Hello guys,can anyone point me in the direction of a good skiving knife? I live in Europe so I’d prefer a European seller. For reference,I’ve used the cheapo Amazon skiving knife (the one with the red handle and “Japanese” markings on it) and,through a bit of modification (mainly changing the angle of the bevel since it was way too obtuse to work) I got it working nicely. Only issue is it doesn’t keep an edge worth a damn, so I’ve finally chosen to upgrade. I don’t care for fancy wood handles etc, I need a functional knife that keeps an edge for many uses.

Will the parts be fully black if I’d dye it black? Or will it start peeling off after a while?

I have no idea what the stains are. I tried saddle soap, cuticle remover, alcohol and even dish soap. Any other treatments I can try?

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I'm completely new to leatherworking and want to learn techniques on some leather with little to no value (as a form of respect for the animal, for the sake of my money and not to spoil a piece of leather I could have used with technique) before starting a real project. So I thought I could get someones old couch they don't use because it's damaged or just don't have a use for it anymore. I read most leather couches were chrome tanned leather so could it be convenient for this use ? To find these furnitures I'd use "leboncoin" which is a french platform for that but I think there are international alternatives like facebook marketplace or idk. So now my issue is to know from pictures random post if it's leather or not : Imma give some example pics shown on the site, could you help me and all the readers find the signs that can tell it's real leather or not ? Here a some pictures

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Thanks !

I recently bought a big box of old leather goods from someone (some of the dates and notes in the box are from the 30s-80s). I can tell that someone spent a lot of time and effort making these pieces, so I want to clean and restore them to good shape. I’ll be posting more pictures with more questions but I’ll start with this:

How should I clean this residue from this key holder? It feels like the residue from a sticker.

Hi, I've never touched leatherwork before and I like to challenge myself. I'm a carpenter by trade and I'd love to make myself a custom tool belt nobody has ever seen before so I wouldnt be following a pattern. However whenever I look up starting kits, they're all wildly different. I want to make a few different sized pouches, with pockets and other spots to put only shaped items like a cats paw and tape measure holder. I'd love to add rivets on some corners because I like that look.

So if anyone could recommend a budget tool list and the type of leather I'd need (it's gotta be durable) that would be awesome. As well as any hardware (i.e. belt buckle, rivets, d rings) ((I'd also like to attach my suspension harness))

Thank you in advance!

Edit: I realized just now that I can use the belt and suspension harness I currently own for that part, I'd love to make the pouches and holders exactly how I want them. (There's always something I wish I could change about store bought nylons. And occidental is way out of my budget)

I've watched a few videos, read a couple of guides, and they're very contradictory, so I figured I'd ask on here.

Clearly I need stitching chisels. Is there a best size for starting off? (I'll be going the standard route of making square wallets etc at first).

What else should I be picking up? A leatherworking mallet, needles, thread? Anything else?

How to tell or test if the leather is chrome tanned or vegetable tanned leather? Looking to re-dye this couch and would like to know what I'm working with. I placed water drops on the leather to see if it will absorb at all and it did quickly.

Would a small square wallet be one of them?

What was the difficulty level? How long did it take? And if you were to tell yourself one thing when you first started, what would it be?

What do you guys use for leather shops? Do you rent another room, have a shipping container etc? Also would love organization ideas too!

I use Aquilim 315 to glue the edges of sheaths and journals. I use a Sailrite Fabricator with leather kit for sewing. Sometimes my stitches are perfect. Sometimes the needle comes out all gunked up and the thread tears in the needle eye.

It’s obvious that the glue is gummed up on the needle, but I don’t know why it sometimes happens and sometimes not.

I have sewed within 15 mins of glueing and it comes out perfect. I have also let projects sit for a day or more and the stitches still come out all gummed up. What’s the issue? The machine stitches perfectly without glue, but I need to use glue sometimes.

Anyone know how to add sheen to leather? I bought a pair of shoes and one shoe is shiny and nice and the other shoe is dull. Unfortunately i cant returned them. If i run my fingers on the shoe with the sheen, I can feel how there's something on the leather. The other shoe, the dull leather one, feel smooth. I can tell there's by rubbing my fingers on it. I tried otter wax leather oil but I didn't get the desired sheen I wanted. Then, I tried fiebing's leather sheen but still no glossy sheen. Some one on YouTube quick shine floor finish. I'm afraid of using that and then cracks showing when flexing and creasing the shoe.

I wasn't sure where to post this questions, so sorry if this isn't the right place. I have a fur purse someone gave me 10+ years ago from the thrift store. It's a simple bag. I haven't really taken care of it. It's usually just thrown inside other bags/suitcases in the closet. Now it's all crinkled? And doesn't have a good shape. Is there a way to smooth it out? I dont know much about leather or if you would treat fur the same way. The inside of the bag is the skin. Can I soften that?

Thanks for the advice. Sorry again if this isn't the right place.

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but does anyone know if there is a way to to remove the stains on the side of this red the right place to ask this, but does anyone know if there is a way to remove the stains on the side of this Red Wings boot? I don’t know what caused them. Thank you so much!

I've kept this bag for a long time and it's metallic color is in a sad state now. But the leather is still in excellent condition. Is there anyway I can restore it? Maybe leather paint? Repaint the whole piece silver or can I change it to brown?

To make this bag, I used 0.4 sqm (4 sq ft) and 5-6 hours. It is handmade, handstitched.

https://preview.redd.it/hnkfykvh3vld1.jpg?width=4764&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fea6f6e27840d0f315b7af75b2b3f737541326f7

https://preview.redd.it/uotxengl3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b2c2f1e6aa0c61259e8278e8eb8a866e075f405

https://preview.redd.it/y5rqdpgl3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a233ba07ad55ec6243746a9a0d9ac0617bb2009

https://preview.redd.it/p5oj8zil3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ce3fa5dc309ed14486d127c4cb1b161e3293e22

https://preview.redd.it/s3f8ungl3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5abdce28006b8e5ed05091af4190f7f797f51ef4

https://preview.redd.it/jkkaingl3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47d15670b89001d21b6edb22330b32b5bdd68089

https://preview.redd.it/6q8dxugl3vld1.jpg?width=2700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=503cf325ebf3b36527b4aa0fd5e65ed86238fa05

I used to make simple leather notebook covers. Just the most "this isn't really leatherworking" bog standard "rectangular piece of leather with 5 holes in it." No sewing, nothing.

Well, it's been a decade and a good friend with an upcoming birthday saw one of my notebooks (like a midori traveller, but in 8.5x5.5") and her eyes went wide.

I don't want to spend days and days re-experimenting with neatsfoot oil and such, trying to figure out the right way to make a relatively thick piece of veg tan (I...couldn't tell you the weight) supple enough to use for this purpose.

What would be y'all's best shot? I know "over time it will soften." But I really want to be able to hand her something that doesn't need 2 years of banging around to "get good" as much as I love that about mine.

Any tips?

EDIT: When I've tried various oils that have worked, the bleed into the paper has been just prohibitive and taken months to subside so I...DON'T think that's the way to go unless (which is certainly true) I'm doing it wrong.

I'm wondering, roughly how much space would you say a person would need to have in order to start out with some simple leather working projects? I have a decent sized work table and some storage for tools, but is there any obvious things that a newbie might miss? Similar to how if you want to start a woodshop, you need more than just a saw and a drill.

Cheers and thanks in advance!