Leatherworking is a really enjoyable craft.
But which tools do you need to get started and master it?
In this guide, we’ll go over our top picks for the best
leather working tools for your next project.
Best Leather Working Tools
Here are our favourite leather working tools made in the UK:
Best Leather Working Punch Tool
Winner: Wad Punch Set With Centre Punch Metric 5 mm To 32 mm (also available in Imperial here)
Pros:
- 9 different sized punches in one kit.
- Precision-made leather punch tool, accurate cuts
every time.
- Comfortable to use over long periods.
- Interchangeable punches easily screw onto the handle
for quick changes.
- Centre punch case hardened to HRC 57 for
durability.
- A choice of metric or Imperial sizes.
- UK made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Leather Punch Plier for Thick Leather
Winner: Heavy
Duty Revolving Leather Hole Punch Plier
Pros:
- Suitable for use with leather greater than 1.5
mm thick.
- Helps eliminate hand fatigue during continuous
use.
- Up to 70% less effort than a standard revolving
hole punch plier.
- Accurate punch indexing holds punches securely
in the correct position.
- Strong return spring on the handle for easy
operation.
- Punches hardened for durability.
- Zinc-plated handles with plastic grips for added
comfort.
- UK made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Value Multi-Sized Leather Punch Plier
Winner: Revolving
Leather Hole Punch Plier 2 mm To 4.8 mm
Pros:
- Ideal for making holes in soft materials,
especially leather.
- Features six different punch sizes.
- Easily select your punch with the rotating drum.
- Made from strong but lightweight carbon steel.
- Powerful spring to position the rotating punch
head securely.
- Strong return spring on the handle for easy
operation.
- Punches hardened for durability.
- UK made.
Click here to check the price.
Best Leather Hole
Punch Plier for Regular Use
Winner: Hole
Punch Plier 1.0 mm To 4.8 mm Punches
Pros:
- Cuts cleanly through leather with ease.
- Punches precisely machined from high-grade steel
and case hardened to HRC 57.
- Pressed steel construction for a sturdy yet
lightweight design.
- Tapered jaw bushes for easy insertion and
removal of attachments.
- Self-aligning anvil enables the punch to produce
a clean cut.
- UK made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Leather Hole Punch & Eyelet Plier
Winner: Heavy Duty Hole Puncher & Eyelet Plier 4 mm Eyelets
Pros:
- No need to buy separate punch and eyelet pliers.
- Multiplies hand force by 6 for less effort when
punching.
- Precision-ground punch for clean-cut holes.
- Adjustable gauge for equidistant punching from
the material edge.
- Strong spring return for easy handling and
efficient punch removal.
- Designed for use with our 4.0 mm eyelets.
- UK made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Leather Rivet Plier
Winner: Cupped Rivet Plier 160 mm
Pros:
- Parallel movement of jaws ensures rivets close
evenly and not at an angle.
- Ideal for manufacturing leather belts, saddles
and other leather goods.
- Spring return for easy manipulation of parts.
- Jaws case hardened to HRC 57 for durability.
- Soft plastic grips for added comfort.
- Jaw opening of up to 14 mm to accommodate
various rivet lengths.
- Available to buy with assorted rivets.
- UK made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Straight Edge for Leather Work
Winner: Steel
Straight Edges
Pros:
- Surface ground for a smooth, comfortable finish.
- Ideal for marking and scoring leather.
- Crafted from high-quality carbon steel.
- Case hardened to HRC 57 for durability.
- Available in a wide range of Imperial and metric
lengths.
- A single 6 mm-diameter hanging hole for easy
storage.
- Packaged in a clear plastic wallet with
anti-rust paper.
- UK Made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Best Smooth Jaw Parallel Pliers
Winner: Smooth
Jaw Parallel Pliers
Pros:
- Ideal for holding, gripping and manipulating
without damage.
- Ideal for use whilst burnishing or punching
leather.
- Parallel jaws grip securely along their whole
length.
- Built to last, with a robust construction and rust-proof
finish.
- Jaws case hardened to HRC 57 for durability.
- Zinc-plated handles with detailing for added
grip.
- UK Made.
Click
here to check the price
.
Other Leather Working Tools
Here are some other useful leather working tools:
- Awls – awls are tools with a sharp metal point
used to create marks or pierce the leather in a single spot. Ideal for belt
holes or to create patterns.
- Leather Stitching Tools – to stitch leather, you can use leather needles (sharp enough to pierce leather, in various sizes), waxed threads (wax coatings provide strength, and reduce friction when stitching), and a stitching pony (a tool to hold the pieces in place).
- Leather Cutting Tools – a swivel knife that has a rotating blade lets you get creative with angles and cuts. A round knife helps you cut both curves and straight lines, and allows a rocking motion that’s easier to cut thicker leather. A strap cutter keeps uniform shapes, ideal for straps and handles.
- Meather Molding and Shaping – a bone folder helps create creases in leather and smooths out leather without marking it. A mallet lets you strike other tools, helping to evenly spread force without damaging it (ideal for punches). A skiving tool thins the edge of leather, making it easier to fold, stitch, and layer.
- Burnishers and Slickers – these are rounded
tools used to smooth the surface of the leather using friction. When leather is
cut, it creates rough edges, so these are ideal for finishing those off.
- Leather Cleaning and Conditioning – being a
natural material, leather needs to be cleaned and conditioned to prevent it
from cracking.
- Leather Creaser/Folder – creases can often be useful
in leather pieces, so these tools are used to create an accurate fold line.
- Leather Working Knives – craft knives are really
useful when working with leather; you’ll often need to cut pieces or straps.
Invest in multiple-sized blades for different applications.
- Leather Dyes – colouring leather is very
popular, so choose a unique leather dye to create some incredible and unique
products.
- Edger and Beveler – if you don’t want to have a
sharp edge on your piece, then using these tools with leave the edge of the
leather slightly rounded and smooth.
- Sandpaper – sandpaper can be used to rub down
recently cut leather edges.
How Deep Do You Carve Leather?
Each cut in your leather should be roughly half the total
thickness of the leather itself, as this avoids you cutting too deep and
creating weakness in the other side of the leather.
Is Leather Work a Good Business?
If you think you’d like to pursue your leather crafting
hobby as a business, then it represents an opportunity for a small home
business, although scaling that operation is likely going to be beyond most
hobbyists.
What Can I Use to Punch Leather?
To punch a hole in leather, you can either use a small
leather punch plier tool for smaller holes, or a leather wad punch for larger
holes.
Conclusion and Further Reading
We hope you enjoyed our article on the best leather working
tools.
Keep reading with our related articles below:
- How to Use
a Wad Punch
- Best
Jewellery Pliers
- Leather Crafting Tips
- Best Leathercraft Tool Kits
- How to Use
Pliers
- Best
Combination Pliers
- Best
Jewellery Making Tools