Maria Cristina Lecerio

Writer: ​Maria Cristina Lecerio Date: ​August 22, 2020 Actual Word Count: ​837 10 Leather Crafting Tools We always get amazed by the products that are made from leathers. Aside from its unique features, you can think that the materials used were durable, so you opt to buy thinking that the jacket or the shoes you purchased will last for decades. You might wonder how to make this craft, so we have listed 10 leather crafting tools you need to get started with this craft: Leather This is pretty obvious. You can’t make any leather items without leather itself. The next question might be, where can you get leather? There are varieties of leather products that you can buy from online stores. But if you want to see and make sure of the quality of the leather that you are going to purchase, you can also check it out from your local markets. Thread The thread that you are going to use is one of the factors that will determine the durability of your products. There are two types of thread; natural and synthetic and. Natural Thread - T ​ hreads that are made out of natural materials that come from plants, animals, or minerals. There are two general categories of natural fibers: animal-based or plant-based. Animal-based natural fibers include silk and wool, while plant-based natural fibers include cotton, linen, and jute. Synthetic Thread - ​Synthetic threads are made of synthetic materials, usually formed through chemical processes. The fibers are generally extracted during the chemical process using a spinneret, which is a device that takes polymers to form fibers. The textile industry began creating synthetic fibers as cheaper and more easily mass-produced alternatives to natural fibers. The use of either natural or synthetic thread will depend on the type of products that you are going to make. Cutting Tool If you want to have quality leather products, you might want to consider the cutting tools that you are going to use. There are different options to get the cutting done, so your choice will come down to personal preference. The most common tools used are a standard utility knife, a rotary cutter, or a round knife. Each option will provide a different cutting experience. For most well-respected leatherworkers, they preferred xacto knives and box cutters. Cutting Mat A Cutting Mat is crucial to make precise, clean cuts, and to protect your workbench. If you are not using cutting mat, you probably cutting through your leather into your work surface, damaging both your work surface and your blade. Self-healing cutting mats are allowing for a continuously smooth work surface. This feature is also what helps prolong the life of your cutting tool. You can pick up a self-healing cutting mat from most of your local stores, or you can also check online for wide varieties. Diamond Chisel You might also wonder how difficult it is to stitch the leader with the thread. Thanks to diamond chisel, you can accurately stitch through leather by punching those stitching holes through pieces of leather. Coming in different sizes and prong widths, Diamond Chisels are placed on top of the leather and struck with a mallet to drive the tool through a piece of hide. Mallet In leatherworks, a diamond chisel and a mallet work hand in hand to make a smooth stitching process. To ensure clean strikes that won’t scratch or damage your leather and working surface, a plastic hammer is recommended. Stitching Awl A leather awl is a tool with a sharp metal point used for marking, piercing, punching, or sewing leather and leather goods. They are available in various sizes, and with differently-shaped points, each with a helpful purpose. When kept sharp, leather awls are an incredibly useful tool. Sometimes, they are referred to as leather awl punches when used for making holes. This is due to their use being used in those instances for punching small holes. Leather Stitching Needles To make your products have their shape, you have to stitch it up using suitable needles. Since the leather is already pre-punched by the chisel, the needles are dull. To stitch leather goods, the eye of the needle must also be large enough for the heavy, waxed threads used. Skiver Sometimes, leather will need to be ‘skived’ to make it thinner for certain parts of the production process, like folding. Skivers vary in appearance from open-blade to an almost potato-peeler construction, but each variant on this tool will simply use a blade to pare down the surface of the leather. Edge Beveller Sometimes, leather edges are uneven and rough. To round the edges off, an edge beveller used. It is a small tool with a sharpened notch that is used for trimming and finishing the edges of the leather. Conclusion So whether you’re looking to a new way of making yourself busy or simply build some skills and make your own leather goods, these are a pretty good checklist of what you must have so you can get started: ​Leather, Thread, Cutting Tool, Cutting Mat, Diamond Chisel, Mallet, Stitching Awl, Leather Stitching Needles, Skiver, and Edge Beveller. Reference(s): 1. https://www.heddels.com/2018/10/the-tools-you-need-to-start-leather-working/ 2. https:// www.libertyleathergoods.com/leather-working-tools/ 3. https://www.libertyleathergoods.com/where-to-buy-leather/ 4. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/natural-vs-synthetic-fibers#:~:text=All%20f abrics%20can%20be%20characterized,textile%20industry%20for%20different% 20reasons. 5. https://leather-toolkits.com/reviews/best-cutting-mats/#:~:text=This%20means%2 0if%20you're,the%20life%20of%20your%20blade. 6. https://www.libertyleathergoods.com/leather-awl/ 7. https://www.goldbarkleather.com/beginners-guide/basic-tools