Essential tools

Community Larp discussion
#1

In a bid to become a little more self-sufficient I’m trying to think of some of the main areas I need help on. Some themes keep popping up:

  • Things that require a drill (I don’t own one)
  • Things that require riveting (I don’t have rivets and I’m not 100% on how to do them)
  • Things that involve basic leather crafting (cutting, punching, stitching)

So it’s looking like I should acquire a drill of some sorts. A bog standard drill but also I keep wanting to do things like make pendants out of bone or carve into small things so I’d imagine one of those Dremel tools would be handy.

And it’s looking like I should get a good awl and punches and… uh… other leather stuff.

What other tools to people find useful? Someday I’ll upgrade to a gruntier sewing machine too so I can work with more robust material.

#2

Leather tooling kit and rivets here too. Oh, and a piece of granite (small is ok) for doing the work on. I hear the tools are the expensive stuff.

A belt sander if I’m going to ever manage props and larp weapons out of foam. Either that or I’ll have to move into Derek’s garage and I don’t think he’d like that.

#3

I don’t think there’s ROOM to move into Derek’s garage!

Yeah Bryn raves about his belt sander. Raves and raves.

Oh, clamps! To hold stuff! That’s another thing. Or a vice or whatever it’s called.

#4

And a headcast. Must get round to re-doing Derek’s and doing one for me too… I could go on and on.

Of course, what I really need is a room to put all this stuff in. :unamused:

#5

Oop, I need one of those too!

And, yes, room. It’s why Luke and I will always rent 3 bedroom houses despite just being the two of us. Props/costumes become an extra family member!

#6

Oh boy, where to start… :smiley:

[quote=“theotherphoenix”]Leather tooling kit and rivets here too. Oh, and a piece of granite (small is ok) for doing the work on. I hear the tools are the expensive stuff.

A belt sander if I’m going to ever manage props and larp weapons out of foam. Either that or I’ll have to move into Derek’s garage and I don’t think he’d like that.[/quote]

Drills are pretty handy. Aside from drilling holes (for which I usually use my hole punch) I have some attachment that I can plug into my drill to:

  • sanding foam, steel, wood etc
  • cutting (nibbling) sheet steel

Here is the sander I use. It’s plugged into a variable speed drill, which in turn is held in a vice. It’s very versatile because I can adjust direction of rotation, speed and orientation of the sander. That may not seem important, but it can be.

It’s a bit messy, but it does do a pretty quick job of carving through foam.

#7

Funnily enough Bryn and I have just been working in his garage and I was making a list of stuff I am getting asap:

Portable Work bench
Belt Sander
Scalpels
Leather working tools

I really want a good place in New Zealand to get good rivets and so on. So if anyone knows a place?

I have most of the other stuff like rulers, drills, brushes and cutting boards.

#8

Tools I reach for every time I make stuff:

  • 600mm steel ruler, good for measuring and as a straight edge to cut along
  • heavy duty scissors
  • scrap timber/ply for cutting on

Consumables:

  • ADOS F2 contact adhesive
  • Acrylic paint in 300ml test pots
  • paint brushes
  • lots and lots of snap off blades, with and without a handle, as soon as they’re slightly blunt they get turned into paint stirrers and putty knifes

I prefer to hand sew leather than use rivets. Rivets just look wrong to my eyes, and hand sewn leather looks better :smiley:

#9

gdltradingnz.co.nz/

But I recommend phoning, I don’t think they have everything on their website.

#10

I feel like I trust rivets more than my own hand sewing for certain applications.

In this case it’s for something where I need really sturdy construction and the rivets will not be seen. But that’s because I’m a n00b and don’t trust my own handiwork.

#11

Punch hole. Insert rivet bits. Place in rivet setter. Hit with hammer. I have vague ideas of doign a coat of plates (SCA-style, with plastic plates rather than metal because who wants the weight?), so I’ll have to do a lot of it.

You can use standard craft knives or heavy scissors for cutting. A decent awl (for poking holes for stitching) can be had at Spotlight quite cheaply, as can a punch for making bigger holes. Stitching it requires a couple of heavy needles (with big eyes) and some waxed linen thread - again all available at Spotlight.

Tooling is the difficult bit, and I haven’t really tried that yet.

#12

[quote=“Derek”]http://www.gdltradingnz.co.nz/

But I recommend phoning, I don’t think they have everything on their website.[/quote]

And note that they’re all on holiday from 22/12 - 10/1.

#13

I need a sewing machine, and some brains… Brains mainly, cause I can hand sew like a legend, but I don’t have the patience. Which is why my grey cloak looked shabby up close.

#14

So as Jackie pointed out, I couldn’t be without my belt sander. It’s the most useful tool I have and just does so much.

Shaping foam, skiving leather, distressing props/fabrics, ‘aging’ leather, sanding off bits of fingers (erm…) Really handy.

Other things I find great are a sturdy long metal ruler and disposable scalpel blades that you can chuck as soon as they lose their edge.

#15

Tools I find really handy are a copy of Bryn, Norm, and Jackie. Get one today!. They do wonders for any crafty project you might have!

Seruiously I dont mean they are tools, but what you should consider important to any project is a line to someone with experience. Knowledge is the best tool anyone can have…

Next to a belt sander! Weeeeee!

#16

I’ve ordered a Jackie but it’s not arriving until April next year :frowning: Auckland doesn’t have a Bryn and a Norm, but we have a Derek, which is pretty awesome.

But I think the point of this thread is what you need in order to not rely on these guys :wink:

#17

You see I thought the point was to outline essential tools for projects :wink: My point is you need access to knowledge from experienced people

I for now would consider myself experienced in making foam shields from Foam, Leather, and Latex :slight_smile:

#18

Yeah, there is always a bit of that. :smiley: You can wear leather gloves but I don’t like the lack of feeling they give…

Heavy needles and waxed linen thread are also really useful. It’s amazing what you can sew together when you put your mind to it.

MIG welder is very handy also.

Another thing to consider is just having raw materials available. Glue, foam, paint, leather etc

#19

My big list of dream LARP tools:

Lathe, Bench Vice, Mig Welder, Pipe Tapping Dies, Drill Press, Bandsaw, Linisher and Angle Grinder…and Room to store all this.

#20

Hokay! So, Bryn very kindly gave me an awl, wax, thread, needles, a slab-o-granite and a mallet for Christmas. That inspired me to really look at a buncha random stuff I got off a TradeMe auction (bulk lot of leather “stuff” for $25) and I realized I pretty much now have a good basic starter leatherworking kit. It includes:

X-acto and utility knives (and plenty of blades)
Stainless steel ruler (1m)
Awl
Punch kit (just purchased)
Groover
Beveller
Needles, wax and thread
Mallet
Granite slab
Dyes, waxes and dubbin
Rivets (also just purchased)
Assorted hardware (belts and buckles)

So this weekend I made my first “from scratch” (as in, cut a bit of un-dyed vegetan leather off a hide ((Thank you Scott!!))) and made a belt. Vis:

[attachment=0]dabelt.jpg[/attachment]

Thanks heaps for all your advice, particularly Derek’s notes about having lots of blades. Having a sharp blade for leather-work is essential!!

Working with leather is hugely rewarding and very satisfying.