| Author |
Topic:
Question for any leatherworkers
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Amanita
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
2/4 9:23am
Subject:
Question for any leatherworkers
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For anyone here who does basic leatherwork, I'm thinking of getting into it. I would like to be able to make my own Jedi belts, bracers, and other basic things like that.'
What tools do I need to get started, how expensive are they, and where can I find them?
I'm thinking basic cutting and punching tools, and something for setting rivets and snaps.
Bottom line is- eventually I'm going to need an Asajj Ventress belt and saber holsters, and two of my friends will require Jedi belts. It might be cheaper to craft these things ourselves- especially since we're plus-sized and therefore a lot of ready-made things don't fit us. True, we're working on losing weight, but thin or not, it's cool to make your own kit.
And the other benefit is that with a little practice, I could make peices and sell them- not a full-time job, just a hobby that would earn a bit of extra cash.
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Zoom_Cthooga
Title: Former Southern CO Chapter Rep
Registered:
Jun '04
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Date Posted:
2/4 11:18am
Subject:
RE: Question for any leatherworkers
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I guess the first thing I'd ask you is -- do you have any leather shops in your area? Like Tandy, or a little mom & pop store that makes saddles and does leather repair?
The best answer you can get will come from one of those shops by just asking, "What do I need to make a belt?" If you have one of those shops, they'll be able to cut you the strips you need while you're there, and then it'll just be a matter of a little tooling here and there to assemble the pieces into a belt.
If you don't have a leather shop, I can do a post on that in the near future -- while I've not made a Jedi belt before, I've made other leather products, and did a couple little workshops at my place and walked a few people through making their own (and they all came out great, and with minimal blood loss). Everyone in our FF (well, SCFF and RMFF) has either made their own belt, or someone within our group has made it.
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*~In Memory of Imperial_Birrer~*
*~He was Number One~*
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Jedi-Loreen
Title: OCSWS Secretary
& Master of the Blades
Registered:
Dec '02
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Date Posted:
2/4 3:44pm
Subject:
RE: Question for any leatherworkers
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I've been doing leather work for several years now. I've aquired a pretty good assortment of tools in that time.
I started out making a couple of Jedi belts, so I needed a set of punches, edge bevlers, setting tools and anvils, and a mallet.
Then I wanted to learn to make other things, so I bought a few books and a few easy pouch kits to study various construction methods and learn what other tools I needed to get.
If you have a Tandy Leather shop close enough to you, I would also suggest going there and talking to the people who work there.
This is a good basic set of tools to get you started. If you buy them as a kit, it will save you money than if you buy them individually:
Leatherworkers Tool Set
I'd start with making belts first, they are fairly easy. Then as I advanced, I needed more tools for each different thing I wanted to make, till I had a good assortment of tools.
I've made belts, pouches, bracers, greaves, holsters. I'm about to start on a baldric for a Pirate costume. I've already made the sword frog that will hold my scabbard onto the baldric.
Leather working can be fun and rewarding. You can choose from a wider variety of dyes, and do some tooling or stamping to personalize your items even more. 
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In order to see the Light, you must sometimes risk the Darkness.
"The Force is my Ally"
Builder of EL Sabre Blades
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Anyara
Registered:
Apr '06
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Date Posted:
3/23 4:42pm
Subject:
RE: Question for any leatherworkers
- Date Edited:
3/23 4:46pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Anyara
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I've done a bit of leatherwork for Dark Ages re-enactment, and the basic techniques are pretty simple. I find that for basic cutting and sewing, a stanley or craft knife, an awl, sturdy needles (leatherworking, crewel, or chenille all work), linen thread, and a small lump of beeswax do for most things. Soaking heavier leathers before stitching makes life easier.
I get most of my kit from Le Prevo Leathers:
http://www.leprevo.co.uk/
They have all sorts of stuff, from tools to dyes and polishes, via instruction books, metal findings, and large pieces of dead cow. You name it, they probably stock it, or know where to get it. I use them mainly as a supply of belt leather for myself and the rest of my re-enactment group, 'cos they stock lengths of pre-cut strips.
And yes, making your own kit is incredibly cool - who can resist the flutter of pride when you get to say to somebody, "Oh, I made it myself"?
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Meran'yar'akari, EotH 9
GrandAdmiralJello's hired assassin
Oni byddi gryf, bydd gyfrwys.
Toitu he kianga; whatungarongaro he tangata
"You can run . . . but you'll just die tired!" - the combat archer's motto
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LAN-ED-TUL
Registered:
Oct '05
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Date Posted:
3/23 8:20pm
Subject:
RE: Question for any leatherworkers
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Tandy is is good spot if theres one close by. i have one in Tulsa so its a hour drive from me, and i made a few belts myself, theres all kinds of goodies for belt making there. studs, rivots, etc.... for a buckle, i went to a online place called leatherstrapworks.com, and got a metal side release buckle in brass pplating, for my jedi belt.
belts are pretty easy to start out with, and after that, pouches, etc....
just take your time, plan it out, and your golden.
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