Do you want to learn leatherworking but don't know which tools to choose for your beginnings? We have listed the essential tools for you!
Depending on your desires and needs, choose your first tools using this guide.
To go further in making your own leather creations, we offer you a complete blog with guides, tutorials and videos. We update it regularly so don’t hesitate to check it out!
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LEATHER DECORATIVE TOOL KITS
We have drawn on our experience to offer you the essential tools for leather working in several starter kits.
THE ESSENTIALS FOR ANY CREATION
CUTTER | SILVER PENCIL | PLOTTER MODELER | STAINLESS STEEL REGULAT |
Basic tool for cutting even the thickest leather cleanly and precisely. | Trace the patterns on mineral tanned leather. Erasable with a crepe eraser. | A modeling tool, it allows you to trace a design or record marks on vegetable tanned leather. | Essential tool for measuring and tracing a template on leather. |
CUTTING MAT | WOOD, PLASTIC OR POLYMER MALLET |
CUTTING BLOCK | GRANITE MARBLE |
Self-healing support for cutting leather pieces with a cutter. | Useful for sewing leather, attaching accessories and embossing. | Rigid and shock-resistant cutting support, particularly with the use of punching cutters. | Support for pushing work or for punching seams (work without rebound). |
CONTACT ADHESIVE | BEESWAX BREAD | LEATHER SCRAPS |
Quickly assemble and glue pieces of leather or other materials (wood, plastic, etc.). | To wax sewing thread or work leather edges. | Use scraps of leather to learn/practice working with leather. |
GUIDE : Do you want to know more about different leathers and their uses?
SEE THE GUIDE >
THE MAIN CUTTING TOOLS
HOW TO CUT LEATHER?
Leather is cut with a cutter or slicer, ideally on a cutting mat so as not to damage your work surface. To have a straight cut, the tool must be held at 90° to the leather. Do not hesitate to use your index and middle fingers to guide the cutting tool. The cutting can be done following a route using a square and a ruler or freehand for the more experienced. It is essential to change your blade regularly to keep your tool sharp.
ROTARY CUTTER | ADJUSTABLE COMPASS CUTTER | TRACHET THE ESSENTIAL & SHEATH |
Cut leather precisely, very useful for rounded cuts. | For cutting circles or rounded shapes with a diameter of 1 to 15 cm. | Valuable tool for cutting leather. High strength steel blade. |
PARKING KNIFE | STRAP CUTTER | LACE CUTTER |
To thin leather. Practical for assemblies and to avoid excess thickness. | For cutting straps, bands and belts from 3mm to 10cm. | To make your own leather. Practical for braiding leather. |
SEE THE GUIDE > |
SEE THE GUIDE > |
SEE THE GUIDE > |
COOKIE CUTTERS
6 HOLES REVOLVER CLAMP | KNOCK COOKIE CUTTERS | ALL COOKIE CUTTERS |
Pierce leather effortlessly and without noise. Several drilling diameters. | Easily pierce leather before installing accessories, sewing or lacing. To be used on an ertalon plate. | There are a multitude of cookie cutters, of all shapes and sizes. SEE THE DEPARTMENT > |
HAND SEWING LEATHER
The saddle stitch is the stitch most appreciated by leather lovers because it is the strongest stitch. To find out more, watch our guide with video:
POINT SELLIER SEWING GUIDE >
FOLDING SELLIER OR VALET CLAMP |
SET OF 3 STRIKING CLAWS | DOUBLE FUNCTION Frog |
Serves as a "third hand" to hold the piece to be sewn when saddle stitch sewing. | Mark the sewing points evenly. | To draw a sewing line parallel to the edge or make a decorative net. |
ROUND AWL | AWL WITH PLIERS / LOSANGE | JOINER’S HAMMER: RIVET |
To start and finish a saddle stitch seam: enlarge the holes. | To pierce leather with the correct inclination when sewing. | To tap the seams, mark the folds and shape the leather. |
STAINLESS STEEL CUTTERS | LINEN THREAD | ROUND END SELLIER NEEDLES |
To cut the thread flush and finish sewing. | Several diameters and colors. In cartons or reels. | Sewing the leather with saddle stitch is done with 2 round-tipped needles. |
VIEW THE GUIDE TO MACHINE SEWING LEATHER >
REPUSHING
Embossing is the highlighting of a pattern on vegetable tanned leather. It is the creation of a design on leather using simple shaped tools.
LEARN REPUSHING >
OPENING KNIFE / SWIVEL KNIFE | BEVELERS MATERIALS | MALLETS / MAULS |
Allows you to incise the leather to give relief to the desired pattern. | Give relief to patterns on vegetable tanned leather. | Mallet with perfect balance and a cylindrical head for hitting hammers. Significantly reduces shock and prevents rebound. |
EMBOSSING
Embossing is the transfer by pressure of an existing pattern onto the leather. Marking is done using a metal tool.
GAME OF LETTERS AND NUMBERS | 3D MATERIALS | EMBOSSING RHEEL |
To mark a text or a word on vegetable tanned leather. SEE THE GUIDE > |
Striking patterns to decorate and carve leather creations. | Mark regular patterns on the leather. |
VEGETABLE TANNED LEATHER DYE
WATER-BASED DYE | ALCOHOL-BASED DYE | OX'S FOOT OIL | RTC - BEE NATURAL LEATHER CARE |
To dye vegetable tanned leather. Water-based dyes are ideal for starting out: they limit the risk of marks. | To dye vegetable tanned leather. Very penetrating dyes with bright colors and good durability over time. | To nourish and protect vegetable tanned leather. May slightly color the leather. | Fillers and fixatives for spun leather SEE THE GUIDE > |
WORKING THE SLICES
TRAGANTUM GUM | TOKONOLE | LISSETTE | ROLLER PEN FOR DYE |
Finishing eraser to smooth and shine the edges of vegetable tanned leather. On the crust side, the rubber helps bond the leather fibers. SEE THE GUIDE > |
Japanese finishing eraser to smooth and shine the edges of vegetable-tanned leather. On the crust side, the rubber helps bond the leather fibers. SEE THE GUIDE > |
To brown leather edges by heating the finishing gum. | To easily apply the dye or finishing gum to the edge of the leather. |
EDGE FINISHING | ABRASIVE SPONGE | SQUARE LAMP |
Edge finishing (painting) for all types of leather. | For sanding leather edges. | Break the sharp edge of a piece of leather to make the edges more rounded. |
INSTALL ACCESSORIES
INSTALLATION KIT | ACCESSORIES INSTALLATION SETS | BENCH PRESS |
Plate and handle for placing accessories on leather. | Essential for correctly fitting the different types and sizes of accessories. 2 types of dies: for press or for pliers/impact handle. | Install snaps, eyelets and rivets effortlessly and with perfect tightening. |
THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPLYING ACCESSORIES ON LEATHER >
TOOL SHARPENING
STROP WITH LEATHER BAND | POLISHING PASTE | SHARPENING FOR SQUARE LAMP |
Sharpen cutting tools to a perfect edge. | For sharpening cutting tools. Product to apply on the strop. | To sharpen EASY edge holders. |