Blog

Welcome to MTR Custom Leather’s Blog.

Three Top Leatherworking Tools

An Overview of Three Top Leatherworking Tools

1. Hammers

Hammers

Leatherworkers have a variety of hammers to choose from in today’s marketplace. With a rounded face that helps prevent marring of the leather, our favorite Leatherworking Hammer is a handy, versatile tool that’s great for sharp folds, forming leather, tapping stitches and lace, adhering cemented parts and “blocking” leather keepers.

While leatherworking hammers are great for a variety of tasks in your workshop, you’ll want to advance to a good mallet or maul for leather stamping, leather tooling, and more advanced leatherworking techniques.

SHOP NOW

2. Mallets

Leather mallets come in different materials and weights to meet your needs. Take a few minutes to explore the options and determine which are top contenders to earn a place on your workbench.

 

POLY MALLETS

An image of Poly Mallet in usePoly mallets (plastic mallets) are the next level up from wooden mallets; they’re inexpensive and available in a wide variety of weights and sizes.

  • 9 oz. poly mallets are great for setting rivets, stamping and tooling.
  • 14 oz. and 19. oz. mallets are also available. While they offer a bit more power, please be aware that they could become heavy for repetitive use on more time-consuming leather projects.

You’ll find that durability is the main benefit of plastic mallets. With little or no evidence of wear after extended use, the longevity of a poly mallet makes it a trusted leatherworking tool you’ll have on your bench for years.

DISCOVER INSIDER TIPS ON POLY MALLETS IN OUR MALLETS & MAULS TUTORIAL:

Another widely-used option, with some distinct advantages compared to a poly mallet, is a traditional rawhide mallet.

SHOP NOW

RAWHIDE MALLET

An image of Rawhide Mallet in useRawhide mallets, though lacking the durability of poly mallets, offer a steadier and more consistent impact on leatherworking tools including: leather stampsleather punches and rivet setters. Rawhide mallets are popular in 11 oz. and 20 oz. sizes, and the heavier option is better reserved for tasks like setting copper rivets or tubular rivets.

SHOP NOW


Which mallets have more to offer, plastic mallets or rawhide mallets?

Again, it comes down to personal preference in the end…however, it is good to keep in mind that:

Poly mallets are susceptible to stuttering or double bouncing, especially when striking a tool with a lot of force—in some cases, a tool may even fly off the granite with a hard hit using a plastic mallet.

So, what rawhide mallets lack in durability, they make up for in stability. Also, when rawhide mallets begin to wear down, you can sand down the worn end to replenish years of utility.

In addition, a lighter weight rawhide mallet is a great high-endurance alternative for tasks requiring a bevel.

PRO TIP FOR SETTING A RIVET, EYELET, GROMMET, OR SNAP

When setting rivets, eyeletsgrommets or snaps, you’re looking for moderate weight for some nice control. A mid-weight rawhide mallet offers good, clean punches every time.

WOODEN MALLETS

Wooden mallets are at the very bottom of the totem pole for leatherworking performance. They’re cheap, and they lack weight and durability. Unless you only need a mallet for a one-time job as a stop-gap option, you’ll want to step up from a wooden mallet.

SHOP NOW

3. Mauls

An image of a Maul

For many pro leather toolers, once they start working with leather mauls, they don’t go back. There are a few reasons.

  • Well balanced– Mauls feel stable in the hand, making it easy to hit the tool soundly and consistently.
  • Round face– As opposed to using square-faced mallets, mauls allow more room for error when striking the tool. It’s not necessary to hit the tool on the center of the face to use a maul effectively. The circular face also significantly reduces the possibility of deflections.
  • Rocking vs. Hitting– Mauls are used with a rocking motion of the wrist, as opposed to the hammer-like hitting motion of a mallet. While it takes some getting used to, using a maul over a long work session takes less energy and puts less stress on the body. For pro leather craftspeople who spend many hours a day tooling, mauls make sense from this standpoint.

SHOP NOW

TOOLING & STAMPING

Weight options:

  • 16 oz.: good for very delicate tooling, but not as effective for most leather tooling purposes.
  • 24 oz.: a solid weight, and highly versatile…the downside is that the heavier weight may cause increased fatigue before a task is finished, which can lead to issues with concentration and poor hits on the tool, making for bad or inconsistent leather stamping.


SHOP NOW

LEATHER PUNCHING

For striking a leather punch with power and accuracy, a 1-1/2 to 2 lb. maul is a good bet for consistent performance.

32 oz.– 48 oz.: these weight classes are reserved for heavy-duty leather punching tasks, involving large oblong punches and strap end punches. One good strike goes right through!



For even more power, you could choose a 3 lb. maul for striking oblong and strap end punches. You’ll trade some finesse with brute force with a heavier maul. However, the best part about a giant maul is that even if you don’t connect clean and flat on the tool, you’re still going to get a good punch every time, and the tool does all the work.


SHOP NOW

Final Notes

Well, there you have it. We’ve looked at an assortment of hammers, mallets and mauls and their most appropriate applications. Essentially, they all do the same job, but each is a little more refined to a specific job in your shop.

For a walk-through of specific applications of various mallets and mauls, check out this helpful tutorial from our leathercraft expert Chuck Dorsett:



If you’re on a budget and focused on beginner leather projects, like leather keychains, leather mousepads, leather pouches, leather card wallets, leather watchbands or leather earrings, we recommend a rawhide mallet. It’s affordable, durable, comfortable in the hand, and will do any job in your shop.

SHOP NOW

DOWNLOAD HAMMER, MALLET & MAUL PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS PDF

Now that you’re equipped with some expert advice on mauls, mallets, and hammers, you’re ready to select the right one for your needs and budget. Adding the right leatherworking tools to your workbench is the secret to success throughout your leatherworking journey.

SHOP NOW

How to Hand Sew Leather-Leather Supplies-Waxes, Dye, Thread & More

Leather Sewing – Intro

While admiring a well-crafted leather handbag or belt we might conclude that the leather sewing is beautiful and perfect. We might wonder how the leather sewing process happened. Was it sewing leather by hand or using a sewing machine that sews leather? Did you know that you can learn how to do leather sewing by hand?

Sewing leather by hand is sometimes referred to as hand stitching leather. While there are many models of leather sewing machines that do a wonderful job when sewing leather, we will learn in this guide how to sew leather by hand. We will see that we can do an awesome job of sewing leather just by applying the steps we are about to learn. At the end of this guide, we will provide links to some sewing machines that sew leather and items that you need to sew leather by hand.

It will be amazing to see how easy and beautiful our hand stitched leather is and what a wonderful outcome we achieve. We are looking for ease and outcome when we do leather sewing (leather hand stitching). Leather hand stitching is quick, easy and affordable.

Chuck Dorsett our resident leather crafter will be teaching us the art of leather sewing by hand. We will start by using a hand stitching kit that has everything you will need to sew leather. This kit contains Ritza Tiger Thread, John James Saddler’s Harness Needles, a Stitch Groover, a Flat Chisel Set and a Stitching Pony (Sewing Pony).

This guide is geared toward a leathercraft beginner or someone who has started leather crafting, but has not yet done leather sewing by hand.

We will be using a saddler’s stitch. It is the only stitch that Chuck Dorsett uses, and, it is beautiful and in his opinion, stronger than a leather sewing machine stitch. The great thing about learning this leather hand stitch is that we can make projects as intricate as a leather briefcase with nothing more than a coffee table or kitchen table to work on. We can hand sew patent leather, make journal covers, holsters and sheaths just by learning to do leather sewing by hand (leather saddle stitching).

Yes, sewing can be tedious, but not really when you get the hang of it. You can sew 2 ½” in one minute and it looks as beautiful as a leather sewing machine stitch.

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl


Making Leather Groove Lines & Using a Groover

 

Adding a groove line to leather:

The primary job of a groover is to sink a trench along the edge of our leather. The groove line serves two purposes.

  1. It is a great guide for our stitching chisels.
  2. It will allow our stitch line to sink down into the leather and that will reduce the chance of the thread snagging or catching on things when the project is finished.

The stitch groove guide arm is adjustable so we can move our groove line in or out from the edge of our leather.

Pro tip: If we do lots of leather crafting it is great to have two stitch groovers. Take one groover and put yellow tape on the base of the handle and set it for 1/8”. We can quickly and easily grab it to make our sewing grooves (stitch lines).



How to use a Groover:

  1. Our groover has a guide arm and a cutting head. After setting the guide arm to 1/8” for your chisel line, butt the guide arm against the edge of the leather. Lets bring our hand that is holding the groover up about 45 degrees and give it a little counterclockwise pressure as we slide down the leather and cut a groove.
  2. That will make a nice clean parallel line to our leather’s edge. We can make multiple passes on this but keep this warning in mind, by doing several passes we would create a tab that will tear off. This would ruin the durability of our project.
    Pro tip:
    Although the primary job of our groover is to create a guide for our chisel line, it looks good on all our project edges even if we don’t stitch. A groove line really gives a finished look to our leather edges.

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl

How To Hand Sew Round Corners and Square Corners

Leather sewing practice exercises

We will be doing two exercises to get practice with leather sewing by hand. We will sew two pieces of leather together that have a square corner and two pieces that have a rounded corner. This will teach us how to handle both applications.

 

How to Hand Sew Leather with a Square Corner

 

  1. We will practice marrying two pieces of leather together that are same size squares. We will groove and chisel them separately and then sew the leather together.
  2. Take our first piece of leather and drop in a groove line on two sides where the lines will meet in the corner. We will run the groover right off the edge for this practice piece. Do the same process to the matching piece of leather on its face side. Typically, we would bevel and slick the edge so putting the grooved line right to the edge would not be an issue.
  3. Now let’s start to chisel. Take one piece of our square corner leather and the 1-tine chisel. Exactly on the corner groove, drive a tine hole with our tine handle slightly leaning toward the outside corner. (Watch video above).
  4. Now take the 2-tine chisel and line up one of the tines in the corner hole and gently just mark it by aligning it in the groove hole and gently tapping the chisel once. Do the same with the other side of the corner, but just mark it don’t pierce the leather, yet.
  1. Now let’s take the 6-tine chisel and put it in the second marked hole from the corner. Feel it sink into the groove line. Tap the chisel, piercing the leather and making the stitching holes. We’ll work our way out to the end. There may be enough room for a single hole to finish the end. If so, grab the 2-tine chisel, put the first tine into last hole and mark it. Then use the single tine to make the hole. Repeat on the other edge of the leather. Now you should have two stitch lines that meet at the corner.
  2. Grab the other piece of the square leather and do the same process as above. You can line up your first chiseled leather piece to the piece you are working on and eyeball it to make sure it looks spaced right, but this process should make them line up nicely. When you start stitching, they line up more.
  3. It’s time to start sewing leather by hand, but first some tool tips and info.
  4. Tool talk:
    • stitching pony or sewing pony is an immense help to hold the leather while we sew. For us crafters, the stitching pony allows us to clamp it on our table. We are also able to clamp it in all manner of configurations that helps us not to fatigue our arms and it keeps our hands in a natural position.
      stitching horse or sewing horse is different as it allows us to sit on it while sewing.
      Chuck Dorsett suggests putting some leather pieces on the top of the stitching pony to protect our leather projects from dings. See video above.
    • Ritza Tiger Thread. You get three basic colors in the kit, but it is also available in a variety of beautiful colors. Ritza thread is a very strong braided thread and one highly recommended by Chuck Dorsett.
    • John James sewing needles are extremely strong with a large eye so the big waxed thread can go through it, and they don’t have sharp points.

 

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl

 

How to Hand Sew Leather with a Rounded Corner

 

  1. First, take one of your practice pieces of leather and mark a round corner and cut it with a utility knife.
  2. A leather project with rounded corners requires a different process to make sure our rounded corners match. For our practice, we will glue our backing onto our face leather. It would be very difficult to cut two leather pieces that are flopped with a round corner that matches.
  3. What we do to make matching rounded corners easier is glue the first rounded corner, face up onto the backing leather piece. Then, we use the face leather as our straight edge and cut the backing leather with a utility knife. You’ll be amazed at how clean our edge is going to be.
  4. Let’s cut both of our straight edges first and leave the rounded corner for the last cut. Now, slowly cut the rounded corner by using the face leather as a guide. We can do small cuts to work our way around the rounded corner.
  5. Now, let’s make our groove line on the front side. We will start at one side and groove over to the end of the other side, grooving around the rounded corner. Do not put a groove line on the backside because our chisel line would probably not line up to a groove line on the back and it would look terrible if they were misaligned. So, let’s just skip the groove line on the back.
  6. Move the leather onto a quartz or marble block with our cutting board on top. It’s time to drop in our chisel line. We will use a 1/8” straight tine that comes in the sewing leather kit. It is a favorite of Chuck Dorsett’s, but we could also use a 1/8” diamond hole chisel.
  7. Note about stitching chisel tines: A sign of a quality tine is as the spread gets smaller so does the tine. We start with a 6-tine chisel that has a 1/8” spread. Typically, that equals 5 stitches per inch.
  1. Note: 4 stitches really gets big, and 6 stitches starts to group.
  2. Start on one end of the leather sample and drop the chisel into the groove line keeping the chisel straight up and down. Tap it a couple of times with our mallet. We can look on the backside and see that our tines pierce and show through the leather.
    Note: To get the chisel out of the leather do not rock it left and right because that reams open the holes. Instead, we take our index finger and line it up to the left side of the chisel and walk it out gently by going up and down.
  3. Take the first tine and put it in the last hole feeling the chisel sink down into the groove line and tap it a couple of times with the rawhide mallet.
  4. Now we are nearing the corner and we now choose the 4-tine. Putting the 4-tine, first tine into the last hole, feeling it sink into the groove line, give it two taps with the mallet and then pull it out.
  5. Now, let’s use a 2-tine chisel by putting the first tine in the last hole. Let’s just work our way around the corner but don’t run the tine through the leather, just mark the holes around the corner. When we get to where the groove line straightens out again, stop.
  6. Use the one tine chisel and make the holes, one at a time, around the corner where you marked. This will make consistent hole spacing and a nice stitch line.
  7. Now, we can go back and use the 6-tine chisel on the straight groove line to finish making the stitch holes. But as we get to the edge of the leather, we need to eyeball the space we have left to make stitch holes. If we bring the last hole to close to the edge it won’t be durable. So, we may need to use one of the smaller chisels. For this example, the 3-tine chisel worked perfectly for making the last two sets of stitching holes.

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl

How to make a backstitch closure on leather

  1. Let’s take a clip and put it on the two edges of the square leather just to keep it lined up when we put it into the sewing pony and until we get a few stitches in it.
  2. Now drop the two pieces of leather into the sewing pony. Since we have chiseled both sides of the square example, here is the way we hand stitch this type of application.
  3. First load your thread:
    • Take Ritza Tiger Thread and cut it 4 times the total length of the project we are going to sew. The thing that we don’t want is to start sewing and get almost to the end and be left with two little nubs to try and tie a knot. Thread is inexpensive and we should not skimp.
    • Take one end of the thread and load it into the needle. Take the other end of the thread and load it into the second needle.
    • The thread is very long. We can choke up or pull on our extra thread to make it shorter and easier to work with. We pull both ends of the thread all the way out with each stitch, giving it a little tug with each hand to tighten it. We can extend the choked thread as needed. This process can be better understood by watching the video above around the 15:00 mark.
  4. Start on either side, it does not matter. Put one needle in the first hole, pull thread through and then equalize the thread.
  5. Now push needles in from both sides, make an X shape with the needles, draw that stitch down to tighten and seat the stitch. Repeat that process all the way down to the last hole in the square leather piece.
  1. A sewing machine will backstitch but we are going to have to backstitch by hand. We will have to squeeze both needles through two pieces of thread inside the previous hole that we just sewed. It is a tight squeeze, and we may have to work at it, but it makes a secure closure. We will need to go back 3 or 4 stitches by repeating this process.
  2. Let’s take our utility knife and hold it close to the thread that we pulled through. Take each side of the thread and run it against the blade to finish off our backstitching.
  3. Tip for stitching long pieces of leather:
    When sewing a long leather strap (example: belt or brief case strap) we can run into a problem because we are constantly having to move our project in the sewing pony. To remedy that problem, we can take a piece of suede string and attach it to the rafter and tie a clip on the end. The clip can be adjusted by tying up slack with the suede string. We can then clip the end of our belt or strap, and it will hold steady while it is loaded in the sewing pony. This will allow us to stitch leather and keep our hands in a comfortable position. When we need to move it, all we must do is loosen the sewing pony and tie the suede up so the clip is raised.
  4. How to clean wax build-up on a leather stitching needle:
    You’ll notice that as you stitch, leather wax will build up on your needles and hang in the needle’s eye making it hard to thread the needle. Just grab your needles (without thread), eyes on one end and run a lighter under the eyes. Take a cloth and wipe the melted wax off while it is hot. The needles will be just like new and ready to go.

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl

How to Saddle Stitch Leather

  1. It’s time to start sewing leather by hand. Load the rounded corner sample leather into the stitching pony and secure clamp.
  2. Take Ritza Tiger Thread and cut it 4 times the total length of the project we are going to sew. The thing that we don’t want is to start sewing and get almost to the end and be left with two little nubs to try and tie a knot. Thread is inexpensive and we should not skimp.
  3. Take one end of the thread and load it into the needle. Take the other end of the thread and load it into the second needle.
  4. Since the thread is very long, we can choke up or pull on our extra thread to make it shorter and easier to work with. We pull both ends of the thread all the way out with each stitch, giving it a little tug with each hand to tighten it. We can extend the choked thread as needed.
    This process can be better understood by watching the video around the 15:00 mark.
  5. The saddler’s stitch is just a back-and-forth stitch, easy to remember how to get started because we take one needle and push it through the first hole on the left-hand side.
    Note: We have the leather loaded in the sewing pony so the face (or side we punched from) is facing outward toward the left. The point to remember is the hole that we punched from is funnel shaped and the hole on the other side is pucker shaped. So, by starting the needle through the funnel shaped or (punched from side) opens the back hole. If you are right-handed, the leather can be loaded so you can lead with the right hand.
  6. Finish pulling the needle through and equalize the thread between the two needles. Take the needle in the left hand and push it halfway between the second hole. Then take the needle in the right hand and push it halfway through the same (second) stitch hole but keep it in front of the other needle. Pull lightly downward on both needle’s eyes. Notice how that makes an X. The first needle in, opens the hole further on the opposite side so the second needle can slide in easier, in front of the first needle.
  1. Let’s take our fingers and go from the needle’s eyes to the needle’s tips and pull both needles through as far as the thread reaches and give a little tug to tighten and seat our previous stitch.
    Note:You don’t have to pull super hard.
  2. Pro tip: Perhaps we don’t have a lot of strength in our hands, we can do leather sewing this way:
    Put the first needle through like in the previous step and pull the thread back towards us, then put the second needle through the same hole making sure you run it through in front of the thread you just pulled toward you. That will keep you from splitting a stitch.
    Another tip to prevent you from making blisters on your fingers:
    When we sew large projects, we pull and tighten each stitch putting pressure on different fingers each stitch. One area will not be overly subjected to the friction of pulling and tightening the thread.
  3. When we get to the next to the last stitch hole, let’s pop the glue that is holding the leather together at the end. The glue is there to hold long enough to get our chisel and thread line in.
  4. On the last hole, we will tie a square knot. Put the needle in on the left side but only put it through the first ply and push needle forward. Do the same for the other side but only put needle through one ply. Tug it to tighten the stitch line down.
  5. We now tie a square knot. Take the right-hand thread and go over the left-hand thread, circle around and draw the knot down good and tight into the two plys of leather. Then take the left over the right, circle around and draw it down into the leather ply good and tight. There will be a little knot sticking out, but no problem because we will be hammering down our stitch line which will make the stitches look clean and consistent.
    Note: Let’s use our utility knife where the blade meets the base of the knife. That is a place on the blade that we rarely use, it is very sharp. Line that part of the blade up with the thread and pull the thread onto the knife blade to cut it. Don’t pull the knife on the thread, but the pull the tread backward onto the knife to make the cut.



How to Hammer Down a Leather Stitch Line

When we hammer down our stitch line it does two things:

  1. It will close our holes, so we see thread and not holes.
  2. It will sink the thread line below the top grain because we have a groove in there. We can use a mallet, but we don’t want our mallet at such an angle that it is going to leave hammer marks inside on our leather. For this example, we used a tack hammer and hammered the line down. It will make the stitch line clean and consistent and when we run our hand across it, we cannot even feel the thread.
  3. Hammer down both leather project’s stitch lines and we are done with our sewing leather lessons.

BUY SUPPLIES NOW: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl

Holsters and Accessories:

www.mtrcustomleather.com

Trick or Treat-Halloween SALE-Leather Goods-Over 3 Coupon Codes-New Updates

Features:

Sweat/Body Shield
Custom Molded to each weapon
Covers the full length barrel & Trigger guard
Heavy Duty Nylon stitching for better retention
halloween10
Shop Now
We can make any rifle sling, ammo pouches, holsters, keychains and more. Keep in mind that the lizard is small in size and may need to be pieced together. Choose any items and you will see this option under Exotic Leather section.

New Holster Alert!! Platinum Edition A-5 Deluxe Full Size Quick Snap Leather Holster

Call Today (336) 879-2166 or Shoot us an email with your order sales@mtrcustomleather.com

Check out our Youtube Channel:

How to videos
How to videos
Shows
New holsters
& More! 

Next Gun Show is Dixie Raleigh Gun & Knife Show in November 18-19, 2023
FREE SHIPPING CODE FSHALLOWEEN
Facebook
Twitter
Link
Website
Email
Google Plus
Tumblr
YouTube
Pinterest
Customer Service:
em: sales@mtrcustomleather.com
ph: (336) 879-2166 or (336) 879-2767
visit our site for a fast response with VIC in our LIVECHAT experience

Check out our sister site: www.southernedc.com

After Hours:
Feel free to google message us or facebook message us

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Copyright © *|2023|* *|MTR Custom Leather, LLC|*, All rights reserved.

Getting Started in Leathercrafting

Getting Started in Leathercrafting

If you enjoy expressing yourself through creative hobbies, leatherworking and leathercrafting are sure to provide plenty of inspiration with a wide range of projects perfect for a variety of skill levels and style aesthetics. To get you started out right, this beginner’s guide to making leather goods is packed with project tutorials, recommended leatherwork tools, basic leatherworking skills, and more! With just a few inexpensive leatherwork tools, online instruction and tutorials from industry experts, and your own imagination, you’ll be poised to successfully complete your first leathercraft project at your own kitchen table or in your workshop.


Buy Here:


6 HELPFUL TIPS

1. Leather project selection simplified

When you first embark on your leathercraft journey, take a look at a variety of leather projects for beginners and select one that appeals to your unique interests and sense of style. A smaller leather project with a manageable completion time will give you the opportunity to practice easy-to-learn skills and techniques that will serve as a foundation for more advanced projects in the future.

NEED SOME INSPIRATION?

Leather Keychain, a Leather Mousepad, a Leather Pouch, a Leather Card wallet, a Leather Watchband, and more can make great first projects. Explore some leather project ideas and tutorials to select the right project for you. Also, be sure to download our free leather patterns featuring our popular card wallet holder and shortie belt templates for even more inspiration! Discover leather project tutorials Here.

DOWNLOAD FREE LEATHER PATTERNS BELOW:

Free Card Wallet Holder Pattern
Free Shortie Belt Pattern



2. Affordable Leathercrafting supplies

As with any new hobby, you’ll want to try out leathercrafting without breaking the bank! Selecting leather and supplies that are easy on the budget allow you to focus your attention on experiencing the thrill of working on your first project and learning new skills instead of worrying about possibly making mistakes and hesitating to cut into higher-priced leathers. Your first leather project is an opportunity to express your creative spirit through the art of leathercraft. Check out videos on this page for an overview of leathercraft expert Chuck Dorsett’s tool and leather recommendations for newbies as well as a more in-depth explanation regarding the different cuts of leather with tips on utilizing cuts like single shoulders and double shoulders in your crafting to give you both quality and affordability.

 

Which Leather Should I Use For My Next Project
Recommended Leather And LeatherWork Tool For Beginners



3. Basic leathercrafting skills = NOT-SO-BASIC RESULTS

The key to success in any hobby is focusing on the fundamentals. In leathercrafting, you’ll find learning essential skills like cutting, saddle stitching, edge finishing, and leather dyeing will yield knowledge that will serve you well whether you’re on your first or one-hundred-and-first project. Taking the time to master these basics in the beginning will allow you to build upon this strong foundation when tackling more advanced leatherworking projects down the road.

LEARNING BASIC LEATHERWORKING SKILLS:

The Leather Element: 6 Options for Cutting Leather
How to Hand Stitch Leather
The Leather Element: Edge Work
How to Dye Leather



4. The right leatherworking tools for the job

A successful leather project starts with quality tools that get the job done right. When you’re just starting out, you may find you only need a few basics like a Steel Square, a Leather Knife, and a Cutting Surface — a simple piece of plywood can serve as a cutting surface if that’s what you readily have on hand. As your skill level and projects advance, consider adding more supplies including a Marble Slab, a Revolving Punch, a set of Diamond Chisels, a Poly or Rawhide Mallet, a Cutting Board, and a Rivet Setter to your toolbox. After experiencing the ease and versatility the right tools bring to your craft, you’ll be on the lookout for more tools that help you work smarter, not harder.

The lowdown on leather working tools



5. Types of leather demistified

Whether you’re new to leathercrafting or are a seasoned veteran, the number of leathers available for purchase can be intimidating. Here’s an overview of the main types of leather and some of their ideal uses.

VEG TAN NATURALTanned without harsh chemicals using a tightly-controlled process that utilizes tree bark and other natural tannins, this leather is prized for both its beauty and its workability. On average, veg tanned hides undergo a one to three-month process that’s reflected in the beauty, workability and cost of the final product. Project Ideas for Veg Tanned Leather: Strap goods, dog collar, knife sheath, holster sheath, wallet, coin purse, glasses case, key fob, notepad cover, journal cover as well as a plethora of projects you’d like to try stamping, dyeing, and forming/molding techniques.

CHROME TANNED LEATHERThe time involved and expense of veg tanned leathers led to the development of chrome tanning in the mid-1800s. Chrome tanning takes about a day in contrast to the one to three-month veg tanning process, making it a more economical choice. Today, about 80-90% of the world’s leather supply is chrome tanned and it is heralded for its stain and water resistance as well as its consistency in color. Project Ideas for Chrome Tanned Leather: Purses, bags, vests, personal accessories, tassels, liners, filigree projects, decorative inlays, and more.



6. Confidently buy leather your first time & everytime

Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced leathercrafter, it’s important you buy from a reputable company that stands behind its leather. Because buying leather online without the ability to see it up close and feel it in your hands can be a leap of faith, look for a leather supplier that offers Low Cost Leather Samples and provides Free Shipping on Leather Returns. That way, if for some reason the leather you selected based on an online description and photo does not meet your needs, you’re covered. Our leathercraft expert Chuck Dorsett recommends going with quality leathers in more budget-friendly cuts like a single shoulder or belly in our Affordable Leather for Beginners video. These leathers are available in a range of Thicknesses perfect for a variety of beginner-level projects and are economically priced so you can focus on enjoying your new hobby without worrying about testing out your skills on a higher-priced piece of leather.


Buy Here:



Your success is one of our top priorities at Weaver Leather Supply!

With our free Online Educational resources featuring a wide variety of inspiring leather craft ideas as well as a full range of leather hides, tools, and supplies, you’ll find everything you need to develop your skills for a lifetime of enjoyable leather projects.Our team would love to see what you make with your newfound skills! We invite you to post a photo of your creation and tag us @weaverleathersupply to share your leather art and influence others new to leathercraft!


Buy Here:

https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl 

Shop handmade leather product from a small business in USA with all USA materials. We specialize in all sorts of leathers, even exotic leather like: elephant, stingray, shark, ostrich, giraffe, alligator, caiman, lizard, python, eel, beaver & more. Not only do specialize in exotic leather, but also weapons with lasers, light attachments, red dots, suppressor sights, threaded barrels, compensators & more! All orders are made to order! You design it and choose from all the many options including, thumb break safety strap, sweat shield (body shield), single or double stitching, open or enclosed end, colored stitching, internal liner and many more! MTR Custom Leather wants you to have the perfect holster that functions just the way you like it!

Buy NOW:
https://www.mtrcustomleather.com

Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/MTRCustomLeather/
https://twitter.com/MTRCustomLthr
http://www.instagram.com/mtrcustomleather.com
https://www.pinterest.com/mtrcustomle0877/pins/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtRq6Rq87k-NteeBKQpOYGg
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtrcustomleather
https://www.tiktok.com/@mtrcustomleather?_t=8gcY88UyRJb&_r=1

Affiliate Program Link: leather, leather tools, patterns and more click the link below:
https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/?ref=mtrcl
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=8004446

Customer Service:
em: sales@mtrcustomleather.com
ph: (336) 879-2166 or (336) 879-2767

Check out our sister site: Tactical Gear, holsters, concealment bags, light and lasers attachments, ar parts and more!
http://www.southernedc.com

Check out our EBAY Store:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/mtrcustomleather

After Hours:
*Feel free to google message us or facebook message us
*Visit our site for a fast response with our LIVECHAT experience
https://direct.lc.chat/10104497/

Daily Blogs:
https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/blog-2/blog/

FAQs Questions are Answered:
https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/faqs/

Join our loyalty Program/Brand Ambassador:
https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/contact/

 

Update-NEW ARMALASERS Available for ALL Leather Holsters! Trigger Guard Mounted Lasers-Green & Red

Update-NEW ARMALASERS Available for ALL Leather Holsters! Trigger Guard Mounted Lasers-Green & Red

 

TR-Series

Touch Sensor is located in the PERFECT spot

Right at the point where the trigger guard and pistol grip meet. Where your middle finger naturally rests.

All TR models turn on by human touch, not by a mechanical switch or button. As soon as you grasp your pistol, the True-Touch Activation sensor will turn the laser on and keep it on as long as you’re grasping the grip.

It is seamless and immediate and requires no button to be pushed or secondary operation. Move your middle finger forward and the laser will shut off.

U.S. Patent 9,328,994
Additional Patents Pending

Yes, the laser activates just by gripping your pistol.

IMMEDIATE! Without having to think about it, the TR will throw out the most powerful laser beam the law will allow as soon as you grasp your pistol, accurately and immediately. Using human touch, True Touch Technology, you’ll have a normal, natural feel without an awkward push button on the grip.

Available in both Green and Red!

ArmaLaser only uses the 635nm wavelength in our red lasers. 635nm is up to 5 times brighter than standard 650nm lasers.

For the highest visibility, green lasers can’t be beaten. ArmaLaser green lasers have the highest battery life of any concealed carry laser.

VIEW PRODUCTS

Updated Alaskan Chest Rig-Make it into a Drop Leg and Paddle Holster

Alaska Style Hunter’s Rig (C-4)

Designed for hunters who want the weight of the gun to be spread over the back and shoulders. Made for small or large weapons! You design it and we build it! Made in USA <N.C.>

Choose an extra attachment to wear the holster part on the Alaskan Rig on the leg or on the belt.
Drop Leg Attachment comes with: Leg Strap, Drop Leg Shank & Hardware to wear holster on the upper part of the thigh
Paddle– Plastic Paddle with additional holes on the back to adjust the holster to wear on the OWB

DROP LEG OPTION:

Uses same holster on the Alaskan Chest Rig

Our Hunter Rig is a cross the chest shoulder style holster that includes fully adjustable straps and allows ease of use while sitting in a deer stand. Also known as, “Alaska Style Holster”. A lot of people like to use this style of holster for outdoor activities like hunting, hiking and horse back riding. The three straps on the harness are 34″ long and will need to be adjusted and trimmed to your desired fit for comfortable all day carry. The 3 straps aid in the retention of the rig against the body. Keeping the rig nice and secure without worry. This holster includes a tie down as well as a 2-1/4″ wide suede lined shoulder strap for more comfort. The Hunter Rig is fully smooth lined with leather and comes with all stainless steel and black anodized hardware. You can purchase one Hunter’s Rig for one weapon. Than you can purchase just the holster part of the rig for different weapons and interchange them. We can custom make the Hunter’s Rig for several weapons with after market sights and scopes. These are done on request by email or phone call. This holster is the ultimate Hunters Rig.

Paddle Holster Uses same Holster on the Alaskan Chest Rig:

Buy Yours Today:

Alaska Style Hunter’s Rig (C-4)

Pistol CZ USA SHADOW 2 COMPACT NEW Weapon for Custom Leather Holsters-USA

Pistol CZ SHADOW 2 COMPACT

The CZ SHADOW 2 COMPACT is an ideal, compact sized firearm for users and fans of the CZ SHADOW 2 models, which are extremely popular choices for competitors in the IPSC PRODUCTION and PRODUCTION OPTICS divisions.

With a reduction in size, and a significant reduction in weight, the CZ SHADOW 2 COMPACT retains the same key features, shooting comfort and accuracy that have contributed to the CZ SHADOW 2 series winning the world’s most prestigious championships. Its compact dimensions and light weight ensure comfortable all day carry and make it a perfect choice for concealed carry.

Check out the category of holsters available for the CZ Shadow 2 Compact

New Holster Alert!! Platinum Edition A-5 Deluxe Full Size Quick Snap Leather Holster-Coupon Code in BLOG

New Holster Alert!! Platinum Edition A-5 Deluxe Full Size Quick Snap Leather Holster

Platinum Edition (A-5)

Features:

 

  • Upgraded Full Black Tiger Shark with a platinum full stingray inlay (water resistant and scratch resistant)

  • Double layer reinforced mouth piece provides easy eyes off reholstering

  • Custom Hand-Molded to each firearm of choice for better retention

  • Full Combat grip accessibility allows an instant shooting grip

  • Molded sight rail to prevent snags on draw

  • Full slide/barrel coverage

  • Butt-forward cant allows effective concealment

  • Wide platform to enable contouring of the holster for better concealment

  • Fits belts up to 1 3/4″ single layer or nylon belts

10% off this only holster because we know your going to love it. Limited edition platinum stingray leather.

Coupon Code> Platinum10

https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/product/black-label-chrome-edition-a-5/ 

SALE $10 off Any Ukoala Concealment bag- UUB

Sweet treat on all concealed carry backpacks, Fanny packs, hip bags, shoulder bags, chest bags, etc. Use code SWEETTREAT

Bersa Firearms Leather Holsters Available for All Makes and Models-MTR Custom Leather

 

The Bersa Thunder 380 has become an icon in its caliber being the number 1 in its segment in most markets of the world thank to its compact design, precision, and absolute reliability.

An icon of a bullet to represent the gun's caliber

380 ACP

An icon of a gun magazine with bullets to represent the gun's bullet capacity

8+1

An icon of a gun's barrel to represent the gun's barrel length

4.3″

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM

An icon of a gun's trigger to represent the action of the gun

DA/SA

An icon of a scale to represent the gun's weight

20OZ

MAIN FEATURES

 

 

THUNDER

MICRO-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 380 X

 

380 ACP

 

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
339.99
VIEW
SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE
CERATOKE NICKEL COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 380 PLUS

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
399.99
VIEW
SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 380 COMBAT PLUS

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
419.99
VIEW
MICRO-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 380 CC

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
339.99
VIEW
MICRO-COMPACT

 

BLACK CHERRY COLOUR IMAGE
MATTE COLOUR IMAGE
DUOTONE COLOUR IMAGE
CERATOKE NICKEL COLOUR IMAGE
CERAKOTE ROBIN EGG BLUE COLOUR IMAGE
CERAKOTE PURPLE COLOUR IMAGE
CERAKOTE PINK COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 380

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
329.99
VIEW
MICRO-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

THUNDER 22 X

22 LR CALIBER ICON

22 LR

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
339.99
VIEW
MICRO-COMPACT

 

BP

SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

BP9CC X

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

POLYMER MATERIAL ICON

POLYMER
MSRP
$
369.99
VIEW
SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

BP9CC CT RED DOT

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

POLYMER MATERIAL ICON

POLYMER
MSRP
$
459.99
VIEW
SUB-COMPACT

 

URBAN GRAY COLOUR IMAGE
OLIVE DRAB COLOUR IMAGE
MATTE COLOUR IMAGE
FULL FLAT DARK EARTH CERAKOTE COLOUR IMAGE
FLAT DARK EARTH COLOUR IMAGE
DUOTONE COLOUR IMAGE

BP9CC

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

POLYMER MATERIAL ICON

POLYMER
MSRP
$
359.99
VIEW
SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

BP380CC

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

POLYMER MATERIAL ICON

POLYMER
MSRP
$
329.99
VIEW

TPR

SUB-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR 380 PLUS

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
399.99
VIEW
MICRO-COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR 380

380 ACP CALIBER ICON

380 ACP

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
329.99
VIEW
COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR9C X

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
529.99
VIEW
COMPACT

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE
DUOTONE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR9C

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
499.99
VIEW
FULL-SIZE

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR9 XT

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
899.99
VIEW
FULL-SIZE

 

MATTE COLOUR IMAGE

TPR9

9MM LUGER CALIBER ICON

9MM LUGER

ALUMINIUM MATERIAL ICON

ALUMINIUM
MSRP
$
494.99
VIEW
Scroll to top