Guys, I want to make some sleeves for some larger chisels and a slick. Would this beginner kit be a good starting purchase or if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know. 

Big Teddy Leather Kit

Pat, no personal experience but, here's what looks like a thorough explanation of the process. Apparently, not a lot of special tools are required.

 

I've done a bit of leather work, and I think the kit is a bit much.  To make the covers (which I really like), find a local leather store, buy the offcuts.  Then you'll want a simple rolling cutter (it's like a small pizza cutter), and a cutting surface.  Rather than sewing the edges, consider just gluing them.  You can also rivet leather rather easily.  The leather/hobby stores carry rivet kits and a variety of rivet sizes.  Rivet the open corners of the sleeve, and glue the edges.  To "square off" the edges, you could use leather thongs glued along the edges (the thong reduces the pinch at the edges, and the sleeve can then be narrower).  Keep it simple.....

I got all that stuff.  I guess now I have to do it since I know how now.

Well I watched the video and made my sleeve with some scrap leather I had, calculated carefully was looking really good then when I slid the SHARP chisel into it for the first time it grabbed the leather and cut right thru. That was allot of work to just throw it away. I actually just slipped it onto a much skinnier chisel which I keep in my tool drawer. Need some thicker material and might try the rivet and glue method next time. Pete any recommendations on the type of glue?  

28 minutes ago, Pat Meeuwissen said:

Well I watched the video and made my sleeve with some scrap leather I had, calculated carefully was looking really good then when I slid the SHARP chisel into it for the first time it grabbed the leather and cut right thru. That was allot of work to just throw it away.

 In the video at 4:50 he did the same thing but just the corner. Glad the sharp chisel missed your fingers.

Pat, I asked my son's FIL, a shoe repair guy for many years, and he said the best leather glue is from Tandy.

Gene thanks I have a Tandy leather supply about 25 minutes from my house will take a ride and get some.

 

Is there a reason it has to be leather. I made some covers for my turning tools from PVC pipe. It is durable and can be formed for a snapin fit. Just use a heatgun to form the pipe around the tool . You may have to heat again to get the correct snapin fit. You can round the tip to match the tool or make the PVC curve or flatten to match tools such as a Spindle Roughing Gouge or skew and scraper. By making the PVC pipe longer you can fit it over the ferrell also .

 

Pat, I linked your topic to a Face Book friend of mine who is a leather worker, and she makes beautiful leather items, belts, wallets, etc. I have a belt from her made of harness leather that is absolutely beautiful.

 

So she came here and read your topic, here is what she left on her Facebook page for me to copy paste here, by the way her name is Kari Hultman, not only is she an incredible leather worker, but a very skilled and accomplished woodworker in the old style. She is somewhat a Renaissance woman I would say.

 

Links of interest for Kari

https://www.etsy.com/shop/HultmanLeather

http://villagecarpenter.blogspot.com/

 

See her complete opinion below in the quoted box, be sure to click on "read more"

 

Quote

Hi John, I looked at the kit's contents and read the thread on your forum. I did not watch the video, however.

Regarding the kit, he would be able to make chisel sleeves and tool rolls with two needles, the punches, groover, and thread. He wouldn't necessarily need the skiver, although they are nice to have. The curved needles are for specific projects and the gold thing is a handle for the awl points. The daubers are good for adding stain or making parts of leather wet with water so it's pliable and becomes bendable. The orange square looks like bees wax which can also come in handy.

Also for the kit, he needs a way to cut the leather. A very sharp utility knife and straightedge will do it. I use the same blade over and over and keep it sharp with a stone.

If he wants to ease the edges of the leather, he could get an edge beveler. Just makes it look nicer and knocks the edges off.

Tandy Leather is a great site. They have great stuff for anyone especially beginners.

Very important when making leather sleeves for tools, you want to use only veg-tanned leather, which is tanned with bark and other plant materials. Other leather is tanned using chemicals which will cause a reaction with the metal of your tools. I saw someone mention that his chisel went right through the leather. Rather than bend the leather around the tool, I would cut two pieces and glue and stitch them on the three sides. Also, he can add a welt which would stop the chisel before it gets to the stitches.

Someone mentioned rivets. They are great and you can use them in place of stitching, but depending on the type of metal, they also may interact with your tools. I used a snap on a sheath once and it rusted my tool. When using rivets, you have to get a special tool to punch them together. Not expensive, but it's necessary if you want them to look nice and ensure that they're seated correctly.

For glue I recommend Barge Cement. Put glue on both pieces, wait about half and hour and tap them together. You can use clips to "clamp" the edges overnight, but if you're going to stitch it, no need to.

If you want, I'll be glad to put a "kit" together for beginners based on things from the Tandy site. And if you want pics of the tool sheaths I made with more explanation just let me know. Happy to help

So, yes, technically he could make tool rolls with that kit if he gets a utility knife.

Kari Hultman

 

 

10 hours ago, Pat Meeuwissen said:

 Pete any recommendations on the type of glue?  

I used rubber cement, coated both sides, let dry, careful alignment before "touch down".  It's held for several years.

I cut some old leather gloves to fit my chisels, but I have never needed to cover my turning gouges.

I've had a Speedy Stitcher for 40 years or so and have used it to make some chisel covers out of scrap leather.  It works just like a sewing machine with a lock stitch (you manually do the "bobbin" part).   When I have to sew leather furniture, I use triangle pointed needles.  Because  that is usually blind stitching (from one side only) I use a post-mortem needle that gives me a good push point.

 

http://www.speedystitcher.com/#the-basics

Video for using the speedy stitcher.

 

 

On 7/29/2018 at 4:24 PM, Gerald said:

Is there a reason it has to be leather. I made some covers for my turning tools from PVC pipe. It is durable and can be formed for a snapin fit. Just use a heatgun to form the pipe around the tool . You may have to heat again to get the correct snapin fit. You can round the tip to match the tool or make the PVC curve or flatten to match tools such as a Spindle Roughing Gouge or skew and scraper. By making the PVC pipe longer you can fit it over the ferrell also .

 

Gerald, I'm not sure how do you get a "snap fit"? This might work well for the tools I carry on my truck.

Guys, thank you all for the info and suggestions.

Pat

9 hours ago, Pat Meeuwissen said:

Gerald, I'm not sure how do you get a "snap fit"? This might work well for the tools I carry on my truck.

Pat by putting the tool into the pipe,which flatten should be close to the width of the tool, when the plastic is still warm and pliable the plastic will conform to the shape of the tool making a snap fit. Leave the tool in plastic till it cools to get the tight fit. It is possible that the tool may lock in the plastic and if this occurs just warm th plastic a little.

John, have you had any more contact from Kari? The last contact I had with her was Aug 1 and she was going to put together a "kit" of starter tools and get some pics of a sheath she had made. I would love to hear her follow up ideas. Thanks Pat

2 hours ago, Pat Meeuwissen said:

John, have you had any more contact from Kari? The last contact I had with her was Aug 1 and she was going to put together a "kit" of starter tools and get some pics of a sheath she had made. I would love to hear her follow up ideas. Thanks Pat

Pat, I have been so behind these days, I actually have a photo montage she mailed me with explanations of the process, I will get it up here asap! So sorry for my delay!

I hope she included the list of starter items to buy?