Help needed from TBHer leather craftsman

[Eagle19]

Where do you guys buy your leather? I just bought a tooling kit and want to give this thing a try. I've got some stuff on order to make some knives. I know one of the knives will have a mother of pearl handle with a spade in the middle of it and I know I'll want a spade on the sheath too. So I want to start plying with it before I attempt something I'll really want to look at. Also any tips would be great!

[bigmike]

Springfield leather !
Ive been doing this for 25 yrs there is noone in the buisness better than kevin hopkins

[Kevin Smith]

You can get leather at Tandy, but it's not that great. Wickett $ Craig has awesome leather.

[HillCoBowHunter]

What tooling kit did you get? I've been interested in this for a while and haven't had the time to really do my homework on the kits.

[Eagle19]

After looking at Springfield I saw they sell elephant skin. I have some elephant skin boots that are super tough and love the skin. Do you think the skin pattern would conflict with the stamps too much?

[Eagle19]

What tooling kit did you get? I've been interested in this for a while and haven't had the time to really do my homework on the kits.

They have one on amazon with 20 basic stamps for $15 and I bought a mallet on ebay for $15.

[Tyler's Outdoor]

After looking at Springfield I saw they sell elephant skin. I have some elephant skin boots that are super tough and love the skin. Do you think the skin pattern would conflict with the stamps too much?

Vegetable tanned leather from cattle is going to take the pattern the best. Most likely the elephant is too thin to effectively take a stamp. Plus, you have to case the leather before tooling and I don't know how water affects elephant.

[Tyler's Outdoor]

If you just want some cheap leather to practice tooling on, Hobby Lobby has some the size of a regular sheet of paper in 5-6 oz.

[Eagle19]

If you just want some cheap leather to practice tooling on, Hobby Lobby has some the size of a regular sheet of paper in 5-6 oz.

I figured they would, I just try and stay away from them because they over charge on everything. However my wife might have a coupon I could use now that I think about it!

[Razorback01]

I've been getting mine from Tandy. They are close, and I can inspect/pick through it.

[bigmike]

Veg tanned leather is the only leather that you can tool period

[Razorback01]

Also, Hobby Lobby has some leather tools, stamps and supplies, at a lesser cost than Tandy.

[Hawkpuppy 1]

I've been getting my stuff from Tandy. I can go in and pick what I want and need by seeing/feeling it. Can get some good deals on stuff too

[Eagle19]

Thanks guys!

[Big Todd]

I used to actually buy scrap bags of leather at hobby lobby and usually had enough for 3-4 sheaths