<metaproperty="og:image:alt"content="two pieces of a chest harness sitting on a messy workbench. both pieces are about 8 inches long total and consist of two large o-rings joined by a dark teal leather strap. the o rings and rivets are matte black.">
<imgsrc="/img/leather-harness-wip.jpg"alt="two pieces of a chest harness sitting on a messy workbench. both pieces are about 8 inches long total and consist of two large o-rings joined by a dark teal leather strap. the o rings and rivets are matte black."loading="lazy"decoding="async"width="1000"height="750">
<h2id="practices">practices</h2>
<ul>
<li>cardboard templates have been really handy for the spacing of rivets and such. I use cereal boxes since they are not corrugated.</li>
</ul>
<h2id="tools">tools</h2>
<p>If I have linked a tool, I really like that specific tool and find it stands out. Otherwise, idk, I've used precisely one edge beveler, I have no idea how it compares.</p>
<ul>
<li>(need to have) some kind of scratch awl for marking</li>
<li>(need to have) cutproof mat</li>
<li>(need to have basically whenever you are using a mallet) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/cutting-board-multiple-sizes/"target="_blank"rel="external">"poundo board" or cutting board</a> (this is just an example, I got mine elsewhere) - importantly, this is distinct from your cutproof mat. you <em>can</em> use this in place of your cutproof mat but it tends to pick up a lot of punctures which can leave indents in your leather with pressure - so I only use mine for mallet-ing and otherwise use my cutproof mat</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/products/pattern-sheet-24-x-45"target="_blank"rel="external">pattern plastic</a> - but like I said above you can use non-corrugated cardboard</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-acrylic-tool-leather-thickness-gauge/"target="_blank"rel="external">acrylic leather thickness gauge</a> - but you can also just use a ruler or calipers, or learn to gauge by eye/feel</li>
</ul>
<h3id="cutting">cutting</h3>
<ul>
<li>(need to have) metal cork-backed ruler (cork backing will keep it from slip-sliding around)</li>
<li>(nice to have, but any sharp blade will do) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/ergo-kiwi-knife-2-0/"target="_blank"rel="external">ergo kiwi knife</a></li>
<li>(nice to have for harnesses, belts) strap cutter</li>
<li>(nice to have for small objects with a lot of layers at the seams, like wallets) skiving knife of some kind. there's a lot of different types out there. I have a CS Osborne leather knife and I don't love it, but idk if that's just because I am still learning how to skive.
<ul>
<li>you're supposed to skive on a fucken <ahref="https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/products/marble-tooling-slab"target="_blank"rel="external">rock</a> so as not to absolutely wreck your cutproof mat. I haven't got my rock yet but I haven't ruined my mat yet either.</li>
<li>ok so I got a <ahref="https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/products/flat-leather-knife"target="_blank"rel="external">skiving knife</a> from Weaver and it <em>definitely</em> beats out the CS Osborne leather knife</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3id="edging-and-burnishing">edging and burnishing</h3>
<ul>
<li>(nice to have) edge beveler</li>
<li>(need to have) sandpaper in maybe two grits. I have 100 and 600 sitting around right now</li>
<li>(need to have) some small pieces of heavy canvas</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/seiwa-tokonole-leather-burnishing-gum-multiple-sizes-colors/"target="_blank"rel="external">tokonole!!!</a>
<ul>
<li>tokonole can even burnish chrome tan leather and flesh side of veg tan</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/leather-edge-slicker-burnishing-tool-beech-wood/"target="_blank"rel="external">wooden edge burnishing tool</a> but tbh I find myself just using canvas instead of my burnishing tool
<ul>
<li>you can also use wooden tool handles, if you have for example an edge beveler with a wooden handle sitting around</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(nice to have/need to have if you don't get tokonole) beeswax</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.dickblick.com/items/lineco-micro-spatula-flat/"target="_blank"rel="external">micro spatula</a> - I bought this for bookbinding but I find it useful for applying tokonole or doing other odd lil jobs</li>
</ul>
<h3id="punching">punching</h3>
<ul>
<li>(need to have) a mallet or something for hitting things. yes there are $100 mauls you can buy. idk a shitty mallet is working fine for me so far
<ul>
<li>alright i splurged on a maul and it was worth it. dammit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(nice to have) <ahref="https://www.talasonline.com/Japanese-Push-Drill"target="_blank"rel="external">japanese push drill</a> and <ahref="https://www.talasonline.com/Japanese-Push-Drill-Replacement-Bits":target="_blank">bits</a></li>
<li>if you don't want to go in on a $50 push drill, start with just some simple <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/245-belt-punch-multiple-sizes/"target="_blank"rel="external">single-hole punches</a> or a <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/223-revolving-punch/":target="_blank">rotary punch</a>. rotary punches are pretty heavily recommended since they come with a range of punch sizes; I avoid them like the plague because I have small shitty hands and I think those would pair poorly with a rotary punch.</li>
<li>if you're going to be attaching buckles, you'll need oblong holes for the buckle tongue. two options:
<ul>
<li>punch a standard hole at each end of your eventual oblong, then using a ruler and sharp small blade cut between those holes to create your oblong
<imgsrc="/img/oblong-punch-alternative.jpg"alt="A small piece of leather showing the steps to creating an oblong hole. First there is just a straight 1-inch line drawn by scratch awl. Holes are punched at both ends of that line. Two cuts are made coming from the right-side hole inwards (shown by arrows), about halfway. Similar cuts are then made from the left-hand hole inwards to meet them."loading="lazy"decoding="async"width="1000"height="1000"></li>
<li>get an <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/151-bag-punch-multiple-sizes/"target="_blank"rel="external">oblong punch</a>. shaped punches are <em>expensive as shit</em> but if you're doing more than a few buckles this is worth it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>another shaped punch: the <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/0150-strap-end-punch-english-point-multiple-sizes-1/"target="_blank"rel="external">english point strap end punch</a>. I don't own this yet but am heavily considering it if I am going to make more harnesses (and I am). you don't specifically need english point - there's other strap end styles - but having <em>a</em> strap end punch in the size of your choosing is useful for harnesses, belts, anything with a lot of straps.
<ul>
<li>with strap end punches, you can use a larger punch on a smaller strap (for an imperfect result, tbf) but not vice versa</li>
<li>there are also strap end acrylic templates out there on several retailers sites - I have a tandy one</li>
<li>for any given size/brand of rivets, you can usually buy a <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-rivet-setter-9-2mm-concave-end/"target="_blank"rel="external">setter</a> and <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-rivet-setter-base-for-9-2-11-13mm-cap-rivets/":target="_blank">anvil</a> for maybe $25 together
<ul>
<li>also I have one extra of both of those specific linked items, so if you're short on cash lmk and I will ship em to ya - since I have switched over to the next option</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>however, if you think you might get really into leatherworking, or if you think you will be getting multiple sizes of rivets, attaching snaps, attaching other types of rivet-style clasps, whatever, I would highly recommend <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-setter-post-base-for-screw-in-dies/"target="_blank"rel="external">this setter post and base</a> and <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-rivet-setter-die-multiple-sizes-requires-hand-tool-post-base-or-bg-hand-press/":target="_blank">a rivet setter die</a> or whichever setter die you need for your specific thing
<ul>
<li>these dies also work with <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/bg-180-convertible-hand-or-foot-press/"target="_blank"rel="external">larger presses</a> and make it much more possible to transition from a hand press to a full press without having to re-buy all your dies</li>
<li>according to Corter Leather at the very least (I don't really have the experience to make a full comparison) this system is much more reliable for well-balanced, well-rounded rivets, snaps, etc</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3id="stitching">stitching</h3>
<ul>
<li>(nice to have) wing divider for drawing stitching lines</li>
<li>(need to have) stitching chisels! if you want to save some money, you mostly need the 6-tooth and the 2-tooth - 6 for straightaways, 2 for curves. I occasionally use my 4-tooth and <em>very</em> occasionally use my 1-tooth (except for zippers. if you wanna do zippers get a 1-tooth).
<ul>
<li>my stitching chisels are 4mm spacing. I picked this pretty arbitrarily :)</li>
<li>technically you could just buy a diamond awl or a 1-tooth chisel and poke each hole individually and that <em>would</em> be cheaper but oh my god love yourself</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(nice to have, any needles will do but oh my god these are pretty hashtag worth) <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/517-harness-needles-for-hand-sewing-blunt-tip-5-needles/"target="_blank"rel="external">cs osborne harness needles, blunt tip</a></li>
<li>(need to have) thread - I am using <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/ritza-25-tiger-thread/"target="_blank"rel="external">Ritza 25 Tiger Thread</a> (currently I have the 1.0mm size. I find it a little large and will probably size down when I order other colors - update, sized down to .8 and even have some .6 - much preferable) and have also used <ahref="https://threadsofmeisi.com/collections/meisi-superfine-linen-threads":target="_blank">MeiSi Superfine Linen Thread</a> but polyester threads are easier to seal off with a lighter</li>
<li>(nice to have) some kind of <ahref="https://www.joann.com/needle-pullers-3-pkg/3500295.html"target="_blank"rel="external">silicone needle puller</a> (I don't actually have this one, I was having trouble finding what I have - little pink finger covers that are all grippy) for gripping needles. or just use the back of a mousepad? or something?</li>
</ul>
<h3id="tool-care">tool care</h3>
<ul>
<li>(need to have for certain blades such as skiving knife) jeweler's rouge for stropping
<ul>
<li>I am not an expert here so I am not making firm recommendations. I got mine from Springfield Leather</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3id="tooling">tooling</h3>
<ul>
<li>(need to have) swivel knife</li>
<li>(need to have) a beveler. I have a smooth beveler at the moment, but am waiting on a checked beveler in the mail as I think I will like that look better</li>
<li>(need to have) as mentioned previously, mallet or maul</li>
<li>(nice to have) literally any other stamps i guess</li>
<li>(nice to have) templates! it really helps to start out with some designs made for swivel knife. I got a few (both free and paid) from <ahref="https://www.dadhands.ca/"target="_blank"rel="external">dadhands</a></li>
</ul>
<h3id="zippers">zippers</h3>
<ul>
<li>okay so I bought them because they are pretty but these <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/riri-zipper-continuous-chain-combi-eloxal-teeth-elox/"target="_blank"rel="external">rainbow zippers</a> actually make it so much easier because you can differentiate each tooth from the next!!!</li>
<li>(nice to have) tape such as <ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/double-sided-tape/"target="_blank"rel="external">ted's tape</a></li>
</ul>
<h2id="resources">resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/@Corter"target="_blank"rel="external">Corter Leather on YouTube</a></li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/@Leodis.Leather"target="_blank"rel="external">Leodis Leather on YouTube</a></li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/@dadhands"target="_blank"rel="external">dadhands on YouTube</a></li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/@majutworks"target="_blank"rel="external">Maju T Works on YouTube</a></li>
</ul>
<h2id="retailers">retailers</h2>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://www.buckleguy.com/"target="_blank"rel="external">buckleguy</a> has been super speedy and reliable so far - for sure my favorite</li>
