Reddit reviews The Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects

In my experience, Tandy tools tend to be higher priced than a lot of USA-made tools, and are of lower quality. While that kit covers everything you would likely need, I think you would be better off searching eBay/Amazon/Springfield Leather for better tools.

For $600 you could build a set of tools tailored to your needs, and they'll last forever. I've had good luck with CS Osborne tools, and all three of the above listed retailers carry them. There are also vintage tools to be had on eBay that are works of art in their own right, and have many years of use left in them.

This is my favorite leatherworking book on leatherworking. This is an incredible book that will teach you the ins and outs of the finer side of leatherworking (stitching/dyeing/glueing/tools/techniques/etc). You may also want a book on leather armor or tooling (I don't tool leather so I don't have a recommendation).

Based on Tandy's picture, I see a lot of tools you may never need, so you might as well get the right tools for the money you spend.

I would start with finding the following tools:

-Diamond awl

-Scratch awl (for marking)

-Wing dividers (for marking stitch lines)

-Square

-Ruler

-Soft mallet (weighted)

-Sharpening stone

-Strop and stropping compound (for keeping knives and awls razor sharp)

-Natural Vegetable-tanned leather (3-4 oz or 4-5 oz for small items, 8-9 for belts/straps).

-Waxed thread (research the sizes to match the number of stitches per inch you plan to do).

-Rotary cutter

-Exacto knife/blades

-Contact cement

-Stitching clam

-Pricking iron (goodsjapan sells very affordable irons for making your holes, and they are of good quality)

-Fiebings dye

-Fiebings Tankote (finisher/sealer)

-Needles

This is a basic list of items you will need, but to be honest, you could make just about anything with the above tools. As for actually tooling designs into the leather, the list of tools grows longer (stamps/finishes).

On a sidenote, I would not buy my leather from Tandy. While they do have sales every so often, the sale price is still right about what you pay at a place like Springfield Leather or Maverick Leather. I have not dealt with Maverick, but I buy my leather almost exclusively from Springfield. I keep bringing them up because they are extremely helpful and accommodating, and you can purchase USA Hermann Oak tooling leather for a good deal less than from Tandy (who tend to sell imported leather at high prices, anyways).

I don't mean to keep bashing Tandy, but I have spent a good deal of time and money replacing their tools with USA/European/Japanese tools at a lower cost.


As you get back into leathercraft, you will find that as you hone your skills,the need for more specialized tools will arise. For now, focus on building a set of tools to get you going, and then move forward from there.

Good luck!

Your bag looks like the first bag I made. It has the earmarks of being made by someone who has experience sewing fabric and apparel. Fabric sewing and leather craft have many shared skills, but leather has stand alone skills that you will need to learn. Many crafters here have learned through on-line tutorials. I started with this book, which I would recommend. https://www.amazon.com/Leatherworking-Handbook-Illustrated-Sourcebook-Techniques/dp/1844034747. This book is also a wonderful resource for bag designers https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9887710806/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like Valerie Michaels I go back to it from time to time. Also Al Stolhman's cases second vol because it has variations in handles.

I second just diving in. Also get a really good book. My favorite to this day is the leather working handbook by Valerie Michael. Cheap investment lots of projects and very detailed manual. [link to book](Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects https://www.amazon.com/dp/1844034747/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_n-RIwbYMFGGR3)

[The Leatherworking Handbook by Valerie Michael](The Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects https://www.amazon.com/dp/1844034747/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gVYtybNT0RJ8G) is a very comprehensive book for the beginner. At a little more than $10, everyone should have a copy.

Stohlman's How to Make Leather Cases Vol. 3 has plans for a very nice scabbard, but it's not for a 10/22. Still, it's chock full of useful information for the leatherworker. Very heavily western-inspired, however, if you prefer the European look you might want to get The Leatherworking Handbook for inspiration. No rifle scabbard plans there, however.

This subreddit recommended this book. I bought it and it's pretty good.

I'm almost positive it was The Leatherworking Handbook by Valerie Michael. Very well done book.