The Art of Leathercraft: a Practical Guide to Tools, Materials, and Durable Goods

The Art of Leathercraft: A Practical Guide to Tools, Materials, and Durable GoodsR. A. CalkinsA clear, workmanlike handbook for anyone who wants leatherwork that lasts. This book strips the craft down to its dependable choices and repeatable motions so you can turn good intentions into honest, durable goods. Beginning with the fundamentals—what leather is, how tannage and grain change performance, and how thickness is measured—the book gives you the facts you will actually use on every project and the practical habits that keep work clean and strong.Inside you’ll find:• A short, usable primer on hides (veg-tan, chrome, oil-finished), grain and region, and the ounce system for thickness, with sensible guidance for wallets, bags, straps, and harness.• A concise list of starter tools and realistic costs so beginners know what to buy first and what to defer. Suggested kits, consumables, and what to expect if you move toward a pro bench.• Workshop layout, ergonomics, and fixtures that pay off: how to arrange cutting, punching, stitching, and finishing stations; light, bench height, and fixtures that save time and improve quality.• Detailed, hands-on routines for measuring, marking, cutting, skiving, and edge work, with exact tips (blade technique, beveling, burnishing) that turn mediocre edges into quality edges.• A thorough, no-nonsense explanation of the saddle stitch—spacing, thread choices, needle technique, and the tension habits that make seams strong and beautiful.• Adhesives, hardware, and finishes: how to choose a contact cement, match hardware weight to leather, reinforce load points, and build abrasion resistance with thin, tested topcoats.• Sourcing and economics: realistic prices for hides, offcuts, scrap packs, and the tools you’ll need, plus buying strategies (used tools, practice on scraps) that protect your wallet while you learn.• Project work: a fully measured, step-by-step bifold wallet to practice every essential motion—cutting, skiving, gluing, punching, saddle stitching, and edge finishing—so you leave the book with a finished piece and the confidence to begin the next.The tone is practical and modest: leathercraft is not about tricks or flair but about right decisions repeated with care. Whether you are a curious beginner, a hobbyist aiming for better results, or a small-scale maker building a bench and a catalog, this book teaches the motions, the decisions, and the habits that lead to durable, honest work. Expect clear instructions, measured projects, helpful cost figures, and a focus on craft habits—measure twice, cut once; thin, deliberate finishes; steady, even stitches.If you want to make leather things that behave well and endure, this book gives you the steady, usable knowledge you need to practice deliberately and improve every project.