Some kind of ancient life form?

Firstly, please look at this picture. What it looks like?

My daughter said "Is this some kind of ancient life form?".

What it looks like for you?

Yes, it does look like ancient life form. Some kind of old insect?

Of course this is not ancient life form. 

Other pictures follows.

Then, this is what it become.

And this is how to use it.

Could you guess what it was?

One of my collegue had trouble with his very slipply mont-bell sholder strap, so he consulted me if I could attach leather pad to make it stop slipping.

With this lether Slip-Stop-pad, I designed with two points:

1. Should be easily detachable.

2. Should not cover "mont-bell" logo.

I hope my collegue like it and work as it designed. :)

What would be the minimum tool sets you need to start leather crafts. No.2

With the article No.1, I explain what you need cut and make some hole to the leather.

As article No.2 I want to explain chemicals including wax you need to use.

The chemical I use most is “TOKONOLE” (The one in the photo is old bottle.), which is the glue to smooth up the back side/cutting edge of the leather. You can find an explanation by the maker of TOKONOLE here.

SEIWA | Leather Craft materials & school | レザークラフト材料と教室 | 定番仕上剤『トコノール』

You can use your finger to apply it to the leather parts.
As far as I understand, you should use it to only back/edge of the leather.

After applying it, slick the surface with something hard. I use metal spoon or piece of glass. By slicking it, the surface becomes very flat and start to shine.

If the edge of the leather parts were not smooth, you could polish it with sand paper. I usually use paper of #400 to #800. Then apply the TOKONOLE again. You can repeat this process to get a smooth edge.

Once the TOKONOLE dried up, you can apply “Koba-wax” (“Koba” is a Japanese word for “edge”)to the edge.

I usually heat the edge with iron, then apply the wax directory several times. Then again use the metal spoon or piece of glass to polish it up.

What would be the minimum tool sets you need to start leather crafts. No.1

I just restart blog again. As before I would not stick to the single topic but will write just about anything I am interested.

Today, I want to write about “What would be the minimum tool sets you need to start leather crafts.” This is a question I was asked. However, If I think about this well, it is kind a hard to answer. When you say “Leather Crafts”, would that mean making, say bags with leather? Or leather carving would be included?

In my case, I do little carving but lots of goods making. So, I just write about “My Case” here.

Cutting Leather. Obviously, you need to cut leather in to whatever the shape you need. To do this need these. Cutter. Just normal cutter should do. I prefer bigger one. As I advanced I start using leather knife. With those cutter and knife, need something to underlay. Hard vinyl sheet is ideal but old magazine will do.

Once you cut out leather parts, you should saw it together. To do this first you must make hole through leather. You can do that with awl, but it is much easy with hole puncher with maul. I guess you can use hammer instead of maul but with leather crafts you have to change tools so often and the shape of tools are so different. With maul, I do not have to care the shape of tool end. Makes it easy.

Again, you need something to underlay. Old magazine will do, but hard rubber sheet is better.

Apart from those tools, you would need needles, thread, some chemicals and wax. Those will be the minimum to start leather crafts.