Take a Look at Some of the Best Leather Tooling Kits
When you buy leather furniture, you expect things to stay brand new. But life does happen, such as wear & tear. If your leather furniture is broken, you’d better like to patch it instead of repairing it—and discarding it. You may call a skilled polishing machine, but if your furnishings do not suffer a lot, the cost may not be worth it.
You should take care of it yourself with a leather restoration kit, rather than calling a pro for small leather furniture repairs. The best leather repair kits are simple to use, can mimic the original leather’s color and flair and use a high-quality material that is often much longer than the surrounding leather.
So, if you are in the market, read on to learn more about leather tool kits and see which ones are the best on the market.
Top picks
Most versatile: BAGRELA Leather Tool Kit
If you’re looking for a tool kit that’s very good and does all your leathering needs, this tool kit by BAGRELA will do the job.
Best overall: 273 Pieces Leather Working Tools and Supplies with Leather Tool Box by BAGRELA
If you are looking for one of the best leather tool kits out there, you should get this one by BAGRELA as it has 273 pieces for any job that you need to do that involves leather.
Best Price: Electop 31 Pcs Leather Sewing Tools DIY Leather Craft Tools Hand Stitching Tool Set
If you’re looking for a tool kit that’s beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, this tool kit by Electop is both for what you’re looking for, as it has 31 high-quality tools.
History of working with leather
Humans have been working with leather since at least the stone age. That’s thousands of years of humans doing leatherworking. In the bronze/iron age, humans looked for new ways to get creative with leather and make them in the many uses that we see today. When we got to the 8th century, the Greeks and Romans were using leather as sandals & handbags. The leathercraft saw an innovative and imaginative boom during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Today, you can find leather in any shape or form or color.
What to look for in a leather tooling kit
If you are a beginner, you’ll want to look for a kit that has at least the basics such as:
- Awl Haft
- Utility Knife
- Mallet
- Stitching Pony
- Stitching Groover
- Overstitch Wheel
- Strap End Punch
- Oblong Punch
- Steel Square
- Bump Jigs
- Skiver
- Belt blanks
- & many more
This is the very basics you’ll want in your leather tool kit, as there’s hundreds of tools that you can use for your first leather tooling kit that you can choose from.
What usually comes in a leather tooling tool kit?
For the basics it will at least have:
- Skiver
- Stitching Groover
- Mallet
- Leather needles
- OverStich Wheel
- Thread
- & more
It really depends on what you consider basic, as some leather tool kits will have just that or have hundreds more tools. It depends on the project you’re about to take up.
What kind of things can you make with leather?
You can make anything from purses, backpacks, a piece of clothing or even pockets, furniture layer and more. The possibilities are endless.
How to choose the right one for you
Here are some factors that will help you choose the right leather tool kits for you:
Color
This is obviously one of the most important factors because you’ll need to match the color you need for any project that you are doing or least some similarity to the color you are going to do leather work on.
Application
Various leather repair kits are available to remedy all manner of mishaps in furniture. Any kits can be used for almost all damage to the leather, from cutting, ripping and burning, to discoloration and stains. However, most leather repair kits have kits for cutting and tearing, splitting, burning and color renewal, abrasion and rubber.
Versatility
The flexibility of a leather repair kit is measured by the range of materials it may be used to repair and the amount of uses it has. Specialized repair kits will allow you to repair furniture, clothes, equipment, boots, and many more, with only one form of material, like leather shoes or car seats.
Accessories
Leather repair kits usually have a variety of accessories, such as multiple bits of the same material for major repairs or a variety of items for a wide range of repairs. A leather repair kit will usually include 10 to 25 parts.
If you are brand new to leather repair, you should watch instructional videos so that you can get an idea of how to repair and to make sure that you have all the tools you need for the leather work.
Top Leather Tool Kits
50 Pieces Leather Working Tools and Supplies
This leather tool kit by BAGERLA is an all in one that includes punching, sewing, carving, decorating gluing, and other functions. It also comes with a durable leather toolbox so that there’s somewhere to put all your tools in and you get an adjustable swivel knife (made out of stainless steel)/leather punch prong set. As part of the 50 pieces you get in this tool kit, you get the metal sewing awl and a 7 in 1 stitching groover. If you are on the crafty side, there’s also a leather stamping tool set. This tool kit is perfect for anyone who is either just getting into leatherworking or wants to, and this one has all the basic tools as well as additional tools should you want to be creative.
Pros:
- 50 pieces
- Comes with tool box
- Leather stamping kit
Cons:
- Quality may not be up to a crafter’s standards
273 Pieces Leather Working Tools and Supplies
Here is another BAGERLA leather tooling kit that was worthy of being on this list because while it’s not basic, it has 273 pieces. Yes, that’s a lot of tools, but if you’re experienced, you’ll enjoy this tool kit. You get a leather rivet kit, 20 tape leather stamp and letter numbers stamp set, leather hole punch, a mat hammer, needle straps/rivets and much more. Whether you need to stitch, punch, cut or sew, everything that you need is in this tool kit. It also helps that this tool kit comes in a durable leather case so you can keep all your tools in one place. This kit is a dream come true for the professional leather worker or even if you are brand new to leather working, you’ll feel you have all the tools you need to get started.
Pros:
- 273 pieces/tools
- Excellent for professional leather workers
- Comes with case to keep tools in
Cons:
- Not made in USA (if that matters)
- Might be overwhelming if new to leather workingLokunn 128 Pieces Leather Tool Kit
Lokunn 128 Pieces Leather Tool Kit
Here is an excellent leather tool kit by Lokunnn that’s excellent for beginners. It has 128 pieces, which also features the 7 in 1 groover tool, 4 pcs punch prong set, and of course the standard, such as mat hammer and much more. The quality is made out of high-quality steel so there shouldn’t be any issues as it’s durable and reliable. It also comes with 20 leather stamping sets, if you are into the crafts. There is a case that’s included where you can store all your tools in so you can keep everything organized. With all that said, that’s why as a beginner (or even if you’re experienced) you should get this leather tool kit and get started on your project today.
Pros:
- 128 pieces
- High quality steel pieces
- Tool case
Cons:
- Good for smaller jobs, may not be durable enough for larger jobs
Leathercraft Working Tool Kit with Saddle Making Tools Set
This leather tool kit by Mayboos is one you’ll want for your next project. It has 183 pieces, which includes 2 size leather rivets, 20 pc leather stamping tools, swivel knife, leathercraft waxed thread, a 4mm prong punch, scissors and 33 other tools for the beginner/experienced. We should note that it does not come with a toolbox or case, so that’s something you will have to purchase separately. But other than that, you can literally stitch, cut, stamp, sew leather into a variety of things which is the most important thing.
Pros:
- 183 pieces
- Good quality
- Good for beginners/experienced leather workers
Cons:
- Does not comes with any case/toolbox
BIGTEDDY – Leather Craft Basic Stitching Sewing Hand Tool Set
This leather tool kit by BIG TEDDY is a bargain for what you get. You get all the basics in a tool kit such as waxed threads, needles and spaces. You also get a groover and blades. While there isn’t much more than that, there are other options by this brand if you are looking to expand your tool set. If you are just starting out, this is an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly
- Basic tool kit
- High-quality materials
Cons:
- No case/toolbox included
Electop 31 Pcs Leather Sewing Tools
The Electop leatherworking kit has mostly everything that you need. It comes with 31 pieces with everything from groovers to scissor down to tape measure. You also get the 5 waxed threads (in 5 different colors) which is good because it may depend on the colors you need to sew or whatever you need to do to the leather. It doesn’t come with a toolbox or case, but you can do most projects you are eyeing on with all these tools.
Pros:
- High quality material
- 31 pieces
- Good for beginners
Cons:
- Some users reported it breaks easily
26 Pieces Leather Working Tools Set
This leather tool kit by PLANTIONAL is the starter kit that you need for your next project. It’s beginner friendly as it has 26 pieces which includes adjustable stitching groover, 4 mm leather stitching punch, repair sewing needles set, beeswax, sewing awl, frosted strip, wool dauber, finger cots, thimble and even more leather tools. You also get a high-quality stitching prong punch and 4 pieces different awl for sewing. With all that said, while you don’t get every single tool that is out there, for a beginner, you have just enough tools to get started on your first leatherworking project.
Pros:
- Perfect for beginners
- High quality
- 26 pieces
Cons:
- No tool case/box
Leather Tools Kit Stitching Punch Sewing Craft
Finally, this leather tool kit by Yang Tao that you have to get for your next project. It only has 18 pieces which include awl, polish tool, skiving knife, punch tool, chisel and more. It doesn’t come with a case, but considering how cheap this toolset is, you can purchase one separately so that you have somewhere to put your tools.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Beginner-friendly
- Quality materials
Cons:
- No tools or case
FAQ
What tools are needed for leatherworking?
Leather
This should be pretty obvious since you are leatherworking, but yes this is one of the most important things you’ll need for the project.
Thread
Over a natural thread, you would also like synthetic thread. In synthetic threads the lifetime of your pet project is not biodegradable over time such as sinew or cotton threads.
Cutting Tool
Leather cutting is an essential aspect of the production of leather products and there are many different ways to get a job done. The basic tool knife, a rotary cutter or a circle knife are the commonest methods used. Each alternative offers a different experience of cutting.
Cutting Mat
You’ll need a cutting mat so that you can make precise and clean cuts and avoid any unnecessary messes.
Diamond Chisel
With this tool, you basically put it on the top of the leather, and it’s struck with a mallet to drive the tool through the leather’s hide.
Mallet
In basic leatherworking, you’ll need some kind of hammer force to make sure that the stitches are actually in, so for this you’ll want a plastic mallet so that you don’t ruin the material.
Stitching Awl
The stitching awl is used for widening or creating seaming trousers and for transporting the seam thread through the opening.
Leather Stitching Needles
Necessary needles must be bought to pick up the leather products. Typically, leather needles are black, as the stitching holes are usually pre-stunned with a diamond chisel. The needle’s eye often has to be wide enough to lace leather items with thick, waxed threads.
Skiver
Often, for some aspects of the manufacturing process, leather is ‘professional,’ like folding. The skis range from a sword to almost a potato-peeler, but each variation on this instrument would merely use a blade to parse the leather surface.
Those are the very basics that you need for a leather tool kit. There are many more tools that can be included in leather working, but it really depends on what your job will be.
- How do you get into leather tooling?
- Pick your project
- Learn the skills needed
- Understand at least the basic tools
- Get your first piece of leather
- Find the right tools
- Do your first leatherworking project
What are the best leather working tools?
In our opinion, the Electop 31 Pcs Leather Sewing Tools DIY Leather Craft Tools Hand Stitching Tool Set is one of the best ones that you can find because it provides mostly everything that you need for leatherworking and its good value for money.
Does Walmart sell leather working kits?
Yes, they do! You can buy them either online or in the store, if available.
Bottom Line
Today, you’ve hopefully learned all about leatherworking and hopefully, you will be able to decide which one is perfect for your next leatherwork project. With all the great, highly rated choices we’ve laid, you’re sure to find that works for you. If you have enjoyed reading this guide, please leave a comment below!