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Off Topic Area => Other Hobbies => Topic started by: jakesrocks on April 29, 2016, 08:38:40 AM
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Coming soon to this thread.
After many years absence from leather crafting, I've decided to get back into it as a hobby, instead of a part time business as it was before. Over the last couple of months I have been accumulating the tools and supplies needed. I'll start out with showing the tools and explaining their uses. Then I'll move into a simple belt, using basic stamping methods to put a name and design on the belt. After doing a couple of simple projects, I'll move into carving and molding a picture into leather.
Bare with me on these projects. It has been about 35 years since I last worked with leather, so this will be a re-learning experience for me, as much as it can be a learning experience for those of you who have never worked with leather.
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I guess the best place to start is with the leather itself. There are many types of leather, and many tanning methods. For leather tooling and carving, vegetable tanned (sometimes called oak tanned) cowhide is the most suitable. Pictured are 2 sides of vegetable tanned cowhide. 1 role is 6-7 oz. (3/16 thick), and the other is 8-9 oz. (1/8" thick).
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/100_3219_zpsioksn3ea.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/100_3219_zpsioksn3ea.jpg.html)
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I'm really looking forward to these. Vince and I went to a leather show here in Prescott about a month a go to see if we could find some elk hide for polishing laps. Mission accomplished and I got to see so many other cool and beautiful things. Some of those sewing machines for leather are incredible! I even found a stamp maker who uses steel so I could get a custom made stamp for my jewelry. :icon_thumleft:
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Good morning Robin.
I know of a couple of guys here in the U.S. that make custom stamps. For my leather carvings I'm going to have a stamp made by a company in Bulgaria. They make some of the nicest, most detailed leather stamps that I've ever seen.
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You might ask how I got into this hobby in the first place. It all began in 1970 when I was stationed with the Navy in Spain. On weekends off, I'd head down the coast to Malaga where all of the tourists were. being the early 70's, there were a lot of hippies selling hand crafted things to the tourists. One young hippy couple was working their way around Europe by making and selling leather items. I bought a belt from them which had a most unusual buckle. The buckle is a swivel from a horse or mule team harness. After buying the belt and looking at their other items I thought, bet I could do that. One thing led to another, I ordered a Tandy Leather catalog from which I ordered some basic tools. I found a place in Sevilla where I could by leather hides. The sides in the picture above were over $100.00 each here in the U.S.. In Spain I could buy a side for about $25.00.
Anyway, here's the belt that started it all. The leather is starting to dry rot, and will soon be replaced.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2223_zpsouzgbmpa.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2223_zpsouzgbmpa.jpg.html)
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Several years ago I used to do work with leather but kind of fell away from it. However I wasn't making belts - I was making bizarre stuff like Gothic collars and chokers! :thumbsup:
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Several years ago I used to do work with leather but kind of fell away from it. However I wasn't making belts - I was making bizarre stuff like Gothic collars and chokers! :thumbsup:
I recently came across a bunch of patterns for collars, chokers, gauntlets & such. Maybe I should have bought them.
I was more into belts, purses, shoulder bags, knife sheaths & such. Also made several leather vests & moccasins.
I was in the Navy at the time, and often pulled in more tax free money from leather, than I did from my taxable Navy pay. It got to the point where I had so many orders that all of my free time was devoted to working with leather. After about 3 years I burned out on it & quit taking orders. After transfering back to the U.S., I sold all but a couple of my leather tools.
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I was working leather about the same time you were but I made hand tooled wallets more than anything else. Used up some of my free time in Vietnam working leather and made a lot of knife sheaths with an aluminum backing on the points for pilots in my squadron. One of the injuries that pilots fear is a knife point piercing their leg when they made a parachute landing.
Just played around with it when I got back from Nam and then gave it up all together when the second child was born because it was tough to get away and alone for very long.
I have accumulated a box of assorted leathers so I will be keeping an eye on this thread to see what you come up with. I have attempted to combine stone and leather a few times with bad results every time.
Jim
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Jim, I've been toying with an idea to make bezels out of leather which would be buck stitched to leather projects. I bought a 5 lb box of leather offcuts to play with, so I'll see what I can come up with. If it works I'll post pics.
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I've seen some lovely combinations of stone work, silver and leather, especially in tack (browbands and breastbands for horses, or on the skirts of saddles). We did leatherwork in 4-H quite some time ago and I have my box and my brother's box of starter tools somewhere! It honestly took more patience than I've got but I made a few of my own patterns and enjoyed the creative process, even if I did take a lot of shortcuts and my product suffered for it. (Now I just work with old garment leather for costumes.)
I look forward to seeing what you make! There's an etsy shop somewhere that had glass 'eyes' set in leather bezels and stitched down.
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When I first started leather carving, there was a big market for demons, skulls, etc. I'm still partial to these types of pictures both on paper and on leather. I've searched out a fairly large collection of tattoo art which can be traced on leather for carving, and recently discovered prison art. One artist in particular. His sister sells his art work for him to help support his wife while he's locked away.
Here is just one example of his work which I'll use on a ladies shoulder bag.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2152-001_zpsubg2ybez.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2152-001_zpsubg2ybez.jpg.html)
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Is he selling his work for that kind of use? For someone to reproduce and sell independent of him? I don't think a lot of artists sell reproduction rights when they sell the original image; that's unusual if he is selling with that intent.
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I've been in contact with the seller, (the artists sister). She in turn has been in contact with him. She sent a message to me saying that he'd be thrilled to have his artwork used in this manner, and hopes to see pictures of what I've done.
Just to be on the safe side, I've printed hard copies of all messages, which have come thru ebay messages, so both ebay & I have copies of the messages. Just a little CYA on my part. :LOLOL:
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I've been in contact with the seller, (the artists sister). She in turn has been in contact with him. She sent a message to me saying that he'd be thrilled to have his artwork used in this manner, and hopes to see pictures of what I've done.
Just to be on the safe side, I've printed hard copies of all messages, which have come thru ebay messages, so both ebay & I have copies of the messages. Just a little CYA on my part. :LOLOL:
That's very smart, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you make with it too! (I've been on the other end, and peeled my art off places it should not have been, but have also been glad to see it reproduced with permission in other forms.) Multi-artist collaborations can be quite stunning, so I look forward to see what this becomes in leather-form!
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Skulls are really popular again now. My son has been drawing them and tattooing them for a long time.
I was given a box of leather then I bought a bag of scraps but the only tools I have now is a stitch awl and a hole punch. Leather makes a real tough rock carry bag and that is the only thing I have made so far. I also use leather strips for necklaces for mostly men but some women like them also. It is the only thing I can wear that does not make my neck itch.
I had a Montana agate that was shaped like a boot so I cut a piece of leather just a little bit larger than the stone then glued the stone on. It looked so bad I probably would have had to pay someone to take it home. Maybe your idea will work better.
Jim
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Funny, I just bought some leather about a month ago, too. My first "job" was working in a head-shop apprenticing to do leather work. I came across a belt I made in the seventies while cleaning out my parent's home of more than 50 years prior to them moving to a retirement community. I've kinda wanted to do this again myself. I'll look around and if I locate the belt, I'll post a photo of it.
On the positive side, once you learn to carve leather, chasing and repoussing metal is a snap. If you pound too hard you can always flip the metal over; leather not so much.
Debbie K
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Debbie, it'd be great to have someone join me on this thread. I just put a belt blank in a tub of water to soak, & hopefully will get started on it tomorrow. I wanted to start on it sooner, but we finally got a few dry days. Lawn has to be mowed before I have to call a neighbor to cut & bale it for his horses. :LOLOL:
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Good you are getting back in to cutting and pounding on dead animal skins. I do a little leather work to mostly knife sheaths but I have made purses, belts, gun belts and holsters. Here is a pic of the sheath and knife I did for a friend of mine.
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Very nice Jhon.
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Those are really nice, Jhon! Love the eagle on the sheath.
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Those stitches are very even, do you have a machine or stitch by hand? Seems like I remember a tool that has a roller wheel like a star that can be rolled along the line to space the stitches. Very nice work and I like the added black to make everything stand out.
Jim
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You talking about these Jim ?
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2144_zpsguti2emh.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2144_zpsguti2emh.jpg.html)
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Late to the party, sorry. Yea, that is the one. I think I had one at some point in my life but that was over 40 years ago. Slowly picking up a few tools but doubt I will ever do and tooling again. A little braiding, lacing and making medicine bags or a rock carry bag when my old one wears out from it being too heavy and I drag it for half a mile through the sagebrush and rocks I did not pick up.
I added a little leather to my last stick but so far I have only posted it on the other forum. I will post it here eventually.
Jim
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My leather work is at a standstill for a while. Too much outside work to get done before the heat really sets in. Add to that our heat pump is on its last leg & will be replaced in the next week, and the house has to be reshingled before winter sets in again.
I have ordered material to build a custom rack for the tools I've been ordering from Bulgaria. I can work on that at night in my basement wood working shop.
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It sounds like Bulgaria makes the best leather working tools since you are getting them from so far away. Will you put up photos when you get the tools?
I have been doing my outside work early in the morning because it is getting really hot here late in the day. Supposed to be 96 today and it got up to 94 yesterday. Don't like it that hot but it is better than freezing cold.
Jim
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Here ya go Jim. These ain't cheap. The heads are solid brass, each cut on an engraving machine one at a time. The shanks are stainless steel.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2206_zps7efkpxkb.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2206_zps7efkpxkb.jpg.html)
For a special project.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2208_zpscskjx6jl.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2208_zpscskjx6jl.jpg.html)
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Some other tools I recently bought. Kelly special edition tools from New Zealand. (I furnished the box). Kelly tools are gold plated to prevent rust.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2196_zpse6yloxjr.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2196_zpse6yloxjr.jpg.html)
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2198_zpsuuavxsw7.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2198_zpsuuavxsw7.jpg.html)
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And these are tools I've picked up on ebay bids. (A few were bought new).
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2179_zpsjvkc7glf.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2179_zpsjvkc7glf.jpg.html)
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Also a new head knife & a few other new Osborne tools.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2220_zpsit0ewufc.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/Leather%20Work/000E2220_zpsit0ewufc.jpg.html)
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WOOOOOW. You do not mess around when you buy tools. I had very few stamping tools so I had to do it the hard way with a swivel knife, wedges and a small assortment of other necessities. If I had all those stamps I would not get anything done because it is too many choices and all my time would be spent trying to figure out which one to use.
The tools I had all came from Tandy which is more of a hobby store than a professional store. Tools are long gone. I usually take up a hobby and work it to the point of mediocrity then move on to something else.
Jim
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LOL. Jim, 30 some odd years ago when I was doing this to make extra money I had very few tools to work with too. I was stationed in Spain, and the only source I had for tools was Tandy's. Didn't have the internet or ebay to search for good deals on tools & supplies.
After 3 years of working with leather every spare moment I had, I got burnt out on it & quit taking new orders. Tools were put away & eventually sold in a yard sale along with my supply of dyes & colors & hundreds of patterns, snaps & rivets.
A few months ago I got the bug again. I missed the smell of leather & the challenge of creating something out of a piece of leather.