Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/
/6118-00.aspx), and a mallet or hammer of some kind. A shader of some kind is
nice, too, but in a pinch you can use a spoon or anything with a flat to it. Here's a
nice starter kit on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Springfield-Leather-
Companys-Basic-Carving/dp/B00ATT9Y0E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&
qid=1462246273&sr=8-5&keywords=leather+carving+tools) that has everything
you need to get started. Tandy Leather also has some good starter kits that
come with little pieces of leather and patterns.

A note on designs:

Get creative. People always do leaves and flowers--that's what I did too--but
there are some other really nice designs you can do. Look for inspiration on
google images (try searching for tooled leather saddles) and then try something
new.

Step 1: Transfer Your Design to the Leather

(https://cdn.instructables.com/F49/BOLW/HOSP40ZS/F49BOLWHOSP40ZS.MEDIUM.jpg)

(https://cdn.instructables.com/F5W/SQTW/HOSLKIPU/F5WSQTWHOSLKIPU.MEDIUM.jpg)

There are a couple standard ways to go about getting your design onto the
leather.

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/
Method 1: Transfer from a printout.
This is probably the safer way to go, and it's pretty easy to do.
1. Print out a design.
2. Get the leather a little bit wet*.
3. Put the design on the leather, ink-side up.
4. Trace the design (you can use a special tool called a stylus, or a pencil, or
anything that will leave a bit of a dent on the leather).
*Wet the leather with a sponge on both sides, or run it quickly under the faucet.
Don't get it sopping wet, like with puddles, because it'll start to get mushy. But
you can put quite a bit of water on there.

Method 2: Freehand
I prefer this method, partially because I'm lazy, and partially because I like to
make it up as I go. Usually I'll draw a sketch, decide what I like and don't like
about it, and then draw a modified version on the leather. In this case, I got the
leather a little wet so there would be a dent where I drew.

Step 2: Cut the Lines

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FXP/MHH0/HOSOPCFK/FXPMHH0HOSOPCFK.MEDIUM.jpg)

/FA9QHD9HOSKU3R2.MEDIUM.jpg
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(https://cdn.instructables.com
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/FO1JFGYHOSVZXMF.MEDIUM.jpg
(https://cdn.instructables.com
/FO1/JFGY/HOSVZXMF

Use the swivel knife to cut the lines.

Yes, you actually cut the leather wherever you want there to be a bold line or
edge. Don't cut all the way through, but do cut about half-way. My first time
tooling leather, I was so afraid of messing something up that I went really
shallow with all the steps... and got a pretty boring, flat looking design. Be bold.

Warning: you may be tempted to stop after this step, because it's going to look
pretty awesome already. Don't do it. Better things are yet to come.

The pictures show a good way to hold the swivel knife. It can swivel (thus the
name), which allows you to cut really clean lines pretty easily. Keep it sharp.

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/
Step 3: Bevel the Edges

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FLT/ZH4S/HOSLXGNZ/FLTZH4SHOSLXGNZ.MEDIUM.jpg)

/HOSKU3S0/F4FHJX3HOSKU3S0.MEDIUM.jpg)
(https://cdn.instructables.com/F4F/HJX3 (https://cdn.instructables.com/F2J/C9HM
/F2JC9HMHOSOXRAV.MEDIUM.jpg)
/HOSOXRAV

There's a special beveling tool that can do this. You can also use a spoon. I got
this great tool somewhere (if anybody knows what it's called, let me know--the
other end is a stylus) that has a nice, narrow little flat that works really well. I'm
sure this isn't the intended use of this tool, but it works.

The idea is to bevel edges that you really want to stand out. Try beveling one
side of a cut and not the other, or the outside of petals... or whatever needs
beveling.

Step 4: Add Little Cutesy Stuff

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FK3/7WPY/HOSVZXYX/FK37WPYHOSVZXYX.MEDIUM.jpg)

(https://cdn.instructables.com/F8H/1NQC
/F8H1NQCHOSKU3SN.MEDIUM.jpg)
/HOSKU3SN
(https://cdn.instructables.com/FBY/FPK7
/FBYFPK7HOSLKDKY.MEDIUM.jpg)
/HOSLKDKY

To be honest, the real work is already done. There are about a bazillion cool little
stamps you can use now, but go easy--too many of these can end up taking
something elegant and making it look cheesy (to me, at least).

One good tool is a "seeder", which makes little circles that look like the seeds in
plants or flowers. Another is a "camouflage tool", which can make cool little
dimples in leaves.

Step 5: Fill in the Background

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FFF/0XI0/HOSVZY6I/FFF0XI0HOSVZY6I.MEDIUM.jpg)

(https://cdn.instructables.com/F14/BHS2/HOSP415E
/F14BHS2HOSP415E.MEDIUM.jpg)

This is a time consuming--but essential--step. And it's really simple. Take a

background tool and stamp down all the background. Again, be bold. Kindof
stamping down the background will make your designs kindof stand out. Really
stamping it down (within reason) will make them really stand out.

Step 6: Add Finishing Touches / Edits

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FBP/MYX0/HOSLXGOQ/FBPMYX0HOSLXGOQ.MEDIUM.jpg)

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FZT/XE1D/HOSOPCHN/FZTXE1DHOSOPCHN.MEDIUM.jpg)

I decided, at this point, that I wanted some lines on my leaves. I also decided
that one of my stems was too thick, so I cut a thinner one and background-
tooled down the old lines. If you have similar mods to do, do them now. The next
(and final) step is finishing the leather.

Step 7: Finish the Leather

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FZR/DEVQ/HOSOXRFJ/FZRDEVQHOSOXRFJ.MEDIUM.jpg)

There are a dozen ways to do this, and I don't know enough about them to give
much advice. (I would love for some of the people with more experience than
me to share their knowledge on finishes in the comments).

I experimented on scrap pieces with some clear coats and stains that came with
a starter kit I had, but didn't like the results. I ended up rubbing in Neat's Foot oil
with an old sock. This really isn't a "finish", per se... it softens the leather (I was
afraid this might mute the tooling, but it didn't seem to do so), but it doesn't seal
it. To me, that's ok. If the leather gets a little weathered and develops a bit of a
patina, I'll be happy.

Step 8: Enjoy Your Masterpiece

/HOSP416H/F2XS1DKHOSP416H.MEDIUM.jpg)
(https://cdn.instructables.com/F2X/S1DK

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Tooling a Simple Leather Purse: 8 Steps (with Pictures) https://www.instructables.com/id/Tooling-a-Simple-Leather-Purse/

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FBR/KAUO/HOTJ2BMM/FBRKAUOHOTJ2BMM.MEDIUM.jpg)

Your tooled leather will look good for years to come. I still use the wallet I made
in high school. After ten years of being sat on--and falling in the water, and
having to be re-laced--the tooling still looks as good (or bad) as it ever did. My
brother still uses a belt I made about the same time, and it's still in good shape.

Bonus Tip: If you want to take nice pictures of your leatherwork, set up some
strong lighting from the side. This really brings out the texture and lets the
picture show what's going on down there (the lighting in these pictures might be
a little too strong, but you get the idea).

Thanks for reading!

Comments

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arofiqy (/member/arofiqy/) 2017-05-02 Reply

How thick is the leather?

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solobo (/member/solobo/) (author) arofiqy (/member/arofiqy/) 2017-05-04 Reply

6-8 oz (3/32 - 1/8" thick)

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arofiqy (/member/arofiqy/) solobo (/member/solobo/)

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