Hi there, I'm brand new to leather, but I've been a woodworker for years. You are right about stropping. That's how I keep my hand carving chisels nice. When you make a strop, avoid using a 2x4 as your wood base. As temperature and humidity changes the wood will move and distort its shape a bit. Instead use a piece of 3/4" MDF, or a scrap of cabinet grade plywood. Those are dimensionally stable, so there will be no wood movement issues to change the shape of your sharpening surface. Happy crafting 😊
My man!!!!! One of the best videos I’ve seen so far. The presser foot trick....heat gun to get out scratches....edge beveled sharpening!!! Daaaayyyymmmmnn !!!! Jim & Erin / Riptide Leatherworks
Another quick tip for beginners, a soldering iron can also burn your threads and if you adapt your small stamps to thread into where the tip goes you can use itbrand with. You can also adapt a cheap drill press for handheld drills to hold the soldering iron to use as a hot stamp.
I've been doing leather for a few years, and you showed me some new tricks. Especially the heat gun for scratches, and the string trick for stropping edge bevelers. Good stuff!
You convinced me to try leather crafting out. I only bought the leather and the tools you used for tracing and cutting out the leather pieces, just to see if I could do that part lol. I did it pretty dang well and now i'm motivated to go further. Just purchased the rest of the tools to finish the job, hope I can do it. Thanks for all of these videos!
I made a 'saddlebag' (about 16" x 8" 4") for use on an antique bicycle. This would get rough use over the years so I used slight bits of epoxy to lock the stitching in hidden areas. Several spots along long lengths of stitching and on stitching of straps and buckles. In case the stitching gets nicked or cut, the stitching won't all pull out. Thanks for the heat sealing of the waxed thread to lock the ends.
Gracias por todo los que nos compartes. Es una maravilla ver tus videos, por todo que aprendo y sobre todo con el sentimiento que trasmites. Mis mejores deseos para tus proyectos. Saludos desde España.
Thank you for all the small and important notes and tips on using leather tools. Greetings to you from Syria, from Damascus. I am interested in the videos you make and I can learn from you from a distance. Thank you and I will subscribe to your channel.
I don't make leather goods but I find your videos so entertaining (and relaxing) to watch. Even this video where I am learning about all the different tools, hacks, and techniques. Keep up the good work! P.S. The wood burnishing tool is my favorite part of every video for some reason!
I'm just learning about bookbinding, but would love to combine it with leatherworking someday to make beautiful leatherbound journals and/or books. I love how your explanations are clear and to the point.
Thnx!! Great tips!! Regarding marking of leather by pressor foot or feed dogs: my machine (inexpensive one) came with really sharp teeth that were tearing the leather up. So, I ground the teeth down and then coated the nubs with epoxy to get a smooth surface. Worked great. Don’t understand why they would supply such horrible feet/dogs but, stuff happens, hacks to the rescue.
Haha now I know what that piece leather is for that came with the kit 🤪I can also use this on my wood chisels. Thank you. I love all you guys that post these DIY videos. You all have made the Pandemic just a little, no A LOT!!! More bearable. Must add this. I just saw this thread burner in an art store. Guess what I'm buying tomorrow 😁
Thank you 10000x over for putting such quality content out. Your channel has inspired me to finally start learning leather craft. I’m excited to try some of the projects on here.
I really appreciate your timely and useful hacks and tips! Although I work a full time job, my heart longs for creativity. Since I create several different genres, I forget the basic skills sometimes when starting a new project. I create custom journals, from dyeing and baking my paper to creating a 300-page book. So I’ve made all the book innards and I want to make a leather cover, 1st leather journal 😬. Can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted and leather I’ve ruined 😡. But I’m not giving up, I keep searching and researching and that’s how I found you. Thank you for stepping up and sharing your talent and your love for it with others. I’m listening …
For the pressure foot - it pays to sand off the very sharp edges. I did this to mine and it also made a big difference. Spring tension reduction and sanding the edges is the trick to preventing marks on the leather.
Man, you are so inspiring! I admire your enthusiasm and devotion. Since I discovered your videos on UA-cam you've been encouraging me to pursue my own leather craft thing. God bless you! Greetings all the way from Bulgaria! :)
I like your videos, I am locked down in the UK right now and wanted to learn something new so ordered tools and will be learning by the end of this week virus permitting! Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Have been doing leatherwork off and on since 1969.....Still have all my original tools, plus a gazillion more I've collected over the years depending on what new projects I work on....Never knew anything like the Thread Zap existed.....Now I know.....Am ordering one today.... ;o) Thanks!
Agreed with all of these but didn’t think about the thread zapper. Speed reducer is critical, especially for learning, but even as a pro. +1 for Smiths.
A lighter with the right distance will not burn your project. Hammering the stitches it to prevent wear in the stitches. Water is free for burnishing; dye isn't. I love that scratch fix.
Hi Ryan! You are really a cool man! Your advice to pull out the spring on the sewing machine divided my sewing into before and after. Respect from Ukraine, thank you very much for what you are doing!
Wow….. priceless ! Thank you thank you, for the time and effort you put in these videos. God bless u brother and gives prosperity in every way ! I mean it.
I realized this 8 yrs ago. I was taught to use it and toss it. I learned about stroping my knives in general. After a month i was in my craft room and was think about all the razor blades i was collecting from projects. I had a half a shoe box (500) of double utility knife blades. I started stropping the blades after each cut or project. I was shocked! I had spent a lot of $$$ using and throwing away used blades. I stropped all the blades and now i have enough blades i should never need to buy blades again.
When you use a rotary punch to punch holes in leather, it helps to take a piece of scrap leather and place it under the project leather piece. Then, when you punch the hole, and hear a certain sound, the result will be a precise and clean cut.
wow. thanks for this. so simple i would have probably never thought of it, but i just randomly saw this comment and tried it on some soft scrap leather i was working with earlier, and it works so well. i was having to go in an dig the plugs out with a knife.. thanks!
Those were truly useful tips - for me anyways!! Thanks so much for sharing - especially sharpening rotary blades - I spend so much money on them, but always save the used blades for paper and pattern cutting - (I make clothing) - now I know I can sharpen them and use them on my leather projects!!!
Fantastic video. Dull edge bevellers have been a consistent difficulty for me; the string trick is just genius! Thanks so much! Once you get your cheesy intro/outro thing sorted your channel will easily be one of the best! 😁👍
Love your work. Thanks for sharing your tips. The string for the beveler perfect. But trim allowance is a key tip. Thank you. Cant wait to get some more leather.
Great video thank you! Had no idea dye would burnish well on vegtan. Thank you for listing all your tools in the description, may I ask though, where did you source your makers marks? They are unreal.
If you have a power burnisher, and want to clean all the crud (waxes & dye) from it, a good method to use is the following: Take a paper towel and fold it to the size, 2"s X 2"s and moisten it with denatured alcohol, hold it rather snuggly against the cocobolo burnisher and turn on the motor.
These are all great tips! I don't have any tips, but I would really enjoy seeing a video about what you do with your leather scraps. In sewing, it's easy to avoid fabric waste and fabric scraps can be used in so many different ways, so I'm curious to know how leather scraps can be repurposed or recycled.
I do wood carving also, when I first started I used x-acto knives. I stropped the blades and I could use the same blade for months. I just started leather craft and I love it. My hands are getting too crippled to carve wood and leather is so much easier on my hands.
Sticky Contact Cement Lid: B4 I learned petroleum jelly was ok or putting can in bag and storing upside down worked...I cut a small piece of 2 x 2 and with liberal use of gorilla glue made a great leverage handle. I still like the leverage.
Look in sewing notions for a rotary blade sharpener and save your fingers. It's basically a circle sharpener. Add some jewelers compound and you're good.
This has got to be one of the best tips video i have seen in a while! Thanks for sharing and I hope you make more. I'm new to leather and learning stuff like this makes it more fun and less scary. xoxo
Before I got myself some I would use worn out hole saws. Use a bench grinder to knock off the teeth, mark out the radius you want grind a step in and then put an edge on it. Works alright
Jeremy Kinnear nope I grind all the teeth off and a step in to it and then grind the radius to a sharp edge. Best of all you can get a large bolt that’ll screw in to the holesaw and you have a handle and something to punch
Thank you SEW MUCH for the spring hack for my Juki!. Had no idea you could do that to reduce the pressure, but will take mine out in the morning! It’s been driving me crazy! I already filed down the bottoms of my pressure feet with a Dremel which helped too.
Great video, thanks for the trick about the corners. I got my corner punch but I can never get to cut straight, it always flares out as I punch it down; maybe cuz of the thickness of the leather. I've got a new back up plan now!
Hey . I really enjoyed your video . Would you be so kind to create a video demonstrating the process of foil stamping without using a machine .. that would be really cool to watch😍💪💪
Hey Ryan..Love your channel..I got a question for you...the marker you use is supposed to be used with acrylic paint. have you had any problem using Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye ? Thanks for all ..Peace and God bless you !!!💯
Ok just the heat gun arrived today and oh man it was fun. Just one thing, i see the gold stamp is not really perfect there are missing spots. What you think may cause this? Not enough heath or bad folio?
I know this is more than a year old, but if this comment helps even one person it’s worth writing. Re: Tip #7 Hammering Stitches: do NOT use a claw/carpenter’s hammer on your leather because its face isn’t smooth enough and will mar your leather. You *can* polish the face of that type of hammer if you know how to do it, but you’re better off buying the correct one from a leather supply or even a planishing hammer from a jeweler’s supply. Both have mirror-smooth faces and the latter typically has a larger diameter one. Unfortunately, both are specialized tools, and therefore are more expensive, but worth it. You can sometimes get away with using the metal roller you use to remove bubbles after gluing two pieces of leather together, but I use my hammer for both jobs. If you don’t have a roller, get the correct hammer and use it for both. That’ll save you the cost of a roller. You’re welcome😉😀
That bit about fixing scratches with the heat gun is awesome! Thank you for the tips
Hi there,
I'm brand new to leather, but I've been a woodworker for years. You are right about stropping. That's how I keep my hand carving chisels nice.
When you make a strop, avoid using a 2x4 as your wood base. As temperature and humidity changes the wood will move and distort its shape a bit. Instead use a piece of 3/4" MDF, or a scrap of cabinet grade plywood. Those are dimensionally stable, so there will be no wood movement issues to change the shape of your sharpening surface.
Happy crafting 😊
Greetings,
Thanks for the overall video, with practical tips and hacks.
My man!!!!! One of the best videos I’ve seen so far. The presser foot trick....heat gun to get out scratches....edge beveled sharpening!!! Daaaayyyymmmmnn !!!!
Jim & Erin / Riptide Leatherworks
I don't leather craft but man its soo satisfying to watch you work. It so awesome to see leather working. Keep it going.
Another quick tip for beginners, a soldering iron can also burn your threads and if you adapt your small stamps to thread into where the tip goes you can use itbrand with. You can also adapt a cheap drill press for handheld drills to hold the soldering iron to use as a hot stamp.
I've been doing leather for a few years, and you showed me some new tricks. Especially the heat gun for scratches, and the string trick for stropping edge bevelers. Good stuff!
These tips are so genuine, I don’t know much about leather craft , but I can see them be actually helpful
You convinced me to try leather crafting out. I only bought the leather and the tools you used for tracing and cutting out the leather pieces, just to see if I could do that part lol. I did it pretty dang well and now i'm motivated to go further. Just purchased the rest of the tools to finish the job, hope I can do it. Thanks for all of these videos!
how’s it going now?
I made a 'saddlebag' (about 16" x 8" 4") for use on an antique bicycle. This would get rough use over the years so I used slight bits of epoxy to lock the stitching in hidden areas. Several spots along long lengths of stitching and on stitching of straps and buckles. In case the stitching gets nicked or cut, the stitching won't all pull out.
Thanks for the heat sealing of the waxed thread to lock the ends.
Gracias por todo los que nos compartes. Es una maravilla ver tus videos, por todo que aprendo y sobre todo con el sentimiento que trasmites. Mis mejores deseos para tus proyectos. Saludos desde España.
Thank you for all the small and important notes and tips on using leather tools. Greetings to you from Syria, from Damascus. I am interested in the videos you make and I can learn from you from a distance. Thank you and I will subscribe to your channel.
Love this video man
I don't make leather goods but I find your videos so entertaining (and relaxing) to watch. Even this video where I am learning about all the different tools, hacks, and techniques. Keep up the good work!
P.S. The wood burnishing tool is my favorite part of every video for some reason!
Thanks Thomas!
I'm just learning about bookbinding, but would love to combine it with leatherworking someday to make beautiful leatherbound journals and/or books. I love how your explanations are clear and to the point.
Thnx!! Great tips!! Regarding marking of leather by pressor foot or feed dogs: my machine (inexpensive one) came with really sharp teeth that were tearing the leather up. So, I ground the teeth down and then coated the nubs with epoxy to get a smooth surface. Worked great. Don’t understand why they would supply such horrible feet/dogs but, stuff happens, hacks to the rescue.
Haha now I know what that piece leather is for that came with the kit 🤪I can also use this on my wood chisels. Thank you. I love all you guys that post these DIY videos. You all have made the Pandemic just a little, no A LOT!!! More bearable.
Must add this. I just saw this thread burner in an art store. Guess what I'm buying tomorrow 😁
LOVING the new space, man. Watched your videos on it with Peter, and your tour and it makes an epic backdrop :) Keep smashing it.
Thank you 10000x over for putting such quality content out. Your channel has inspired me to finally start learning leather craft. I’m excited to try some of the projects on here.
Thanks a million for your tips and the way you share it. Love your workshop.
I really appreciate your timely and useful hacks and tips! Although I work a full time job, my heart longs for creativity. Since I create several different genres, I forget the basic skills sometimes when starting a new project. I create custom journals, from dyeing and baking my paper to creating a 300-page book. So I’ve made all the book innards and I want to make a leather cover, 1st leather journal 😬. Can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted and leather I’ve ruined 😡. But I’m not giving up, I keep searching and researching and that’s how I found you. Thank you for stepping up and sharing your talent and your love for it with others. I’m listening …
Your videos are so easy to watch and helpful!
Thank you so much for helping us with theses important tips, tricks and hacks 😅 , hope you have all the best 🌸🌸
For the pressure foot - it pays to sand off the very sharp edges. I did this to mine and it also made a big difference. Spring tension reduction and sanding the edges is the trick to preventing marks on the leather.
Man, you are so inspiring! I admire your enthusiasm and devotion. Since I discovered your videos on UA-cam you've been encouraging me to pursue my own leather craft thing. God bless you! Greetings all the way from Bulgaria! :)
Thanks so much!!!
I like your videos, I am locked down in the UK right now and wanted to learn something new so ordered tools and will be learning by the end of this week virus permitting! Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Have been doing leatherwork off and on since 1969.....Still have all my original tools, plus a gazillion more I've collected over the years depending on what new projects I work on....Never knew anything like the Thread Zap existed.....Now I know.....Am ordering one today.... ;o) Thanks!
Agreed with all of these but didn’t think about the thread zapper. Speed reducer is critical, especially for learning, but even as a pro. +1 for Smiths.
A lighter with the right distance will not burn your project.
Hammering the stitches it to prevent wear in the stitches.
Water is free for burnishing; dye isn't.
I love that scratch fix.
Hi Ryan! You are really a cool man! Your advice to pull out the spring on the sewing machine divided my sewing into before and after. Respect from Ukraine, thank you very much for what you are doing!
I bought a corner punch which is smaller than I wanted so I exclusively use the cutting method for nice rounded corners.
I use a tobacco filters for coloring edges of my leatherworks, it's very simple and comfortable :)
Curious to know were people buy custom maker's mark for foil stamping. Any recommendations?
Sterling Marking Products.
@@LittleKingGoods Thanks!
Putting out amazing content and has pushed me into leather craft. #handmade #leathercraft
Great video as usual.. Big fan from Egypt and just starting in leather handcraft
Wow….. priceless ! Thank you thank you, for the time and effort you put in these videos. God bless u brother and gives prosperity in every way ! I mean it.
Thanks for this mate, for an old bloke starting a new craft, this was a cool insight. Cheers from Australia!
I realized this 8 yrs ago. I was taught to use it and toss it. I learned about stroping my knives in general. After a month i was in my craft room and was think about all the razor blades i was collecting from projects. I had a half a shoe box (500) of double utility knife blades. I started stropping the blades after each cut or project. I was shocked! I had spent a lot of $$$ using and throwing away used blades. I stropped all the blades and now i have enough blades i should never need to buy blades again.
Before watching this video I wondered if there was anything new or useful here. Uh... yeah! Thanks for all the great tips!
Haha yay!
When you use a rotary punch to punch holes in leather, it helps to take a piece of scrap leather and place it under the project leather piece. Then, when you punch the hole, and hear a certain sound, the result will be a precise and clean cut.
wow. thanks for this. so simple i would have probably never thought of it, but i just randomly saw this comment and tried it on some soft scrap leather i was working with earlier, and it works so well. i was having to go in an dig the plugs out with a knife.. thanks!
"Creating corners. There's a way around this." Nice pun.
Fantastic tips, especially burnish/edging & #10 re: scratches. Thank you! 👜👞
Hi, awesome videos
what edge dye you use in montana marker?
Fiebings pro dye
Could you make a video on sizing your projects? Love your vids man.
Those were truly useful tips - for me anyways!! Thanks so much for sharing - especially sharpening rotary blades - I spend so much money on them, but always save the used blades for paper and pattern cutting - (I make clothing) - now I know I can sharpen them and use them on my leather projects!!!
Thanks for all the tips! Where do you get your big roll of foil? Thanks!
Fantastic video. Dull edge bevellers have been a consistent difficulty for me; the string trick is just genius! Thanks so much! Once you get your cheesy intro/outro thing sorted your channel will easily be one of the best! 😁👍
Your videos are the best 👍
Love your work. Thanks for sharing your tips. The string for the beveler perfect. But trim allowance is a key tip. Thank you. Cant wait to get some more leather.
all I can say is AWESOME! as a beginner I am sometimes overwhelmed and even intimidated with leathercraft. THANK YOU. you got a sub today! :)
Great video thank you! Had no idea dye would burnish well on vegtan.
Thank you for listing all your tools in the description, may I ask though, where did you source your makers marks? They are unreal.
If you have a power burnisher, and want to clean all the crud (waxes & dye) from it, a good method to use is the following: Take a paper towel and fold it to the size, 2"s X 2"s and moisten it with denatured alcohol, hold it rather snuggly against the cocobolo burnisher and turn on the motor.
These are all great tips! I don't have any tips, but I would really enjoy seeing a video about what you do with your leather scraps. In sewing, it's easy to avoid fabric waste and fabric scraps can be used in so many different ways, so I'm curious to know how leather scraps can be repurposed or recycled.
I do wood carving also, when I first started I used x-acto knives. I stropped the blades and I could use the same blade for months. I just started leather craft and I love it. My hands are getting too crippled to carve wood and leather is so much easier on my hands.
Loved #9 figured it out about 6 months ago. Dye for edging is brilliant
Sticky Contact Cement Lid: B4 I learned petroleum jelly was ok or putting can in bag and storing upside down worked...I cut a small piece of 2 x 2 and with liberal use of gorilla glue made a great leverage handle. I still like the leverage.
Thanks for another great video. Love your workshop.
I never thought about sharpening my rotary blades! That’s going to save me a ton of $$! Thank you!
Glad to help
Great tips. Thank you.
Damn! I was really wondering how the hell to sharpen my edge beveler!
Look in sewing notions for a rotary blade sharpener and save your fingers. It's basically a circle sharpener. Add some jewelers compound and you're good.
This has got to be one of the best tips video i have seen in a while! Thanks for sharing and I hope you make more. I'm new to leather and learning stuff like this makes it more fun and less scary. xoxo
We love this growth. Love this channel
Thanks for the support Susie!!
Trim allowance is so good. Thank you so much for the tip.
Thanks Ryan for good tips! Signed up for Skillshare too.
Thanks for the tips, appreciate you sharing.
I'm just getting into the craft and rounded corners have been giving me a problem. Thanks for the tip!
Before I got myself some I would use worn out hole saws. Use a bench grinder to knock off the teeth, mark out the radius you want grind a step in and then put an edge on it. Works alright
@@lukeaugustini7866 That's a great idea. The teeth don't cause lines in the edge at all?
Jeremy Kinnear nope I grind all the teeth off and a step in to it and then grind the radius to a sharp edge. Best of all you can get a large bolt that’ll screw in to the holesaw and you have a handle and something to punch
Nice one nice, thanks for the tips. Am a beginner and i appreciate your advice. Thanks
You're the best! Loves you from Russia
Thank you SEW MUCH for the spring hack for my Juki!. Had no idea you could do that to reduce the pressure, but will take mine out in the morning! It’s been driving me crazy! I already filed down the bottoms of my pressure feet with a Dremel which helped too.
Senang ketemu channel yutub ini 😍
Great video, thanks for the trick about the corners. I got my corner punch but I can never get to cut straight, it always flares out as I punch it down; maybe cuz of the thickness of the leather. I've got a new back up plan now!
About to get my first leather and tool and learn how to do this jazz.
Awww, good stuff.... Where do you get your stamps made? And what material is your cutting table topped with?
Thanks alot for the tips!
Wow! Great vid! Thanks! Did you make this video in your new shop?
What color dye do you use??
Gracias por todo el aporte de conocimientos que haces, DIOS TE BENDIGA !!!
Excellent tips! Thanks!
Hey . I really enjoyed your video . Would you be so kind to create a video demonstrating the process of foil stamping without using a machine .. that would be really cool to watch😍💪💪
Thank you!
Thread zap to melt the wax buildup is genius!
Thank you. I learn so much from your videos..
I found that superb and very usefull
Hey Ryan..Love your channel..I got a question for you...the marker you use is supposed to be used with acrylic paint. have you had any problem using Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye ? Thanks for all ..Peace and God bless you !!!💯
I use the pro die. It works the best.
LKG droppin' knowledge babyyyy
Awesome video! I love the tips and tricks videos. I’m gearing up to start leather work and really appreciate all that extra help.
Ok just the heat gun arrived today and oh man it was fun. Just one thing, i see the gold stamp is not really perfect there are missing spots. What you think may cause this? Not enough heath or bad folio?
Very good tips! I discovered couple of these tips already by myself, but few are new to me, so thanks for that ;) Keep up the good work Ryan!
i love the way you sharing
oil the leather for the strop. many people don't realize you have to, but it will help polish the blade.
Thank you so much, the tricks you gave us are just amazing !!!
Thanks!!
Very new to this. Have a few questions. As for sharping Bevelers what kinda jewelers compound are you using?
Thanks for the video! Lots of great tips for details I might have missed if you hadn't highlighted them.
Great work!
Priceless, thank you.
Good tips. Thanks for sharing!
I know this is more than a year old, but if this comment helps even one person it’s worth writing. Re: Tip #7 Hammering Stitches: do NOT use a claw/carpenter’s hammer on your leather because its face isn’t smooth enough and will mar your leather. You *can* polish the face of that type of hammer if you know how to do it, but you’re better off buying the correct one from a leather supply or even a planishing hammer from a jeweler’s supply. Both have mirror-smooth faces and the latter typically has a larger diameter one. Unfortunately, both are specialized tools, and therefore are more expensive, but worth it. You can sometimes get away with using the metal roller you use to remove bubbles after gluing two pieces of leather together, but I use my hammer for both jobs. If you don’t have a roller, get the correct hammer and use it for both. That’ll save you the cost of a roller. You’re welcome😉😀
Topic request: leather glue... what do you use and why? Not happy with the one’s I’ve tried, so need some ideas.
Really a pro....
Thanks .
It's an inspiration.
OmG!! The edge beveler one got me! I have to keep buying new ones cause no one knows how to sharpen them.. thanks for that !
A round glass vinegar bottle makes for a sizeable roller, for gluing leather. It's cheap, too!