Source for leather tools

C Craft

C Craft

Well-Known Member
I am looking for a source for quality leather tools and stamps. Tandy leather seems to be more in the business of selling memberships than leather tools and stamps. If buy there highest membership then you get the tool for the low price of X. In my opinion if you can sell it for that low price, then you are still making a profit. What a markup they have!!

Is tandy's stuff worth what they ask???

Is there another place to buy good stamps and tools??
 
I buy all my leather stuff from Springfield leather Cliff. I don't know that they have the best prices on everything but I've dealt with them for years so I pretty much stick with them. I also have found some stamps on ebay but like good tools, they hold their value so the deals are few and far between.
Personally, and it's probably just me, but I kind of avoid anything Tandy.
they have the stand out name but there's lots of other leather company's out there.
 
The way Tandy does business kind of sticks in my craw. If you can sell it for the low price, you are still making a profit, otherwise you don't stay in business!

I want to thank both of you Andrew and Steve!!

I bought Chuck Burrows 2 DVD set some time back but I have finally got around to watching it. Ole Chuck talks like you are just sitting right there with him but, it is the little things he says. Anyway, it has given me a renewed thought of doing some more fancy work on some sheaths. The little things that he shows in the video, is what I didn't like about my first time or two I tried it. It is not knowing those little tricks, that makes the big difference!!
 
I have quite a collection of stamps etc that I have never used. I got them with the intention of doing that to my sheaths but find that my style does not go with fancy work on the leather. Let me know if you are interested and I am sure we can work something out. Be good to think they would be used.
 
Von, I appreciate the offer. I would love to see New Zealand!!!! :p I have watched shows about hunting in NZ and the land is impressive!
 
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Craft I mostly own Tandy stamps. It is the closest leather store. I like the club pricing. It is a 2 hour drive and I buy in bulk for a years worth of stuff. For the $35 club fee I usually save $200. But, I have been looking at the online local sale stuff for leather stamp bargains. The last one I saw was 99 stamps for $200. I did not call in time and they sold almost immediately. Bummer!
 
Everyonce in a while you will see some good offers on eBay. Till you get to looking and it is stamps of butterfly's and flowers and, (well you get the picture)! Not that that stuff is not cute but, I am not looking for cute. If you know what I mean!!
 
This is what I have to trade with
elVudSQl.jpg
 
I've got a few from Tandy and they are great. I've got a few from ebay, some imported, and they are hit or miss. If you watch ebay regularly, sometimes somebody will post a huge batch of old leather tools they've found in grandpa's garage as one big lot. I got some super nice old stamps once that way and they ended up waaaay cheaper than the leather supply stores. If you use Facebook a lot, save a search on Marketplace for leather tools, you might get lucky and find some locally. I know one guy that bought a ton of tools for one of his kids, sent them to apprentice with a saddle maker, then the kid dropped out. I'm trying to convince him that he needs to let go and make me a deal!
 
If you want the ultimate go to eBay check out Barry King or his website custom stainless stamps
second Wayne Jueschke excellent in tool steel stamps again custom may have to go to his website

if you are in the area Wichita Falls TX is a site of a leather show the first weekend in October. They have a boot and saddle judging. Stampings out of this world. Cost is $10 to get in but worth it . Exotic leather sewing machines Tandy is there but there are better

I keep editing. Go to Leatherworker.net . They sell machines sometimes tools and leather but are kinda like this site but for leather. I enjoy it.
 
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Chris Railey said:
Thanks for this, I checked the site out I think I will order some leather form them. I have gotten mixed quality ordering off of the bay.
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I buy my Herman Oak leather from Springfield leather and have'nt been disapointed yet.
I used to drive about 30 miles to a Tandy to hand pick thru their leather, which always seemed like it took forever, then getting home, taking a good hard look at what I settled on and ending up disapointed.

And.....the last time I went there, I spent over $200.00 and at the counter I realized I needed some thin scrap I use to cover rivets on the inside of sheaths, so I went to the scrap box and picked out a thin piece of suede like 4" X 8". the promptly thru it on a scale and added like 75 cents, I know money is money but Jeesh...spending over $200.00 I'd have thought they would just thrown it in the package, wish me a good day and tell me they look forward to seeing me again.

Sorry, but that store sucked, and I can get better leather shipped from Springfield leather sight unseen than hand picked from that place.
 
Von Gruff said:
This is what I have to trade with
elVudSQl.jpg
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Von I appreciate that maybe someone else will be interested as I already have most of what you have pictured. So will pass but maybe some one else would be interested in a trade. Post them in The Classified on the forum!!

When I first started trying to stamp letter I bought a small set and then later some random pieces. I am looking to add a few more as of now. Mostly borders and such!!

I really do appreciate the offer Von! That is what I really like about this forum, everyone reach's out to help one another!!
 
Self Made Knives said:
If you use Facebook a lot, save a search on Marketplace for leather tools, you might get lucky and find some locally.
Click to expand...

Thanks I did not know that about FB. My account or should I say my wife's account and she tied my name to it so she could make two entries to some contest years ago!! I always say FB is where my kids go to show how stupid they can be!!:eek::D

We do not have a local Tandy but, sounds like I may not be missing a lot. I have bought some of mine thru Hobby Lobby and an ole woman I made friends with in the next town. She ran the leather shop after her husband died and she would work with me on leather and stamps.
When she sold it I went back one time and the new owners had lost their minds. Not content with a profit they were out to make a killing right out of the gates. I think they went out of business about a year after they bought it. The ole woman had run it for nearly 18 yrs after her husband passed and always made enough profit to stay in business!! :rolleyes:
 
I am about to sell my scrap Aluminum cans. Trump's tariff war has caused the scrap prices to go higher. I am also waiting on a refund for a piece of medical equipment to come back and then. I am going to go crazy and buy a whole hide from Wicket and Craig!

I told that to one of the sheath makers who does a bang up job. I am buying a hide. He goes, a "whole hide"!!! Well yeah, smarty. I ain't like and can purchase four or five at a time! Then again my sheaths do not fetch a price of $200 plus either!!!

I will say after watching the Chuck Burrows DVD's I think I know what to do that made my sheaths not in the range I wanted. He says in the video over and over it is the little details that make a sheath look professional or amateurish!! I picked up several things that I was doing wrong!! So anxious to give a go again!!
 
I am abe to buy double shoulders that are between 12 and 14 square feet so there is no neck or belly leather that is so often the cause of problems for sheath work. I got in a couple of them a few weeks back.
 
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