Basic Leatherwork Kit To Get Started

Leatherwork is an enjoyable and easy-to-learn skill. It is a unique combination of both physical and emotional concentration. It is both creative and arduous, which requires energy and finesse. If you want to start working with leather, but you’re not sure where to get started, then you must have two questions in your mind;

What tools are required?

Where do you get all the materials?

Guide to Leathers

The tools are ready, now let’s have a look at different leather that you can find in the market. For a more in-depth guide to leather. Check out A Definitive Guide to Leather

Full Grain Leather

This leather has a luxuriously smooth touch to it and develops a beautiful patina over time. It is the highest quality leather and is stable and durable because the grain is not removed from it.

Top Grain Leather

This leather is the second-highest leather in terms of quality. It’s more common in the market and has a better resistance to stain and is less expensive than full-grain leather.

Genuine Leather

Genuine leather is the by-product of full grain and top grain leather. Its authenticity lies in the borderline between real and fake leather. This cheap leather contributes for mass-production of affordable leather products which is easily susceptible to wear and tear.

Corrected Leather

Corrected leather is unique; it’s repaired and fixed by leatherworkers to improve its functionality and provide better aesthetic qualities. Mostly used as pigmented leather, it is readily available in stores all over the world.

Knowing where to start can be difficult as the number of various activities, procedures, and tools can be confusing at the start. This guide will help you find everything you need to start your first leatherwork project.

First of all, you should have a basic idea of what tools the project requires and where you can purchase them

Basic Leatherworking Tools You Will Need

Harness Awl

These awls typically come in the form of an elongated diamond. They help in creating diamond-shaped holes for stitching and weaving in thicker leather. They are available in various sizes and can be either single awls, or awl bladed that can fit into a standard awl haft. You can buy these from Amazon in multiple sizes.

Harness Needles

Harness needles are a specialized, blunt tip sewing needles with firm eyelets. Since leather can be a dense and sturdy substance, these needles help steer the thread without marking up the leather, while also remaining strong enough to support it. These are available in different sizes from Amazon.

Scratch Awl

Scratch awls are relatively common tools for leatherwork. They have a sharp, rounded point and are used to pierce leather holes. They come in several sizes and are available at Harbor Freight. They can be used on both thinner and thicker types of leather. The holes created can be used for sewing, or in most other uses for pierced holes.

Bone Folder

Leather folders serve to create a crease in the leather’s edge, often for esthetic purposes. They can also be used when folding/shaping leather products for practical purposes, or when placing an edge on fine leatherwork. You can quickly get this tool from Amazon.

Linen Thread
Linen thread is composed of natural fabrics crafted from cotton. While not as reliable as waxed or bonded nylon strings, it still offers high gripping support for thinner leathers and leather products that aren’t going to experience a lot of wear every day. Depending on the colour chosen, linen thread can be used for decorative purposes as well. It is available in a variety of colours from J. Hewit & Sons Ltd.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by bees. In leatherwork, it has numerous functions, such as providing a leather finish. It can also be used for leather conditioning, as well as being used as a protective that offers water resistance and waterproofing properties in certain situations. This is a versatile finishing substance that you can get from Amazon.

Pricking Iron

Pricking irons are metal tools with an evenly distributed array of “teeth,” which are sharp points positioned in a row. They are used to label the place where the holes are to be stitched on the leather material. Pricking irons come in varying tooth counts, typically between one and twelve. This helps the leather crafter to pick which one will be the most significant help depending on the project he’s doing. You can easily find pricking irons from Leather House.

Knife

The knife is the essential leather working tool. There are so many variants which are used in so many different ways. In some situations, the only resource the leatherwork project may require is a knife. Usually, a Shoemaker’s knife is recommended to beginners. Shoemakers knives are a specialized leatherworking knife that comes in straight, or curved variants. This knife can be bought from AS Knives.

Cork Back Steel Ruler

Rulers are used to measuring and cutting leather. They come in several shapes and sizes. Few rulers are also bendable, so they can even be used to measure curves. You can buy a steel rule from any arts and crafts shop, and it is also available on Amazon.

Hole Punch

Leather punches are round-bladed devices that are used to carve holes into the leather. The punch blades can be interchangeable and can accommodate several sizes with one handle. Or, they can be used as an independent tool where the blade and handle are formed from a solid piece of metal. You can get these from Amazon as well.

Hammer

Hammers are used during leatherwork for a number of activities, and they work well to shape the leather, especially in shoemaking and saddlery. Hammers are available in a variety of sizes on Amazon.

Burnisher

After cutting, the edges of leather need to be polished to reinforce the border and secure the interior of the leather. Burnishing is normally performed in order to seal the edge. Edge paint may be used for additional protection, and also primarily to provide a visual appeal to the leather. You can find edge paint at Amazon.

Sandpaper
Sandpaper can be used for smoothing of the edges on freshly cut leather. The sandpaper’s roughness wears down the loose fibres, shortens them and produces a cleaner, denser texture. Sandpaper can be found in many variations either from your local hardware shop or from Amazon.

Glue

While leathers are typically joined via methods including sewing or riveting, sometimes it can be helpful to first secure the surfaces with a sealant or adhesive. Once in position, it makes it easier to do the sewing, riveting, etc. Leather glue can be found on Amazon.

Need some video guides to get started? You can check out any of the following:

Finally, once again, leathercraft is easy. Starting out on this traditional rich crafting skill is a fantastic choice. We believe people can let their creativity make a luxury in today’s world. To make it more accessible. Our master artisans at CreateLab help manufacturing and prototype leather for leather businesses.

Please contact us to get a consultation on the leather industry in the UK.