People often ask me which leather tools I recommend that they buy if they would like to get into leather work themselves. This page contains links to some recommended tools and books which you can find mentioned throughout my videos.

Here are some great books if you’re starting out, the Valerie Michael one is excellent and the Stohlman ones are also very useful:

The Leather Working Handbook

• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (USA)

The Art of hand Sewing Leather

• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (USA)

Leathercraft Tools

• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (USA)

The Art of Making Leather Cases

• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (USA)

Leather Braiding

• Amazon (UK)
• Amazon (USA)

I have created a video outlining the items that I find most useful when starting out and below you can find the list of those tools. If you’ve found this video and list useful why not buy some of my patterns to make with your new tools!

This list is for beginners so I don’t think you need to spend more, however I have included cheaper alternatives for some tools in case you’re trying to spend less. The recommended tools are all what I class to be acceptable quality, if you want to save money and buy cheaper tools you might end up buying better ones later on.

Remember this is not everything you need to start leatherwork as it is a list of tools only. No consumables such as leather, dyes, finishes, glue, thread, hardware etc. are included.

	item	model	link	alternative	link
1	cutting mat	A2/A3 self healing	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
2	thread snippers	any	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
3	diamond awls	Kyoshin Elle S/M	S M
4	pricking irons	Seiwa 3mm/4mm	2t x 3mm 6t x 3mm 2t x 4mm 6t x 4mm
5	wing dividers	any	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
6	turbo lighter	Turboflame Ranger or similar	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
7	parallel pliers	any	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
8	cobbler’s hammer	Osborne 66	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)	vintage from eBay
9	thread melter	Beadsmith Thread Zap II	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
10	bone folder	EK Success	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
11	v-gouge	Tandy 8082-00 or similar	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
12	skiving tool	Tandy 3001-00 or similar	Tandy
13	roughing tool	Tandy 83005-00	Tandy	scratch awl or sandpaper
14	edge bevelers	Craft Sha Deluxe #1/#3	#1 #3	Tandy 8076-xx	Tandy
15	maul	Weaver Leather 24oz/1.5lb/750g Master Maul	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)	nylon dead blow hammer (Thorace 1414 2lb/900g)	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
16	groover/creaser	Kyoshin Elle Pro Set	set	Tandy 88081-00	Tandy
17	strip and strap maker	Tandy 3080-00 or similar	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
18	Black River Laser templates	handy gauge/strap end set	gone out of business :(
19	edge slicker	Pro Edge Burnishers hand slicker	buy	Tandy 8121-00 or equivalent	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
20	hole punches	Tandy drive punches 3777-xx	Tandy	Tandy mini set 3003-00 Tandy maxi set 3004-00	Tandy Tandy
21	scratch awl	Tandy 3217-00	Tandy
22	heavy knives	Stanley knife e.g. Dynagrip	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
		blades	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
		Clickers knife Tandy 3595-00	Tandy
23	light knives	Rotary Cutter e.g. DAFA 60mm	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
		blades	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
		Scalpel e.g. Swann Morton #3/Xacto	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
		blades	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
24	rulers	30cm/6"/1m steel rules	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)
25	poly board	Tandy 3464-01	Tandy	kitchen chopping board from the supermarket
26	stitching pony (not in vid)	Tandy 3132-00 or equivalent	Amazon (UK) Amazon (USA)

• Links and prices are correct as of November 2020, this page will only be checked periodically for updates so may become out of date
• I am not associated with any of the listed companies, the recommended items are there because I use them (or similar) and they work for me
• All the Amazon links are affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission if you buy items through them, this helps me out and doesn’t cost you a penny extra

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