Leather Tools

[Stophel]

I just forged out this Creaser.... now I need to learn how to use it! I've never even seen one "in person", just from photos from one of my leatherworking books. I've tried running a few lines quickly (I just finished the tool about 20 minutes ago!) and I can see that my hands might not be steady enough to operate it! :haha:

A lot of 18th century leather work seems to have lines basically "drawn" on the leather (as best I can tell from a few lousy photos of a few pieces of 18th century leather goods...). This type of tool is the only thing I can think of that might be able to do that. Now this one is pretty big, and I can make BROAD curves with it, but tighter curves it seems I will need a smaller tool, perhaps more rounded than pointed as this one is.(???) Most leather decorating instruction is on the familiar "Western" type floral or figural carving. But with the earlier embossed type of work, I'm in totally unfamiliar territory.

Any tips, tool selections, or instructional books or websites or anything that would cover this type of work?

 

[rabjr]

Try youtube, there are a lot of working with leather vids, just search the tool you want there it may pop up with a vid or two. Mostly modern stuff but there maybe some on older tools. :idunno:

 

[Stophel]

Been practicin'. It does real well doing straight lines and broad curves (which, I guess, is what it's actually for!!! :grin: ) What I need is something that will do a tighter curl. I can use the point of this and "wriggle" it around, but because it's broad, it chops up the outside of the curve. I wonder if I need a sort of ball-shaped tip tool.... :hmm:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Check Tandy Leather's catalogs, and don't be reluctant to call them. They sell the modern tools, and are very helpful in explaining which tool can be used for what work you desire.

I was fortunate to have a Tandy outlet here in town for a couple of years, and spent a lot of lunch hours watching the manager work on all kinds of leather tooling projects. He had a complete line of tools in the store, and would answer questions from me, and others, as to why he switched to using another tool in the middle of the work. He was a talented leather worker, and produced a number of beautiful tooled leather
items for display in his windows, and for sale.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

IMHO you are on track with your thoughts Chris. Maybe Chuck knows of a period produced tool but I made something like what you are talking about. It is small and more of an egg shape than a perfect ball on the tip. I heat it for both English tan and American.
I used it recently on the pouch design I did for the Hunts for Healing. You can see it if you do a search on ALR. That one I actually burnt into the leather a bit.

 

[LaBonte]

Nice job Chris! and yep creasers (aka veiners) come in various styles (i.e. French, English, American), shapes, sizes, and types pull or push - they even made ones meant to be pushed with the shoulder - it was used mostly by harness makers for long reins and such.
There were and are also several types of styli with ball ends, pointed ends, etc. that can be used for creasing.
Most creaser blades were originally meant to used heated - alchol lamps work great and are documented.
Some of the best written resources on leather tools and leatherworking throughout the ages are those by John W Waterer,
especially 'Leather in Life, Art and Industry' or 'Leather Craftsmanship'.
Also look up book binding - lots of the same techniques and tools can be used.

 

[Stophel]

Well, I made myself something that seems like it might work. I can "draw" a fairly tight curve with it... assuming I don't slip! :cursing:

Basically, it "cuts" on the rear heel, the extension to the front just guides. I forged it out of a piece of mild steel round rod.

And check out my little flower center stamp! I'm proud of that little ugly thing! :grin:

I'll probably never want to do that tight of a curl, but it is within my capability, anyway.

And on one bookbinding site I found, they showed how they stamped some of the designs, and as I was kinda suspecting, they were using a hard wooden stamp carved in reverse relief. :wink: It was in a block form and I will assume it was pressed rather than stamped with a mallet.

 

[Stophel]

I'm also going to make a straight stamp with a rounded blade tip to match the width of the creaser. Maybe I can stamp it with a mallet and rock it and walk it around to make a curve with more control than pushing the one I just did like a graver... :hmm:

 

[Stophel]

And I will look for the Waterer books.

Thanks!