Getting Started with Leather Craft - Basic Tools

Leather crafting is a great hobby but getting started in leather work does require some basic leather working tools.
These are some tools for the beginner leather worker. This video also gives you a look into how to use these tools when making your own DIY leather project at home.
The link below will take you to get your DIY leather card wallet project:
chartermade.com/collections/l...
Tools Mentioned in this Video:
- stainless steel ruler
- cutting board
- rubber mat (for hitting your pricking iron onto through the leather)
- pricking irons
- thread scissors
- John James Needles
- olfa clicker blade
- bone folder or wooden edge burnisher
- stitching pony
- stitching groover
- scratch awl
- edge beveler
- mallet
- glue
- plastic glue paddle
Great place to start shopping is below:
bit.ly/RMchartermade
Our skiving knives are available here:
chartermade.com/collections/c...
Remember to follow us on Instagram
/ chartermade_leather_st...
Thanks for watching
Terrick and Charlene

[@mctrustsnoone3781]

The coin curve trick, mind blown! I am brand new to leatherworking and I love this tip.

[@axiomaddict]

I appreciated, not only your content, but your no-nonsense manner. Thank you.

[@aka9720]

I would like to thank you for your time and kindness. I would like to make my own cases for tools. Now I have an idea how to start. Thank you very much!!!

[@silverpromidi]

Thank you for this video and the project.

[@MuseLeathercraft]

Thanks Terrick! Informative as always! G

[@isaiahglynn3622]

This is so helpful thank you for making these videos.

[@jamescook-xploringcapetown3728]

Loving your videos, thank you for all the information.

[@oldhollywoodbriar]

Love your style thank you!

[@Brykk]

A good edge beveler is absolutely amazing. I got a tandy keen edge beveler in the mail today and have been going back over several of my projects that i was unhappy with. It transformed the edges i was unhappy with to an unbelievable finished look. I would have never guessed it would make this big of a difference.

[@carlholm5558]

Ah, this is the video I was hoping to find! Great channel!

[@jlnriddick]

Thank you so much! This was incredibly helpful for anyone starting out!

[@fushigibliss]

nice tip for beginners! thank you

[@Anna-cy1ye]

This was so helpful thank you!

[@NovgorodskyLeatherCraft]

Nice tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

[@deannaf3476]

Thanks!

[@jessicacollins8049]

Thanks so much for this! Its so confusing and intimidating trying to figure out what you need to start something without mortgaging your house

[@marvinsleathers698]

Great job

[@mickkeim4142]

Thanks for your tutorial. This really does help...

[@Tubefish07]

Thank you. Brilliant! Cheers mates!!

[@reverendronsrevelationroom1405]

Love your videos. Well done and you express obvious knowledge/ experience, and also a teachers heart.

[@UndyingSpartan]

Simple, to-the-point and no B.S. - this is how you make a video! :)

[@surfcirca]

Brother I love the channel. I kept going back in the video to hear what the tools were called, had a good laugh the whole time because I could not make out the name of a few of them. haha thanks for dropping the list at the bottom, I just need to get out more! I will be picking up quite a few of these, so thanks again!! subbed as well!

[@paaakwasi8186]

thanks for the video here sir.

[@weevilinabox]

New subscriber here, working through your super-informative videos. I just wanted to leave a comment about using metal rulers when cutting, based on the unforgettable experience of seeing a colleague cut a couple of fingers down to the bone. When cutting, there is a fair resistance on the knife, due to the leather and the cutting board. If your knife does ride up onto a hard metal ruler---i.e. steel or stainless steel---this resistance is lost, and the knife can run rapidly along the ruler...right over the fingers holding that ruler down. I still use metal straight edges, but I prefer to use thicker ones (at least 5 mm) when cutting tougher materials (e.g. thick leather, or rubber), so as to give a higher "fence" for the blade to ride over. When I have no choice but to use a thinner ruler, especially on longer cuts, I try to hold it in place with clamps, at least on the end I'm cutting towards. I also inspect the straight edge for any irregularities or nicks which might facilitate the knife riding up over the edge. Safe cutting, people.

[@user-qt2bq1gc1n]

Great work you r good man

[@hadiakbarkargili637]

Excellent work you are great, I really love leather crafting, you are already subscribed I am waiting of your next vedio on leather crafting techniques. Stay blessed hope for the best.

[@bluesideup007]

Just planning my first projects : knife sheaths for my spoon knives and some bushcraft items. Don't yet have any tools or good leather. I'm a hand-tool woodworker, so I appreciate fine tools. I just want the basics tools, but not junk. I'm so glad I found your channel! Subbed.

[@commonsensecorner7275]

I’m finally ready to place my Amazon order, I thought I’d check your recommendations out before pulling the trigger! 👍🏽👍🏽

[@melanigarcia842]

this is so cool I want to try it out!

[@poorboyzoutdoors1090]

Awesome video, thank you

[@koktengri4797]

love your detailing good teacher 😊

[@aerial_camera_video_imaging]

Lovely

[@topraktokatlioglu8635]

This video is really underrated it helped me more than many other vids with more likes/views. Good job dude

[@trinabaker3186]

Thank you.

[@c.albertotrujillo2742]

Congratulations!!

[@magueritte27]

👍 Thank you so much.

[@nelly5954]

I think I've found a new hobby. Good excuse to convert my shed into a workshop for all my other endeavours too.

[@nivenniven9108]

Really nice

[@fjimenezbotello]

This is the best tutorial on Earth, many thanks for share 👍😃⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@asnakelegesse7956]

Thank you for your brief explanation i plan to start on leather product.

[@markg8972]

Top man you are terrick,again Thank you for sharing with us mate 👍👍

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for the message and glad you enjoyed it.

[@mr.s7559]

Ur smile at last is wow.

[@nuraidichannel8151]

Thanks info bro ... from indonesia

[@norbertr823]

Thanks for an awesome starter project vid Terrick, going to give this one a bash. Greetings from Joburg

[@CHARTERMADE]

Glad to see a message from a fellow South African, thanks for checking out our work. Happy crafting

[@devildogsbushcraft7898]

There are so many people and video's. I will stick with you for my leatherwork education. I'll be watching all your videos. Ok, here we go. Thanks for providing such good content.

[@manandha2174]

super telling

[@MoneyJas336]

Newbie to sewing leather idk why im so scared but you gave awesome details/instructions....Thanks So Much🙌🏽

[@AzraelThanatos]

One major thing that I would suggest when starting is to spend the little bit more to get some heavy duty blades for the knife. They both last longer and you don't have some risks with the blade snapping off while you're working. The blades are designed to snap rather easily, but while you're figuring out the force you need for the leather, you can have issues there while working there, especially if you have a cutting mat that you've been using for a while because the tip can dull or break off far to easily there with getting caught in prior deeper cuts into the mat from the work. A lot of hardware stores sell packs of them, and you really want extra blades anyway since a sharp knife is a safer knife... And an old plastic bottle is worth rinsing out and keeping to stick used blades/blade parts into when you've used them.

[@alwynroberts510]

Thanks for the great videos, I am going to have a go at making some of the cardholders then get my students in my Design class onto it, a nice hands-on project with a hopefully great end product for them.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Glad you enjoying our videos, have fun with the making.

[@ivarutne6228]

You are nice guay, all the best from Poland.

[@jayandtishalankford3312]

Thank you

[@CHARTERMADE]

youre welcome

[@theshoeshed9036]

Good info, thank you. Just got myself some forks and been struggling with them sticking. Some more time with sand paper required.

[@carriegorton6831]

I'm just starting out at this, but I saw someone suggest rubbing beeswax on the tongs for easier removal, if you want to try that.

[@outandback6402]

How do I know what thickness of leather to use for this project? Thank you! Love the tutorials.

[@airnashville3883]

Very nice work. Your explanations and visual style are excellent.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for the complement and for watching our channel.

[@lastwolvesbarbershop4898]

Just a few words from French guys ! YOU RE AMAZING ! Really fan of your channel. Really good cause we understand really well ! Please continue ! See you boss !

[@CHARTERMADE]

Cheers, thanks for your complements

[@marcioalves-alves8461]

muito bom!

[@kyuubinokitsune4270]

Thank you! This is why I make a mess with my rounded cuts. 😂

[@ccruz247]

If anyone’s curious I added all the stuff in my amazon cart that he listed and of course it will vary but I went with the cheap side and it came out to 120.00 might pick up a new hobby

[@adamrobertson2048]

That's dope thanks for the feedback bro!

[@UmBungo]

I hope you were careful if/when you bought the items because there are many Chinese suppliers on Amazon who sell many cheaply made tools. I’m reluctant to buy from some amazon sellers.

[@andytrubridge5310]

It's good to know what tools are needed to get started, I,m slowly getting there...

[@CHARTERMADE]

You can get started with very little and as you find your feet add to the tools needed

[@getoutandexploreuk3603]

great video again, definately going to polish my forks so thanks for the tip

[@CHARTERMADE]

Yeah, its the little things that can make all the difference. Have fun polishing, it takes a while :)

[@getoutandexploreuk3603]

@@CHARTERMADE that's the relaxing bit, what grit would you go to before using a metal polish ?

[@kvitkamaksym]

On fire!

[@MarkDohring]

This is awesome... thank u...looking to get into leather work... will be checking out our site for patterns. What the best type of leather to use for wallets ... and eventually I will be looking to make a leather sheath for my bushcraft knife... also where do u get stamps to put your name in the products u make?

[@jacquesvanderwalt1273]

I’m quite interested in leather handcrafting and have been viewing quite a lot of content to get informed about the hobby I’m about to get into. I’ve viewed a lot of content from many other artisans on you tube, but find myself always gravitating back to your channel. Your attention to detail, doing all the little things that makes a project special reflects your passion for your craft and speaks very much to my ocd. Your work is fantastic and I would really like if you ad some more content to keep me occupied and expand “know how” during this period of Corona “house arrest”. Thanks for the awesome channel...

[@waleedjacobs]

i Feel the exact same. just stumbled across this channel. i immediately subbed. love the explanation and detail. i also want to start with this as a hobby and got most of the tools today. just need to make a pony and get some leather. all the best

[@saulcordero9874]

Is a great value information and a lot years in the leather hand craft. How is posible people no want of this. People no do enithing.

[@joelb370]

G'day mate, love your work. What are the 'basic, affordable' stitching irons you're using in this vid? Do you have a link? Looking to purchase some to get started, but struggling to distinguish between just cheap junk and entry level starter tools. Cheers mate!

[@MF-ff3xx]

Ja, thanks my boy for this video, cool to hear a SA bloke on here loĺ

[@mysweety403]

Hello, I really like your videos. I do not understand English (I'm French) But, it does not matter. Your gestures speak. (thanks Google for the translations) Good continuation.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Wow, thank you, glad to know you can enjoy them even with a language barrier.

[@mysweety403]

@@CHARTERMADE It's thanks to the internet, all that. I look at you from the "french riviera". I encourage you to make other videos. Maybe, one of them, on a purse, for us ladies ... thank you. Myriam.

[@gall_crafter_works]

God bless you, Sir! I'm starting out myself and need all the help I can get. I learned my lesson using a plastic ruler with a blade, and still bear the scars.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your message, yeah, who would have thought that a plastic ruler could be dangerous, and then you try leatherwork with it.

[@mrhentertainment6628]

​@@CHARTERMADE tell me please, how many tools need to begginer?

[@seanlowkey9388]

You mentioned needle sizes you use, what’s your preferred iron spacing or (spi) and what thread sizes do you most use?

[@bukscoetzer]

Awsome stuff, where in SA are you based?

[@weechitamex]

CHARTERMADE : THANK YOU SIR FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT . I'M JUST STARTING AND NEED TO START BY LEARNING TO BUY LEATHER BY SIZE . WHERE WOULD BE A STARTING POINT ? MERRY CHRISTMAS .

[@walden6272]

You can use a steel hammer, all you need to do is wrap a piece of thick leather on it. And it works beautifully and won't damage the tools.

[@SunilsHut]

Thanks for your valuable information... Can u tell me which country using more leather product? Where is its more potential?

[@HouriaAlm]

And when you use the edge bellever with heat to mark the line. could you say where to buy it, thanks

[@randyattaway5206]

I work at All About Fabrics in Williamston, SC. For the last 3 years I’ve been buying leather. They are different colors, thicknesses and animal hides. I’ve bought a few pieces off the internet too, lamb and ostrich. I have a really nice collection but didn’t want to mess it up before I learn and gather the tools I’ll need. Just wondering if you have any advise for this ol’ girl? I have a big interest and I want that professional look. I have an industrial machine and been sewing for years, but I love the hands on, ol’ school ways. Thank you

[@joshuaredekopp]

Could you tell us about your saddlers clamp. Did you make it yourself. How exactly does it work.

[@pepekrozinek]

Great video! How do you determine stitching iron offset from the edge?

[@CHARTERMADE]

Hi Josef, If you meaning how far from the edge to stitch generally a heavier larger stitch would be 3.5 to 4 mm from the edge depending on leather thickness.

[@barrylee.freedman2203]

I have pricking irons from Japan like the ones you had modified. The really good ones are astronomically expensive. How did you modify yours to improve performance. It hard to get them to stay straight going through multiple layers in a straight path.

[@lagoondragoon]

Already a garage carpenter, painter and a 3d modeller so why not to add leatherworking there aswell :D looks fun and is way more affordable than buying ready made

[@pequodexpress]

What program do you recommend for creating patterns?

[@montaabele2443]

How do you sharpen em all and how often??

[@jon3787]

I wanted to purchase some of these tools but any good reputable site you recommend? usually I go to amazon but I think I might want the next step up from that?

[@crypto_pinto2660]

Do you have any detailed information on the leather used in this video? One of the difficulties I experienced is there are no leather shops near me I have to rely on the visuals through the internet and reviews and it doesn't quite give you the full spectrum of the leather I have been dealing mostly with vegetable tanned natural leather I'd like to get into some dyed leather stuffed leather

[@tangcheesum5418]

Is there any vanish or shellac or any other liquids to protect leather from wear and tear?

[@theshepherd6779]

Hi- really like this video -helps a lot Sorry but where are you from? Your accent is so familiar

[@foxxRSA]

Any shops in South Africa that you recommend for tools?

[@imontheway3377]

I need all the tools

[@yoshi4922]

Does anyone know what size thread to use on 004 John James needles?

[@kozgonpop7228]

👍👍

[@johnmutton799]

What's the name of that clicker knife? It comes up as offer!

[@paaakwasi8186]

Please how can i get all these tool here. Am in ghana.

[@mrhentertainment6628]

Tell me please, how to get this tools. from bangladesh ❤❤❤

[@rahilhabib]

Are rubber mallets ok for working with leather tools?

[@shaunarthur2175]

I love your channel. Where about are you located. Would love to get in contact. I have many many questions. I am based in South Africa

[@alexgarcilazo1072]

What thickness of string do you use?

[@aemrico]

How did you get your own metal stamp

[@TikkiBear]

Is your hammer a maul or mallet? Why you use T type nylon instead of the rounded nylon or the wooden one? I have a T type wooden but.. Is the nylon one are better?

[@carpediem_68]

👏😊

[@joshlocke2777]

Cork backed rulers are better, less sliding around.

[@kampkrieger]

What leather is it? How thick, which type?