Tools Of The Trade

I need many different tools for making my items. Some people don't realise the amount one needs. It can be hard to find tools you feel comfortable with and you may have to buy several different makes then sell the others. These tools can make or break an item and you become quite attached to them as they stay with you for life if you look after them.

The Round knife - Round knives are the traditional saddlers knife, their curved shape providing greater maneuverability and cutting power. The larger sizes are for heavier work.

Japanese Style Skiving Knife - This is a great tool for thinning leather, cutting diagnol edges or creasing leather. The wooden handle fits comfortably in the hand and the sharp hardened steel blade will stay sharp.

French Pattern Knife - Similar to the bridle cutters knife but smaller and has more edges.

Adjustable Creaser - Used to make creases along a borders, parallel lines for tooling and guide lines for punching lacing slits. This tool adjusts easily and quickly with the screw in the tip.

Hollow Edge Shaves - Used to take a round round edge off leather work to prevent chaffing and gives a neater finish.

Stitch Markers - Used to make stitch marks on the leather for even stitch sizes.

Wing dividers are used to mark holes to keep them all at the same distance.

Saddlers hammer used for driving nails into heavier work and flattening down edges on some leather.

Strap cutter is used to cut long strips of leather.

I use nylon mallets when stitch marking or hitting metal tools to save my tools from being damaged.

Stitching clams hold your work while you stitch, leaving two hands free. There are many different designs, I prefer this type as I work at shows or clients homes often and these are easy to carry and comfortable to use.

I need a selection of awls and needles. Smaller awls for finer work and heavier awls for thicker work. Needles are blunt so save catching leather, however a blunt needle in your finger hurts more than a pointed one!

Need lots of different sizes of hole punches.

Crew punches are long oval punches used on buckle ends so as the leather wraps around a buckle, there is a long enough hold for the buckles tongue to sit in.

Church window punches. Needs several sizes.

A leather skiver, every saddlers dream toy! This handy tool splits leather meaning you can thin out ends and evenly. Not every saddler is lucky enough to own one of these at the start of their career however, I was, my Mother treated me to one and I must say, I use it constantly!

Glue is needed to hold parts together so you don't have slips and off stitching. After a few hours work on a depressing cold and wet morning, it can really cheer you up!

Mini clamps to hold things together after gluing waiting on stitching. Mini claps are always well received gifts for a saddler!!

Bees wax is used to cover the linen thread to help it last longer and protect the thread from moisture and dirt.

The vintage Singer 'Patcher' machine. Used mainly to repair boots as you can stitch in a square without having to turn the item!

Linen threads and nylon braided threads.

Leather edge dyes to seal and colour raw edges after hollow shaving.

Saddlers plough knife is used to cut thicker straps.

Buckles, D rings, O rings, clips and collar chains. I use millions of these!