Wanting to try leathercraft

[Eterry]

Too cold outside to play, so I'm thinking about making a shooting bag, maybe a holster. I have a book of patterns somewhere, but can you guys recommend some good youtube vids that cover tools needed for simple leather work? Also a good description of weights and types of leather would be nice.

I started watching a youtube video, but when I corrected the poster twice in under a minute I turned it off.

Thanks

 

[RoaringBull]

I would get a copy of "Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch" by TC Albert. It has everything that you need to know about making a pouch, along with step by step instructions.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/39/1/BOOK-R18-CHP
I wish I had found the book when I was first starting out,.

 

[Brokennock]

I'll carry this over from another thread,

Inexpensive and available through Tandy.
I don't do everything as he does, but overall a very helpful book.
Go over to the ALR forum and search for the series of threads, "Every Man a Cobbler," there is a lot of great info there,,, in fact,, I copied and pasted each original post, as well as some replies by some masters like James Rogers, to Word files. I could share those files to an email address.

I may be able to find and post to some YouTube videos on how to make one's hand stitching come out nicer. That will have to wait until I can get to my laptop.

 

[tallpine]

Here is something that may help

 

[RoaringBull]

I believe that you can actually download the stitching book form the leather library website.

 

[kje54]

I would get a copy of "Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch" by TC Albert. It has everything that you need to know about making a pouch, along with step by step instructions.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/39/1/BOOK-R18-CHP
I wish I had found the book when I was first starting out,.

I just ordered one for myself. I also noticed it's out of print, did some checking and let everybody know it's best to get a copy soon if they are interested. I have no idea what Track's (and Crazy Crow's on hand stock is), their price is $26, on Amazon the cheapest price I saw was $48 shipped..........

 

[kje54]

I believe that you can actually download the stitching book form the leather library website.

Leather library website?

 

[Artificer]

Too cold outside to play, so I'm thinking about making a shooting bag, maybe a holster. I have a book of patterns somewhere, but can you guys recommend some good youtube vids that cover tools needed for simple leather work? Also a good description of weights and types of leather would be nice.

I started watching a youtube video, but when I corrected the poster twice in under a minute I turned it off.

Thanks

Hi Brother,

I began doing leather work before Al Stohlman wrote his excellent book on "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather" in the mid/late 1970's and WOW how I wished I had my copy at that time. I still refer back to it every now and then, all these years later. I was never trained by a professional (except for a few hours in the Cordwainer's Shop in Colonial Williamsburg) and much of my knowledge came from making a multitude of mistakes and some "personal epiphanies" or maybe just dumb luck from not giving up. Grin.

We have also been blessed on this forum with knowledgeable and generous people who were/are full time leather workers or those close enough to be thought of much the same.

Our much missed/departed forum member LaBonte (SP?) aka Chuck Burrows who actually did a full apprenticeship to become a full time leather worker, freely gave of himself over and over again to enlighten us. I suggest using the search function to find a host of posts he wrote.

Though he was not a full time leather worker, another dear/departed forum member Brown Bear often helped many people with leather questions.

I mention Capt. Jas. aka James Rogers third in this list, but ONLY because he is still with us and I think we should honor departed members first. Whenever I see "Capt. Jas." post and especially about leather working, that is a real "E.F. Hutton Moment" as far as I'm concerned. He is another MORE than worth searching the forum for leather working posts. James was also kind enough to help me obtain the EXCELLENT series of DVD's put out by Eric Myall, the retired Colonial Williamsburg Saddler.
Buy DVD's - The Williamsburg Saddler (weebly.com)

As far as YouTube video's go, videos by Nigel Armitage of Armitage Leather are extremely difficult to equal. He has videos on sewing and tools and every minute spent watching them is a treat. "Saddle Stitch in Detail" is a GREAT one to begin with, though you can spend hours watching his video's on all aspects of leather working.
Saddle Stitch in Detail - YouTube

The chart posted above for leather thickness is good, BUT leather is never exactly one thickness throughout the hide and that chart is really meant basically for Vegetable or "Oak" tanned leather. You will be surprised that when you get used to leather thickness with that kind of leather, how much thinner and more flexible "Oil Tanned" hides/leather is in comparison to "Oz weight" charts. The oils and waxes worked into "Oil Tanned" leather makes it heavier, so the same "Oz weight" in Oil Tanned leather will be thinner than "Veg Tanned or Oak Tanned" leather.

What types of leather projects are you interested in? We can be more specific on suggesting "Oz. Weight" thicknesses and types of leather when we know that.

Fraternally yours,
Gus

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

I also started by following TC Albert's book mentioned above. Sorry to hear that it's out of print where you are looking. I would keep trying to find it elsewhere though, as he literally walks you through creating your first bag and his pictures and explanations are so great that you'll end up with a keeper bag and a lot of knowledge. The bag on my avatar is my second build following what I learned from his book.

 

[Brokennock]

As far as YouTube video's go, videos by Nigel Armitage of Armitage Leather are extremely difficult to equal. He has videos on sewing and tools and every minute spent watching them is a treat. "Saddle Stitch in Detail" is a GREAT one to begin with, though you can spend hours watching his video's on all aspects of leather working.
Saddle Stitch in Detail - YouTube

I could be wrong but I think this is the video, or series of videos I was going to try to find my links to.

Thanks Gus.

 

[Artificer]

I could be wrong but I think this is the video, or series of videos I was going to try to find my links to.

Thanks Gus.

May well be, because Nigel still used 18th style tools when he made the video's.

You are most welcome.

Gus

 

[garypl]

Click here - free ebooks from Tandy Leather:

https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/category/79/ebooks

 

[Capnball]

Too cold outside to play, so I'm thinking about making a shooting bag, maybe a holster. I have a book of patterns somewhere, but can you guys recommend some good youtube vids that cover tools needed for simple leather work? Also a good description of weights and types of leather would be nice.

I started watching a youtube video, but when I corrected the poster twice in under a minute I turned it off.

Thanks

Tons of good stuff on YouTube. I'm laid up for the winter (just had both knees replaced) so I'm just getting started myself. I've done some real Maguiver commando repairs on leather in the past but I'm looking to step up my game and make some shooting accessories. You can do a search on YouTube for leatherwork for beginners. The three I subscribed to right away was "diesel punk" this guy gives away printable patterns for different projects then shows you how to do it step by step and what tools you'll need. He starts with all inexpensive hand tools.
The next guy is Stock and Barrel.
Young guy with tons of talent. He provides links to everything he shows you on his page. The third recommendation would be Weaver Leather craft. They've got anything on hand you might need and they sell to the industry so they don't sell junk. Good tools, good leather.
Good luck
Neil

 

[Desperate Lee]

Tandy Leather has lots of videos and downloadable patterns that you can print out and alter to your hearts desire. Do a search for download Tandy Leather Patterns. I have ball pouch, cap pouch, spare cylinder pouch and holsters patterns from them.
DL

 

[Grenadier1758]

I bought this book many years ago to make my shot pouches and the "Art of Handstitching" book. You may still need to buy the hand stitching book but the shot pouch book is available free on Tandy's e-book site.

Black Powder Bags and Pouches 1966 (leathercraftlibrary.com)

This is the pouch I sewed up using the pattern from the Tandy Craft Book. It is a gusseted pouch with two internal compartments and three pockets. Served me well for over 30 years. So has my Hawken.

I would make the pouch slightly smaller than the pattern. Mine was made when one though that you needed a lot of stuff in the pouch. Now I know that less is often better.