Leather working Tool suggestions?

[Vira]

Background:
   A few months ago I made a few steampunk items for myself out of leather. They were my first pieces out of leather (a bracelet, necklace, leg belts), though I've been making macrame accessories for many years. Now I keep getting requests for the necklace and it was fun to make so....

Question:
   I need some suggestions for better leatherworking tools, what do you suggest? I bought the cheap ones intending to just make a couple things. I have no idea what I should use that will help me avoid carpel tunnel and ridiculous amounts of noise in my art room (if possible lol). I think I need something to punch holes in leather easily and quickly, something which might help with installing grommets/rivets, and perhaps anything else which might help with attaching various metals to leather....maybe even threading tools.

Etc:
   I do not have an unlimited budget so try to keep suggestions in the lower price range. I do understand that you get what you pay for though! I appreciate the help, and I apologise if this is in the wrong place. I wasn't sure of the appropriate forum in which to post.

[Steam Titan]

tandy leather company is a good place to look into. they sell leather and the tools for it. I bought some basic rivet stuff at a Michael's

[Tower]

For making holes in leather get individual hammer punches. Those rotary squeeze type A: break quickly B: kill your hands.

There is also tool called a whitney punch that makes very good holes in both leather and metal. Its like a large pair of pliers but with a extra leverage. Its rather expensive but its faster to use than a drill and can punch through 16 gauge steel. Its one of the most used tools in my shop.

For sewing leather you can get tools from Tandy Leather that cut a nice groove a set distance from the edge and another one that looks like a spiky pizza cutter that leaves behind evenly spaced marks for stitching. By using them both you can quickly make perfect looking seams and are they are pretty cheap.

 

I do understand that you get what you pay for though!

With tools the problem is even more black and white. Often money is the difference between a tool that does the job and one that doesn't do it at all.

Just as an example, several years ago I had an armoring project that required me to cut out a couple pieces of steel sheet metal.  I bought a craftsman jigsaw for $30, knowing that being a Craftsman it was a piece of crap but figuring that it would at least last long enough to cut out the two pieces of metal I needed. 

It broke after cutting less than half an inch of metal.

The next day I bought a Dewalt jigsaw for $160.  This was ten years ago and  I am still using it.

[Vira]

For making holes in leather get individual hammer punches. Those rotary squeeze type A: break quickly B: kill your hands.

I agree completely. This is the reason I began searching for ideas on better tools. I have a rotary punch and after making the stuff for myself and my husband my hands felt horrible. I have at least 8 people waiting for me to list the necklaces and I know by the second I won't have hands left!

Anyway, what is the consensus on this particular tool? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-hand-press-grommets-rivets-press-fasteners-eyelets-AAX-SALES-/250922824341?pt=UK_Crafts_Leathercraft_LE&hash=item3a6c2a7295
It seems like it might do a number of the things I need and it doesn't seem expensive.

The Hobby Lobby near my home also has leather sewing and stamping kits which I may buy. I had already picked out Tandy Leather to buy bulk rivets from on ebay so I am glad to hear someone else recommends them!

Thanks again!

[Vira]

you can get tools from Tandy Leather that cut a nice groove a set distance from the edge

I forgot to ask: would you know what this tool is called? I know Hobby Lobby sells the marking tools but I have not seen the one which makes grooves. Thanks!

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Strangely enough, it's called a 'groover' or (sometimes) a gouger.

[Sgt. S.P. Coggs]

Tandy Leather IS one of the best supplier's for Leather working period. They've been around for a long time, my first memory of a Tandy store goes back to at least 1961.

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

For making holes in leather get individual hammer punches. Those rotary squeeze type A: break quickly B: kill your hands.
...
Often money is the difference between a tool that does the job and one that doesn't do it at all...

Hmmm... You're definitely right about Quality=Cost. I've been using a pair of Osborne punch pliers for many years. Although I also have a collection of hammer punches, the pliers are generally used for most jobs.

Damned expensive, but you get what you pay for.

[Tower]

Those look like they would actually work, the usual rotary ones you se are very cheap and cheaply made and don't work very well for thick leather.

[Vira]

Hmme... You're definitely right about Quality=Cost. I've been using a pair of Osborne punch pliers for many years. Although I also have a collection of hammer punches, the pliers are generally used for most jobs.

Damned expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Yeah my only issue becomes that I have one of those and a few years ago I broke both my hands and that tool begins to really hurt after using it on thick cow hide (which is what I use for the cuffs and necklaces).

So has no one tried to use Universal Hand Press? I found several affordable ones and they claim to do grommets, rivets, holes, etc. Seems quiet and less squeezing motions.

[Neibelungen]

Have a hunt  on Ebay  for  hollow leather hole punches.  Team  them  up  with a nylon board and  soft mallet and  you take all  the effort out  of  holes,  especially those out  of reach from a set  of  plier punches.   About £3-£5 for a set  of  6 

The cheap ones  on ebay  last a while and will  sharpen up  with a needle file if dull.  For longer term use,  Dixon  or  Osborne do  good quality sets plus you can often  find  older  sets on ebay that just need resharpening.

Alternatavely you can  get  shorter  ones  that are a screw fit into  press-stud  setting  lever press if the noise  or force  of a mallet  is to  much.  About £10 per size and  about £60  for the  press

[Vira]

Thank you all for replies.

I found a Tandy Leather store near me and it is conveniently near a Habitat for Humanity Restore too so I will be going there tomorrow to pick up a few items for my art room as well as some tools and leather.

Perhaps I will post picks of my completed work once I'm settled.

Thanks again!

[Hieronymus Bock]

When I did commercial leather work, the tools I used most frequently were: a wooden strap cutter, swivel knife, leather mallet, rotary marker, french edger, groover, leather shears, about 20 basic shaper & texture toolings, a rotary leather punch, a dremel for drilling holes through thicker leather, stud setting tools, dyes & daubers.
 
I found little use for the individual hole punches, but you can get a large set from Harbor freight for little money. I used to use the osborne rotary punch (and it still works) but favor a compound leather punch (avail from harbor freight as well) which cost about a third of what the osbourne one cost, and is a bit easier to punch through thicker leather.

-Hieronymus

[Vira]

Lovely list, Hieronymus. I will take that with me tomorrow. I had also considered harbor freight so I'm glad you mentioned it. I have one in walking distance of me. I love that shop!

[Capt. Stockings]

There is also tool called a whitney punch that makes very good holes in both leather and metal. Its like a large pair of pliers but with a extra leverage. Its rather expensive but its faster to use than a drill and can punch through 16 gauge steel. Its one of the most used tools in my shop.

I second the roper whitney punch. They cost around $80 on eBay, but they're worth every penny. They never get dull and are fast, safe, and efficient.

Other than that, I'd say you'd need an awl, a good utility knife, a mallet, a rivet setter, a work table, some good dye, an edger, and some basic tooling stuff.

[Arceye]

Something I devised for setting rivets without the noise of a punch and hammer: if you have a set of Mole grips glue (epoxy), or if you can solder or weld, some bits of steel or brass sheet onto the jaws to make them smooth. The resulting tool will set rivets quietly and with little effort. Of course, you are limited for depth of work to the depth of the jaws, but this is a great tool for riveting strapwork.

[architect]

the roper whitney punch ( if it is the one I am thinking) harbor freight sells a chinese one that is not that bad. I use one similar for all my brass work and for the steel hose clamps I made the other day. (planning post pics in my thread here about my CNC mill)

I would say you need to go and just look through all the tools they have at tandy, once you can see them in person, what they do is not to hard to figure out. you will find new skills as well as better tools for the old skills.