality , I hear people recommending Seiwa which go for about 15-18 bucks a pop . But leathercraft has these which apparently are just rebranded Seiwas and they’re like 8- 12 bucks ! So you can get a 6 prong and a 2 prong for Under 30 bucks!! The only down side that I’ve read is that the holes are a little bit bigger .
The cheap route of producing a wallet you'll be happy with:
Sharp knife(exact or utility work) like $5-$10 if you don't have one
Diamond Chisels- $18 3mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OVYU5K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jo-PBb7M287N4
There are cheaper ones but I've used these so its what I can recommend. You could just use a cheap Awl to punch holes but it won't look nearly as nice since it's your first project. If you go the awl route then make sure you get a small one
Thread- $7 Ritza 25 Tiger thread .06mm at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. You can cheap thread but it is harder to work with and doesn't look as nice imo.
Needles- Use the smallest needles you have that will fit the thread, if you don't have any needles then get John James Saddlers Harness Needles Size 4, $7.50 at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply
Contact Cement- Dap weldwood like $6 for a pint on amazon as an add-on item.
Those items will let you make a decent product. You still may want something to clean up edges. If its veg tan you might want an edge beveler and you can use a piece of canvas or jeans to burnish. If it's chrome tanned then you'll want edge kote($8) or something similar. Or you can just leave it as is if you like that look since it's your wallet.
Looks pretty good. Always come in at least 3/16 of an inch from edge for stitching. Get yourself a stitching groover too. It cuts a groove in the leather both to help heep stitches straight, and so your thread doesn't sit proud if the leather. Especially for an item that will be in and out of your pocket. Get a set of diamond stitching chisels too to help you with spacing, and clean up your stitches. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014549SNG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1.CJDb1VV85PN
Other than that. I would personally do this with a thicker veg tan leather, obviously you have what you have. But thicker veg tan allows you to better finish the edges of the leather and use an edge coat to both make it pop, and to protect the edge of the leather which is what will surely start to wear first on this item. You dun good, though, just need to practice!
Get the Bushacre 2, instead. The sole will be a little less comfortable at first, because it's not crepe rubber, but will hold up better in the long run, and doesn't pick up dirt the way the crepe sole does.
Also, get a leather punch, some 3/16" eyelets, and eyelet pliers.
Then, punch a third pair of shoelace eyelets, on each boot, the same distance apart as the original 2 pairs, further up the boot. In my opinion, it makes a world of difference.
Clarks are a really great value, and break in nicely.
I don't have a direct answer, but I would say that if you plan to stick with this hobby, I would suggest the cheaper option. Odds are that you are going to want to upgrade from either one. Diamond chisels aren't the greatest if you intend to go through anything above 8oz total. And they definitely leave a less appealing hole. Don't get me wrong, they work and get the job done for me most of the time.
I've got some Aiskaer diamond chisels. I am glad that I bought them (as the alternatives to what I want now would have prevented me from even trying the hobby) but I totally plan on replacing them if I can sell enough items at cost to justify not losing money on leather. The point being, I wouldn't suggest spending a lot of money there unless you truly think you will be satisfied with them.
amazing work, would love to see the final full pic.
I feel like the build may have been easier if you used pricking irons rather than a hand sewing punch, it helps to keep even spacing and you can make a bunch of holes in one go. https://smile.amazon.com/CrazyEve-Leathercraft-Leather-Stitching-Perforate/dp/B00T17OULI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468779215&sr=8-1&keywords=pricking+iron
again, great work
I bought a stencil tool similar to this one to trace the design, but you could probably use anything with a smooth round tip. A ball point pen could work, as long as you don't draw directly on the leather with it.
I also have a swivel knife, but the blade was too big for these thin lines, so I used an exacto knife. Any utility knife should work just fine for cutting in the pattern you trace.
For the stitching I have a set of lacing punches
Another tool I used was a border tool
Modeling tools like these
And finally I used stamps like these
Many of these tools aren't necessary. I made another project with nothing but an exacto knife and the stamps for the background, which are the only tools I consider 100% neccesary. You can't get around having the proper stamps for the background. Having these other tools does make it a little easier though.
Oh, and contact cement. I got all my tools from Tandy Leather, which has a few stores on the west coast (not sure if its a national chain) and Amazon. Contact cement from Home Depot. Leather from Tandy and Hobby Lobby. Tandy has scraps you can buy for pretty cheap, hobby lobby sells the same scraps for $10 more with way less variety.
Thanks for the tip!
Nobody seems to sell ones with 5 mm prong pitch, but I found them with 4 mm prong pitch.
http://www.amazon.com/CrazyEve-Leathercraft-Diamond-Stitching-Perforate/dp/B00T17OULI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449624835&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=diamond+chisel+prong+pitch+5mm
Better?
Also, i'm looking into ordering this leather. 4 oz thickness seems perfect for wallets, and its sort of like the natural veg tan people recommend, but horween and cheap ($5 per square foot, about $100 for a 20 sqft hide).
http://www.maverickleathercompany.com/horween/horween-seconds/tumbled-natural-essex-finished-flesh/
This set has the same specs (2 mm prong, 4 mm prong pitch), but looks sharper?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010WGFZB0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A1OIS8P00XXPZL
This is my first attempt at any sheath and wet forming. That is the reason I decided to test it out first with a scrap piece. I liked the minimalist idea and this is what I came up with. I also tested my new diamond chisels and I love them but if the stitches look a little off it's because I just eyeballed the whole project. I used 5-6 oz veg, .7 mil Kevlar thread, and finished it with olive oil then tried my burnishing wax as a water repellent by melting some over the whole thing with a hair dryer then rubbing it in while hot. I like the look of it. As for the burnishing wax I used equal parts bee and paraffin wax. I tried it on a really rough edge and used nothing but the wax and I think it works great. Any comments or suggestions would appreciated. Here are the chisels I used. It makes 8 stitches per inch.
Great video technique ;) Nice job on your first wallet.
It might be time for you to get a proper leather chisel to make your holes. Something like this one. Note that is a 3mm. I would recommend 3.25 to 3.30 mm for your first set. Use a mallet or a very light hammer on your chisels. Chisel your work piece on top of another piece of leather or two so your chisel penetrates all the way through your workpiece. You want to see the chisel tines all the way through your leather, not just the tip.
Google “burnishing leather” and watch a couple of videos. That will improve your edges.
For belts, have you considered ordering custom-made ones such as from this site? Alternatively there are guides for making your own that can be found in /r/malefashionadvice and it seems to be pretty easy and cost-effective. I also love my leather hole punch, which I got for less than $10 on Amazon. Hope you find that helpful!
Absolutely. I would recommend a few tools to get started - a cheap set of stitching chisels to get you started (these poke the holes for the needles to go in and out of), a cheap wing divider to scribe a straight stitching line, some waxed thread I linked Ritza Tiger 25 in 0.6mm because it's pretty much all I use, there are cheaper options, but this thread is wonderful to work with. Most of the other thread on amazon is going to be thicker and look too chunky with a 4mm iron IMO. Lastly, some needles. I use and like these. Then just look up a few youtube videos on saddle stitching. You'll have it down in no time. It's really not super difficult, there are a few tricks to making it look nice.
The skull is great, but the stitching and edges could use work.
I highly recommend you look into getting a set of leather stitching punches like these (I don’t know anything about this brand in particular, just linking to an example). It makes hand-stitching way easier and indistinguishable from a machine stitch in terms of aesthetics.
Very nice quiver and thanks for my next project. I really love working with leather.
For those who want to get started it's not that expensive of a hobby. As for leather it's actually fairly cheap and most projects don't go over $25 in supplies. It's about $100 to get the tools you'll need and although their not top of the line they will last quite a while.
Tool 1 |
Tool 2 |
Tool 3
Tool 4 |
Tool 5 |
Tool 6 |
Tool 7 |
Tool 8 |
Tool 9 |
Tool 10
This is just my second wallet, heavily inspired by /u/sgircys (thanks for the awesome tutorial). The leather is 2-3 oz Oak Leaf from Tandy. I've given it a couple of coats of neatsfoot oil and left it in the sun for a day. The tread is 0.8 mm black tiger thread. Chisels are these cheap ones from amazon. I've used the 6 prong one to do all of the holes in the wallet.
Another side question, if I want to get a dye would you guys recommend the oil based ones or water based?
I think it looks great!
As someone has already pointed out, they make oblong punches...in a lot of sizes
https://www.amazon.com/12Pcs-Shape-Leather-Working-Oblong/dp/B06WWGSNCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503356433&sr=8-1&keywords=oblong+leather+punch
Also - you seem pretty set on how to do the rounder corners, with many straight cuts - I personally use a french curl ruler for cutting. You need a steady hand on the ruler and some practice, but i've found it's helped me a bit. Then again, i'm a super beginner so take it or leave it
Gotcha. Does it stretch or move a lot when you cut it?
Yeah that’s not the best way to mark stitching lines so I recommend a wing divider. This will be cost effective and will help tremendously with your stitching.
I bought these two when I started and still use them.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0779R5FCJ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_A727AbF4N33A3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014549SNG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_a827AbKEF359B
They work great for me and will eventually upgrade to some quality tools like KS.
I've been happy with this kit, though half of it I'll never use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5LBV5M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Upgrades I have made since and would advise doing immediately or very soon:
Chisels (I would get a 10-prong too for bags) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ALZ5M3I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
A better scratch awl (mine got bent while piled in with other tools)
Better threads
Needles
An organizer box
90-degree angle
Circle template
I used this tool to punch the holes, though it is also available from Amazon at a little better price. You could also look on Amazon for similar tools, some of which I've seen for as cheap as $10 or $12. Just do a search for leather hole punch and you'll find quite a variety of options depending on your budget.
For the pyramid studs I didn't need to punch holes, the tines on the back were sharp enough to poke through the lambskin vest well enough. For a tougher leather I'd recommend an awl for these. I used the wooden handle of my awl to help bend the tines over so I'd stop stabbing my fingers and bleeding all over the inside of my vest.
I bought these and they are WELL worth the price. Great quality, and have stayed super sharp after hundreds of uses. I've found 4mm spacing is a good middle-of-the-road spacing - perfectly fine for most things, but a bit too wide for really small projects.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016C7RLJC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks so much for the response!
Hmmm maybe that's it. What do you mean by casting? Also, I wonder if my needle is too large. I find that to really get it through the holes, I need to push an awl through and the original diamond shape is somewhat lost. As far as ensuring the slant, I think I'm doing this correctly. It's hard to tell from this picture as the stitches rest in a stitching groove, but they had a slight slant, and the backend definitely looked ~ok~ (though a bit messy like you see in the picture as far as looking a bit "twisted")
I agree about the thread gauge too-- maybe it's too thick.
Thread
Needles
Punches
Good question, and it pains me a bit that I have a small box of unused tools that were purchased when I began. I'm sure I missed a few things, but here you go:
If links weren't provided then I already had the item.
Thanks for the interest. I used 2-3oz economy leather from Tandy Leather. Here's the list of tools I used:
Finished with:
Hope this helps
I used cheap stitching chisels from amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T17OULI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to punch the holes preassembly. Then glued everything and stitched it up. I don't have a small diamond awl but that would definitely make things a lot easier. I put a bunch of needles through the corner holes to keep them lined up but they naturally fell out of line (because of the outside curve vs the inside curve) so I had to back stitch one side to realign them.
I wanted to give a heads up for those looking to save money with DIY foams. I went through 3 orders of Comply tips over a 3-4 month span. They would literally tear up due to the excess earwax after 2-3 weeks of use(even with the earwax proof version). I got fed up and ordered these
I've been using these DIY tips for a long time and its been amazing.
Puncher
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NK5VY2/
Tips
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013A0C0Y
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Noise-Isolating-Earbud-Tips/
I've gone through about 8 pairs of DIY foam tips with my Triplefi v10 and still have tons of spare foam tips left.
I got a small 16$ set from amazon ( Electop 31 Pcs Leather Sewing... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07998XNQK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share )
A small all metal diamond punch set ( Aiskaer White Steel 4mm 1/2/4/6... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014549SNG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share )
And a really nice, cheap, knife ( BANYOUR Leather Knife Cutting... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LD4PC2D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share )
They worked for what I needed, especially as a beginner!
Using something like this is a lot cheaper than buying new belts. Works great.
Use a wing divider to draw your stitch line.
Leather Wing Divider KangTeer 5.5 inch Leathers DIY Tool Adjustable Craft Edge Creaser Rotating Leathercraft Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CK2569L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.gN1Bb9T67MEM
Then, use a diamond chisel to punch your holes.
Aiskaer White Steel 4mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits (4mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014549SNG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uiN1Bb2NAQ60Z
I use both of these products and have zero issues getting clean stitching.
Tried my best to measure with a ruler at work, here's what I found:
[EDIT]
Cheap leather hole punch tool if anyone ends up needing to use it, it works well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NK5VY2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Hfhiub0RM4ZS5
You can buy a leather puncher at Hobby Lobby for $20 ($10 if you use a coupon). Here is one for $7 off Amazon. One of the best purchases I've ever made!
Nice work, really well done.
Here is an inexpensive punch I have used for years that works well: SE 7924LP Heavy-Duty Leather Hole Punch Tool, 2.0 - 4.5 mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NK5VY2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_exDxybKCYTQBP
Get a leather hole punch for best results, they are cheap. I've cut down a couple belts. Then I just used a pair of good scissors to trim off the excess leather.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBRVKOK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p201_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1PVZED59D6F03DF8X880&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1970559082&pf_rd_i=desktop
I think this might work better if you're interested in trying.
Congratulations! You've earned one of these!
try this one
leather punch
I bought it about a month ago, did the job well on 4 different belt so far, super easy.
What mm of thread punch should I purchase for small wallets? I was looking at these, but will they be small enough? - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JGQ2RLF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4VzoDbVZ4JK00
I want to make something like this: https://youtu.be/FSWEnPI_Mwc
yep often a set will come with a 1/2/4/6 set up you can often get a 10 as well. it's nice because the spacing is standardized for each set.
For nicer, neater holes
A) I have an awl in my craft kit that I usually use. B) If you have a hammer and nail, you can also use that; put something underneath that won't get damaged. C) They do sell actual leather hole punches for pretty cheap.
Congrats! Soon you'll need a punch
Kind of looks like a leather punch to me.
The one I am linking to rotates, however.
http://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Punch/dp/B000NK5VY2
It looks good! If you have ~$20 to spend you can get a groover ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074YD8DXY/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1506701984&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=leather+working+tools&dpPl=1&dpID=51qIiFoZwYL&ref=plSrch ) and stitching prongs? I'm not sure of the technical term ( www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00T17OULI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506702124&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=leather+stitching+punch&psc=1 )
All you need is a hole punch and an eyelet setter. I use 3/16" eyelets which are a little on the smaller side but still fit most leather laces.
By hand. I bought these chisels http://www.amazon.com/Vktech-Stainless-Steel1-Diamond-Leather/dp/B00CBRVKOK
You can buy a cheap rotary punch and do it. It's really easy to use.
Aiskaer White Steel 3mm 1/2/4/6 Prong DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set Leather Craft Kits(3mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JGQ2RLF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FhHhDb8DAS59M
Those are not bad at all for $11. Especially since your just starting out you dont need to blow out the bank on them
Even better solution
I would suggest this kind of device http://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Punch/dp/B000NK5VY2 better them knife cause it doesn't tear material as much so holes might stay (read not completely tear) longer.
You can then reinforce holes with this http://m.instructables.com/id/Reinforced-fabric-hole-Old-style-button-hole-or-ey/
I use these to actually punch the holes on thinner leather: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T17OULI/
For projects, you can do slightly larger bags, dop kits, etc if you go for a fabric lining, duck cloth or canvas would add good reinforcement.
I used a stitching awl. The needle that came with it is far too large for detailed work though. For another project, I bought a machine sewing needle. Far less ripping and allows for finer threads. You could also stitch using a normal needle.
Something like this is very necessary too for making the spots to place the holes with a normal awl:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0038HWMB2/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sorry, it's called an awl. This is very much like what I have
Yeah, I just used an awl. Which chisels did you buy? I was considering buying this set.
Also, you might want to invest in a belt hole punch. They're about $8-10 on amazon, and its way easier than trying to use a drill to make an emergency hole in a belt at 6 am. Ask me how I know.
Ideally you should use something like this.
http://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Punch/dp/B000NK5VY2
might have to make 2 holes side by side. if you Cut the rubber, it will continue to rip along that cut and tear. If you use a hole punch you are creating a round hole and it has no place to tear.
If you have a farm store or hardware store close by where you live they might have one on the shelf.
Uncaging
Marking the holes
Making the holes
Or get a leather punch that costs 9$
https://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Punch/dp/B000NK5VY2
Here is the mobile version of your link
With one of these
I own them.
Check here
Here is the mobile version of your link
PM me you address and I'll send you one of these.
This is how you're supposed to do it -
http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Hole-Punch-Heavy-2-0mm/dp/B000NK5VY2/
I got these needles: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001687P3U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and these punches: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T17OULI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I got one of these and have used it to make 6 new holes in my belt!
https://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Revolving-Leather/dp/B000NK5VY2
Stitch Chisels 4mm
Wax thread
Saddle stitch
http://www.amazon.com/SE-7924LP-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Punch/dp/B000NK5VY2
Get this tool:
http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Hole-Punch-Tool-Heavy/dp/B000NK5VY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321287194&sr=8-1
$6.68 + FS w/ Prime.
Hey bud... get one of these for the next time you want to punch a hole in your leather. Not expensive and makes a much cleaner cut for the leather!
Clever died when you used a Hermes belt to try your first punch! Next time spend a few bucks on this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NK5VY2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_bBrcvb0R6XYTE