How many here are doing leatherwork?

[RipTombstone]

What are you making?
Show some pics of what you have made!

I build mainly holsters myself.
Here's a couple.

[archer]

nice holsters! leatherwork is on my list to get more into.

[RipTombstone]

Thanks Archer!
Jump in and try. I warn you though, its addictive....
RipT

[archer]

Thanks Archer!
Jump in and try. I warn you though, its addictive....
RipT

yeh i need to  get my hands dirty with it. i even bought a nylon tsp stamp to work with...

[Morning Sunshine]

wow - nice work there, RIP

[RipTombstone]

Thanks Sunshine.


A TSP stamp? Where did you get that? If you need help give a holler.
RipT

[archer]

Thanks Sunshine.


A TSP stamp? Where did you get that? If you need help give a holler.
RipT

I had a custom nylon stamp made for some projects I was working on and never finished.

[Louisiana Suvivor]

This is a skill that I want to seriously get into. I'm gonna start hunting and I'm gonna learn to tan my own leather. Any pointers on where to start? I wanna make everything from jackets to holsters

[RipTombstone]

Well I can't help much with tanning. There are a lot of great books on that subject though.
My advice for the other part is to pick a project, holsters for example, and build enough that you feel comfortable and learn the basics. Then branch into other venues like jackets. Jackets and holsters are completely different processes to learn.
RipT

[Louisiana Suvivor]

Oh yea I know this is a life long skill that ill be developing  only 24 so I look forward to the slow tedious process of messing up

[blademan]

Leatherwork is in my 13. My mother was a professional leather artist. She did everthing from clothes to pistol rigs, to carved leather pictures.
   When she died, she had a ton of leather tooling equipmen and supplies, that all got split up and now almost 30 years later, I still have a box of tools that I have only really used once. So I'm going to pull them down and mess around with them and see what I can do. I want to focus primarily on utility in what I make, I want to make things look good but I want them to look useful. Then I can work on making things look pretty.

[RipTombstone]

Has anyone gotten started on their leatherworking skills yet? Post some pics!

[archer]

Not yet. once i get my workshop put together I'll be starting

[Docwatmo]

I finally had some free time and sat down and did some leather-work.   This took me about 1 hour.  (I bet I could knock the next one out in 25 minutes now that I know what I'm doing)

I don't have any tools (Except the cheap wheel punch, DON'T GET A CHEAP ONE, get a decent one, trust me on this LOL).
A good sharp knife, some sinew (Or in this case synthetic sinew) a needle, a little emery to clean the edges and your good to go.  And don't forget the coffee.   


Just finished up. (Still need to oil it).   I used a simple button toggle on it.  (Wife didn't get too mad about the cutting board eather LOL).


Ignore the axe, it's nothing special and in bad shape, but it has special meaning to me so I keep it around.  Really need to work on it a bit and restore it.   




My middle boy (13 Year old) saw it and wanted to finish the old sheath we had been working on but I could not find the parts, so we tabled that one.  So he built this one himself, (I only helped a little with cutting the leather). 


Very simple and very effective.   

[archer]

oh nice. i need to break out my leather parts and do some sheaths for my axes/hatchets. hmm, i need a decent hole punch it seems.

[lostprepper]

I got into leatherworking awhile back, but I have been on an extended break due too full time school and full time work. That and the people I live with weren't big fans of the constant hammering for hours at a time. I will post some pictures later of what I have done. A couple of Bible covers and a belt.

I warn all who want to get involved it, just like Tombstone said "It is addictive."
It can also get expensive. So my tip is to only buy the tools you need for the project you are working on, instead of trying to buy everything.

[Docwatmo]

Yep, It is addicting for sure.  I think anything where you create from simple pieces of material and generate something useful becomes addicting.   Can't wait to start the next project now.   

[RipTombstone]

Nice work! I need to build a few tomahawk covers one of these days for ours.
DM

[Elwyn]

This thread is a little old, but cense I just joined the group I thought I would put my 2 cents worth in.

I work mainly with suede and make belt pouches. But I do know how to make leather drinking flasks and cups/mugs.

Elwyn

[RipTombstone]

Suede pouches are handy. The same patterns can be used with canvas and other materials as well!

[strangetanks]

Hey Rip...could you make a quick post on what kind of leather you use?  I've tried a couple times to form leather and just haven't had much luck.  I suspect it's the crappy leather I have laying around my shop, but I'll be damned if I can find much information on what the difference in different leathers are.

[endurance]

I'm just getting started myself and he Tandy Leather website and stores have been great sources of information for beginners.  Basic information about different thicknesses of leather and how they're used along with classes and DVDs available.

[RipTombstone]

You will probably want a vet tanned leather if you are molding I shaping it. Latigo, oil sides, and chrome tanned don't mold well. 
For my holsters I use wickett and craig brand split to 8 oz. It works for 90% of what I build for customers.
So chrome tanned is a no no for holsters. It will damage the bluing on guns. Use veg tan.

[RipTombstone]

Anyone got any pics to show yet?
Also, that should read Veg- tanned in my last post, not vet tanned...

RipT

[Knecht]

I do some leatherworking as part of my historical reproductions business. Not really into making fancy drawings and ornaments on it, I keep it simple and rustic. Mostly making sheaths for the knives I make, leather-covering wooden knife and sword scabbards, making belts with my forged buckles, belt pouches, historical footwear and such. Made myself couple holsters for my CCWs, but I prefer kydex.
You can see some pics of my products when searching for "customhistory" on G+ or facebook.

[survivaladvantage]

Oh my god!!!

That holster is so beautiful. Jaw dropped.

I'm salvage and scrap oriented when it comes to my personal leatherworking.
I'll post my work later today when I can snap a few photos.

It mostly revolves around scrap leather, and dental floss thread.
It's a bit punk, however it's done me well. Ain't nearly as pretty. lol!
Two thumbs up! 

[DheereCrossing]

I'm do leatherwork and starting to ramp it up in to a business venture.  The site is http://OMGLeatherworks.com.  I'm spending most of my time with belts, wallets, and journal covers for Field Notes.  Here are some pictures.  I recently made collars for Jack's three dogs - Lucy, Max, and Charlie.

[DheereCrossing]

Well it seems I'm not a genius at sharing photos....

https://www.flickr.com/gp/106118056@N06/Lv12n1 is the album on Flickr.

I bought out a gun leather shop earlier this year.  I've been working leather for a few years but I'm not a 'gun guy' and don't own any firearms.
I don't have very good ideas of how holsters should work, the ins and outs of what makes a good holster, the finer points.  I have some patterns that came with the sale but they're just squiggly shaped pieces of paper - I don't know what the finished product is supposed to look like, where the stitching lines are, how they fold, what they're called, which side goes out, etc.  Very frustrating.  So I've been making pieces that don't hold lives at stake for the most part.