Realities of starting leathercraft

[blacksm0k3=<3]

I am moving from woodworking into leatherworking and I want to know the messy parts that people usually skip on camera. In my old hobby YouTubers often hide the hours of sanding and milling that actually take up most of your time. I suspect leathercraft is the same and that there are plenty of boring tasks that nobody talks about. I want to know about the physical toll of hand stitching for hours or the constant struggle of keeping your edges perfectly straight. Tools can get very expensive quickly and I imagine that keeping your workspace clean from dye and glue is a major chore. It would be helpful to hear about the common mistakes beginners make that end up wasting a whole hide of expensive leather. But I also want to know if the noise and dust levels are actually better than a woodshop.

 

[Alan]

Noise is lesser. Materials are not as heavy as woodworking. The harsh truth is... Sometimes, people don't want to pay you for your time and thy see handmade and unbranded leathercraft as home made products and don't want to pay for what it's worth. But just continue and learn the business side if you want to expand it into a business, and you're good.

 

[realt@lk]

As long as you are fine with repeating steps and cleaning rather than big cuts or stitches. Aside from that, you have to consider the long hours of hand stitching which can make your fingers hurt and your posture uncomfortable. The finishing edges usually takes several rounds with sandpaper, tools, and dye to look smooth.

 

[alex retha]

I am moving from woodworking into leatherworking and I want to know the messy parts that people usually skip on camera. In my old hobby YouTubers often hide the hours of sanding and milling that actually take up most of your time. I suspect leathercraft is the same and that there are plenty of boring tasks that nobody talks about. I want to know about the physical toll of hand stitching for hours or the constant struggle of keeping your edges perfectly straight. Tools can get very expensive quickly and I imagine that keeping your workspace clean from dye and glue is a major chore. It would be helpful to hear about the common mistakes beginners make that end up wasting a whole hide of expensive leather. But I also want to know if the noise and dust levels are actually better than a woodshop.

Usually, if you are a beginner, you often lose material by cutting without planning or using tooo much dye that spreads so thinking ahead helps save money. The best thing about leather craft is that you will no longer deal wiith dust but with sticky work areas, strong odors and the need for patience to keep each piece even.