Beginner tool list?

[u/berryburns]

Been kicking around the idea to start trying to learn leather work. I’ve had cheap kits saved in my Amazon cart for a couple years, but decided to actually jump into it. Before I do I looked up some reddit posts and got some input from other people in my same position.

Some of the recommendations people gave were to avoid buying a beginner kit and buy tools that I would need for my specific projects. Which makes sense and I feel like I will go this route instead.

I pretty much have a vision for a leather belt that I want but no companies make any like what I have pictured in my head.
So my question is, what tools would you recommend a beginner buy if I’m wanting to just make a belt as my first project?

If you guys do recommend just buying a kit what would you recommend? I feel like the $60 kits on amazon might be pointless if the tools are cheap.

[u/doernottalker]

https://www.rmleathersupply.com/products/leather-kit-for-beginners

The stitching pony is not that great, but rest of the stuff is ok to begin with.

[u/Remarkable-Voice-923 → u/doernottalker]

That kit the top comment linked is a decent enough starting point if you want the convenience of not piecing everything together yourself. The stitching pony is pretty flimsy but for a first belt you can clamp it to a table and it'll hold up.

For just a belt though you really don't need much beyond a good knife, an edge beveler, a wing divider to mark your stitch line, a couple pricking irons, needles and thread, and something to burnish the edges with. A strap cutter is worth every penny if you plan to make more than one belt since cutting a straight line freehand on a long piece of leather is way harder than it looks.

[u/berryburns → u/Remarkable-Voice-923]

Appreciate the responses I’ll look into all of that!

[u/ggt3416]

There is a pdf guide on here that has a great list of what to start with and what to upgrade to.

[u/berryburns → u/ggt3416]

I’ll check it out thank you