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Handmade Tools for Leather Tooling

by ElmarsM on August 28, 2014

Table of Contents
Handmade Tools for Leather Tooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Handmade Tools for Leather Tooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Knife for lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Handle for knife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Pounding tool I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: Pounding tool II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: Finished wallet and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Intro: Handmade Tools for Leather Tooling

Hey!!
I always have thought that at some point everyone is lucky, you just have to find your spot, the place and the time where you, by doing what you really enjoy, certainly will
find your luck.
A few months ago I somehow stumbled upon this website, and thought: "Why not?". So I published my first instructable. It was amazing that in few weeks more than 10
000 people had seen my instructable, however I was even more amazed when my second instructable reached double the views in a few DAYS...
I entered some contests, thinking that there's no possibility that I might win....
But I WON two times!! What are the odds, that I out of hundreds of participants could even win the runner up prize. In my whole life I've won something three maybe four
times. I was so happy even for such a small prize..
I should cut to the chase. What I wanted to say is that I'm glad that there are people who make such websites, they give a chance to everybody... Thank You
Instructables Team!! (I hope at least one of the team will read this ;D)
As the prize for the Leatherworking contest i got DIY wallet. It is a great wallet, but I wanted it it to be even better, so I decided to make some tools (Because i'm too
impatient to order them and wait untill i get them), so i could make it look classy and awsome!
Tools:
Angle grinder
Files
Materials:
Piece of steel
Piece of wood
Glue
Few big bolts

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Step 1: Knife for lines

I don't know precise name for this tool, it's used to cut lines in the leather.
I took a piece of steel, cut off a slice and grinded it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Step 2: Handle for knife

Next I took apiece of wood, drilled a hole and glued the blade in it.
After that I grinded of the spare wood, and I also grinded a curve on the top of the tool, so it would be easy to hold it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Step 3: Pounding tool I

I simply grinded the bolt to certain form.
Then i filed diognal lines on the top of the bolt.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Step 4: Pounding tool II

The second one is the same, only a bit smaller than the previous.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Step 5: Finished wallet and tools

Using the tools i made, I cut out this figure (It's an ancient Latvian symbol, it represents fertility and richness) and using the pounding tool I pounded around the symbol,
it's essential that you wet the leather before any tooling!!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

Related Instructables

leather Flynn
Rider's bag
(Photos) by Tofu
Props and Play

Leather Tote DIY by

HollyMann

Wet molding a
leather knife
sheath by 0Troy

Make A
Hedgehog
Leatherworks
Styled Sheathe
by bushman89

Tooling a
Simple Leather
Purse by solobo

Handmade
Conchos and
Snaps by
seadraggin

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Comments
16 comments Add Comment

Fikjast Scott says:

Aug 31, 2014. 5:52 AM REPLY

well done

AUG-5OM3 says:

Aug 30, 2014. 10:11 AM REPLY

Very useful thanks alot!

halfman1978 says:

Aug 31, 2014. 8:53 AM REPLY

For tool handles I like to grab assorted roll pins from Harbor Freight and just drill through the wood and the tool handle with a drill bit slightly smaller than the
roll pin then tap it in instead of using glue. Especially if you're going to be hammering the tool since the hammering tends to separate the glue.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/

ElmarsM says:

Aug 31, 2014. 9:10 AM REPLY

Thanks for the tip! But the swivel knife with the wooden handle isn't used for hammering!

GyroGearLoose47 says:

Aug 31, 2014. 7:51 AM REPLY

Hand made leather stamping tools, go cat, go!

terrefirmax2 says:

Aug 30, 2014. 6:14 PM REPLY

And don't forget the safety glasses, esp when grinding metal! Great inventiveness.

Phiske says:

Aug 29, 2014. 2:06 PM REPLY

nice job and great pics! Keep it up

ElmarsM says:

Aug 29, 2014. 11:40 PM REPLY

Thanks!

Ray from RI says:

Aug 29, 2014. 6:01 AM REPLY

Did you heat treat the tools or just leave them as it? In any event very cool...!

ElmarsM says:

Aug 29, 2014. 8:32 AM REPLY

There was no need of heat treating them as I'm only using them for leather. Thanks!

savagegirl says:

Aug 28, 2014. 1:50 PM REPLY

Thanks, I'm kind of changing careers at an awkward time, so the experiments I publish are really the seeds of my next vocation. Metalsmithing is what I did
for 17 years until a kitchen accident changed my hand strength and precision never recovered, so while I do all I can to regain it, I am planning for what if I
don't.
I appreciate the follow and interest, and look forward to your next projects.

savagegirl says:

Aug 28, 2014. 8:43 AM REPLY

I definitely will when I'm ready, I might start with a couple of shoe remakes, like actually redyeing shoes, and doing a Dr Scholls ramake. I'm just starting to
get close to the results I want in shoes from the beginning and working on wood footbeds and hand made felt uppers lined with reclaimed silk dyed by hand.
So probably I'll work for a few months and then publish a series. I might do those easier ones soon as their own series. They will be my first.
The shearling jacket I'm making this fall and the leather 'muslin' with a button-out wool lining to test the pattern are all on my slate to share.
Right now, it's out to the dyepots so my dyeing for the year is done before it's cold. I was also thinking about adding a metal element to those 2 layer leather
buckles by riveting . Let me know if you're interested in that or hardening and tempering.
I could do those easily and It would let you use coins or found objects and open up possibility.
Congrats again and I'm happy to assist with any more advanced tool making.

ElmarsM says:

Aug 28, 2014. 9:07 AM REPLY

you are the first person i'm following (I really want to see your instructables), so, good luck with your projects

seamster says:

Aug 28, 2014. 8:30 AM REPLY

Awesome job!

savagegirl says:

Aug 28, 2014. 7:42 AM REPLY

Congrats on your successes here. I have been making stamps for metalwork that I'm now using for leather. The only difference is that mine were made from
tool steel that I got for free, and my backup stock is more free tool steel and a jar of 10 penny nails. Mine are also hardened and tempered, but that's for use
on metal.
The name you were looking for on the cutting tool is swivel knife, but I just have an econo version that is fixed. I do a little stamping but I mostly make
clothing and am learning to make shoes. So it's only on belts I ever would stamp or small cases, My next business cards, whatever they say.

ElmarsM says:

Aug 28, 2014. 8:02 AM REPLY

Thanks!! Yeah, I didn't see any reason to make the tools out of high quality steel if i'm only using them for leather. You should definately make an
Instructable about shoe making!! I would love to see how to do it!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Handmade-Tools-for-Leather-Tooling/