Leather Work Tips
For leather work, consider the basics: an awl and spare point, a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades, a retractable knife with a break-off blade and a rotary punch. In addition, you'll need needles, a lump of beeswax and some waxed linen thread.
As well, a pair of pliers to pull the needle through the leather is a must, and scissors you can use for cutting the leather. Then there are edge slickers and bevellers that are used to finish the edges, drive punches for bigger holes and thong cutters for making laces. A T-square, compass and yardstick are essential to ensure that your leather work is measured accurately.
If you're just starting out with leather work, you might not want to spend a lot of money on tools. Once you've worked with the basic set and completed a few projects, you'll have a better idea of what tools work best and what you use most. At that point, a little research and some comparative shopping can lead you to acquiring some better quality tools that will enhance your leather work.
Of course, even the most expensive tools won't help if you haven't taken the time to develop and perfect your craft. If you do your very best with what you have, it doesn't matter if you can't afford the most expensive awl or the latest knife. Quality will show anyway.
Tips and Tricks:
* Start with a basic tool set.
* Buy better quality tools once you've completed some projects and have a better idea of what will enhance the quality of your leather work.
* Study the various types of leather before starting.
Tooling Leather
There are many different types of leather available, some better than others, depending upon the project you have in mind. Vegetable-tanned leather, also called tooling leather, has been processed using vegetable dyes rather than chemicals. It's usually flesh-colored and is excellent for a variety of projects, especially if the top is to be stamped or tooled.
Because it has a relatively rigid structure, this type of leather is ideal for leather work items like book covers and belts.
Latigo
Oil-tanned leather, also called latigo, unlike other leathers, has a waxy surface and is ideal for leather work projects where durability and flexibility are a must, such as for tack and saddles. Avoid using it though if you don't want the finished product to have stretch and flexibility, such as in dog collars. Bear in mind also that it can't be tooled or stamped.
Top Grain Leather
Top grain leather has one smooth side, called grain, which is the skin side, and a rough inner side, the flesh side. Either side can be used, rough or smooth.
Chrome-Tanned Leather
Chrome-tanned leather is dyed with modern chemicals such as chromium and comes in a variety of colors, is often white on one side, though the cut edges can be a different color than the facing. It's relatively inexpensive, but not very breathable, and can't be tooled or stamped because it's too soft for leather work and it's waterproof
Weight of Leather
Leather thickness is given in ounces. The heavier the weight, the thicker the leather is.
Calf or goat skin is generally 2 ounces or 1/32 inch thick. One ounce is 1/64th of an inch thick. On the other end of the scale, 8 ounce leather is usually 1/8 inch thick.
Summary:
* Tooling leather is the best choice for most leather work projects.
* Latigo leather is great for durables like tack and saddles.
* Choose suede and garment leather when making clothing.
* The heavier the weight of leather, the thicker it is.
* When ordering leather through the mail, try some sample swatches first.
* Keep your leather soft and supple with the proper oil.
Hey! Need To Know More About Leather? Here's How to Get Your Answers Quick and Easy Click Here ==> Leather Work Secrets
 Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:06:59 GMT MTV's VMAs: DOA? - E! Online E! Online - MTV's Video Music Awards are this weekend, and we're lukewarm on the whole affair. Russell Brand as the host? We've only seen this Brit bloke once before, in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which feels like eons ago, and those VMA commercials costarring ... Kanye West to Close Video Music Awards Russell Brand looks to make big splash as VMA host Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:32:57 GMT NetSuite Says Chrome-optimized Apps Are Flying - PC World
PC World - It was in line with the likelihood of summer following spring that somebody would declare an application optimized for Google's Chrome, the new web browser that has dominated the geekier end of technology news this week. Google Chrome Hit With Another Security Bug NetSuite boasts of Google Chrome support Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:39:42 GMT Use of 'Barracuda' for Sarah Palin nets GOP a Heart attack - New York Daily News New York Daily News - BY NANCY DILLON They put the "amp" in campaign and get voters tapping their toes to the ballot box - but hit songs can be tricky territory for political campaigns. Heart Wants To Be Ripped Out Of Republicans’ Campaign Wilson sisters slam GOP's use of Heart's "Barracuda" Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:19:34 GMT Dell May Shrink Its Network of Factories - New York Times
New York Times - By STEVE LOHR Dell, in a government filing this week, strongly suggested that it planned to shrink its network of factories as part of the computer company’s drive to reduce costs. Dell Trades Factories For Money WSJ: Dell could sell off Winston-Salem plants Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:57:22 GMT Palins on move The Palin story . . . - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times - Sarah Palin and her hubby, Todd, went separate ways Thursday night after John McCain's speech. • • To wit: While Sarah Palin headed with McCain to Cedarburg, Wisc. Poll on Palin: GOP likes her, Dems don't Sarah Palin will be missing from action Sunday am Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:07:37 GMT McCain pledges change, touts experience in convention address - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Preaching a message of bipartisanship and insisting he's the man to throw the "me-first, country-second" crowd out of Washington, a buoyant John McCain steered his Straight Talk Express into its biggest berth ever Thursday night ... Video: McCain Vs. Obama: Got Change? Reuters Politics Summary Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:41:29 GMT Serena, Jankovic will duel in final - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Cindy Shmerler NEW YORK - Maybe someone put a Whoopie Cushion on Richard Williams's chair. Because there he was, jumping up and down after every point, high-fiving everyone around him. Video: Serena Williams Tries for 3rd US Open Title Williams has edge in semis Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:34:34 GMT RSS For Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Many dealers and auctioneers have been bringing container loads of... Read More When redecorating your room, you may be faced with looking... Read More You can, if you are ambitious, start a Mail Order... Read More No matter how careful you are, you will undoubtedly find... Read More In warm weather, latex balloons will typically only last outside... Read More One of the biggest challenges faced by airbrush artists are... Read More Making chunk candles is an and fun activity for all... Read More Puzzle pieces make playful embellishments and borders. Puzzle pieces give... Read More Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Even kids... Read More The framing industry has no books, no set theory, not... Read More Crafting with young children really isn't about creating something in... Read More Now that you grasp the importance of scrapbooking yourself and... Read More Need a cost effective way to get rid of mosquitoes?... Read More Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the... Read More Another important writing implement for scrapbooking is a wax pencil.... Read More Custom printed lanyards are an extremely popular item and are... Read More As a devoted scrapper, you probably gain satisfaction from scrapbooking... Read More Imagine your are five years old. As your family arrives... Read More There are many styles of humidors that range from the... Read More Why You Need A Display CaseSome people are under the... Read More There was once a time when almost everyone acquired, or... Read More Kids grow up so fast and if you don't try... Read More For collectors of any kind, there are always those items... Read More Everyone has that box of pictures either in a close... Read More Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. There... Read More
Adsense
websites
Antiques From Europe...Is It Really The Goose That Layed the Golden Egg?
Make Your Own Lampshades
Sell Hobby Items by Mail
Getting Rid of Messes and Mistakes in Your Scrapbooks
17 Tips For Getting Balloons to Last Longer in Hot Weather
Are Your Airbrush Products Selling? If So, Here Are 3 Ways To Further Skyrocket Sales!
Making a Chunk Candle
Puzzle Pieces, Sequins, and Rhine Stones in Your Scrapbooks
Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make
Choosing The Right Mat Board Colour For Your Art Work
10 Slam-Dunk Crafts For Little Kids -- And Bigger Kids Too!
Scrapbooking Yourself as a Girl, Youth, and Your College Days
Make Your Own Citronella Candles
Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums - 5 Tips for Success
Wax Pencils, Stickers, and Rubber Stamping in Your Scrapbooks
Endless Possibilites With Custom Printed Lanyards
You Are A Diamond So Scrapbook About Yourself
Family Fun on the Rails
A Look at the Humidor Plan
Why You Need A Display Case
World Skills & Learning About Old World Skills
Easy Steps to Scrapbooking with Young Kids
Collectibles: Searching for those Hard-to-Find Diecast Models
More Than A Memory- A Legacy
Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue: Unity Candle Craft Project
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Decorative Metal Work Techniques From The Early 1900s
Today's Metal Craft workers should truly appreciate the artistic skills... Read More
Sewing Embroidery Designs in New Ways
How many of you are always looking for new ways... Read More
Butterfly Candle Holders
Butterfly candle holders are easy to make and a great... Read More
Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums - 5 Tips for Success
Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the... Read More
Sewing A Button On By Hand
I have so many people come into my shop saying... Read More
A Look At Cigar Humidors
Cigar humidors are storage units designed to hold, preserve and... Read More
What Do I Need to Start Scrapbooking?
The best thing about scrapbooking is that although there are... Read More
Mixed Media Collage - Make The Pieces of Your Life Sing!
According to the dictionary, collage art is an artistic composition... Read More
Capturing the Craft Show Market
Finding the right product to sell at a craft show... Read More
Are Your Airbrush Products Selling? If So, Here Are 3 Ways To Further Skyrocket Sales!
One of the biggest challenges faced by airbrush artists are... Read More
The ABCs of Ceramics
Ceramics can be delicate and decorative or unrefined and utilitarian.... Read More
Craft Crocheting from Your Home
Crocheting is not only a craft but an... Read More
Genealogy - Why You Should Get Involved in Your Family History
A few years ago I read a statistic that said... Read More
Making Your Own Bird Feeder
There is estimated to be over 100 billion individual wild... Read More
Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make
Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Even kids... Read More
Coin Collecting ? A Fun Hobby
Over the years, collecting coins has grown from being just... Read More
I Didnt Know These Are Slowly Destroying My Scrapbooks!
Once you spend your precious time and energy creating a... Read More
How to Value Your Jewelry at Home or Work
Many thanks for taking the time to read this compact... Read More
Identifying US Coins with Bullish Futures
Okay, let's get something straight? I do not advocate the... Read More
Scary Halloween Crafts
Looking for some great Halloween crafts for your Halloween party,... Read More
Embroidery Stabilizing for Machine Embroidering
Here are some tips to get good results with your... Read More
It is Possible to Create All Kinds of Items with Hobby Metal Casting
Hobby Metal Casting enables the home metal craft worker to... Read More
Photograph Mosaics and Markers in Your Scrapbooks
An attractive technique for placing photographs into scrapbooks is the... Read More
Depression Glass Trivia
Depression glass facts make for interesting conversation, especially when you're... Read More
Airbrushing Does Not Have to be All Disappointment, Heartache, and Bloody Hard Work!
A smart, but irritating man once told me that Airbrushing... Read More
Crafts & Hobbies |