Author Archives: Don Gonzales

Tooling Mallet vs Maul: What Works Best for Floral Tooling?

Posted by Don Gonzales

Tooling Mallet vs Maul for Leathercraft Floral Tooling

One of the most common questions I get from leatherworkers getting into floral carving is:

“Should I use a tooling mallet or a tooling maul?”

If you spend much time watching tooling videos or attending leather shows, you’ll notice that a lot of floral carvers today use mauls. But that does not necessarily mean a mallet is wrong. Both tools work well, and both have been used for years by very skilled craftsmen.

A lot of this really comes down to personal preference, tooling style, and ergonomics.

In this video, I wanted to break down some of the practical differences between mallets and mauls from a real shop perspective and explain why certain styles may work better depending on the type of tooling you are doing.

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How to Make a Leather Buckhorn Bag

Posted by Don Gonzales

How to Make a Leather Buckhorn Bag (Full Project Build)

This is a full project build of our Buckhorn Bag—a rugged leather briefcase-style bag designed for real use.

In this video, we walk through the entire process from cutting patterns to final assembly, including gussets, lining, closures, and strap build.

This is not a beginner project—but it’s one of the best builds you can take on if you’re ready to level up your leatherwork.

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How to Make a Leather Rope Bag

Posted by Don Gonzales

How to Make a Leather Rope Bag (Full Project Build)

Rope bags are one of those projects that look complicated—but once you break them down, they’re actually pretty straightforward. They’re just bigger, and they require you to think through your steps a little more.

In this video, we walk through building a fully tooled leather rope bag from start to finish, including gussets, zippers, straps, and final assembly.

This project also ties directly to our rope bag pattern pack, which includes the cut patterns, strap layout, and tooling design so you can follow along step-by-step.

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Leather Edge Slicking and Preparing Your Canvas

Posted by Don Gonzales

How to Prep Canvas for Better Leather Edges

When it comes to leather edge slicking, most folks focus on the leather, the sanding, or the edge solution they’re using—but not many think about the canvas itself.

In this video, I show a simple tip for prepping a new piece of canvas so it works better right from the start.

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My Everyday Swivel Knives for Leather Floral Carving

Posted by Don Gonzales

When it comes to leather floral carving, your swivel knife is the heart of the operation. It’s the tool that defines the flow, depth, and feel of your work. Not matter the leather floral carving session you are doing, the swivel knife is the first and last tool that we use to create the pattern.

In this video, “My Everyday Swivel Knives for Leather Floral Carving,” I walk through the knives I keep on my bench every single day—what I like about each one and how I use them for different styles of carving.

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How to Make a Leather Ranger Belt | Leathercraft Project

Posted by Don Gonzales

If you’ve been making leather belts, you may have been asked to make a Ranger Style Belt. In this video, How to Make a Leather Ranger Belt, I walk through the full process—from cutting the leather and preparing the edges to stitching, finishing, and adding hardware.

We also cover the “measuring” for a ranger belt. This is a little different than how we do it for a standard belt. Since there is not “fold” for the buckle this changes the sizing… there are also exterior billets that we use and those have to be balanced when the person is wearing the belt.

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Make a Leather Cowboy Boot Bag | Leathercraft Project

Posted by Don Gonzales

If you’re looking for a solid leather project that’s as useful as it is good-looking, a Leather Cowboy Boot Bag is a great one to tackle. In this video, Make a Leather Cowboy Boot Bag, I walk through the full build step by step—from cutting and layout to assembly and finishing.

A boot bag isn’t just a cool piece to make; it’s a practical one. Whether you’re hauling your boots to a show, rodeo, or just keeping them clean in storage, this project gives you something durable and unique that’ll last for years.

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Leather End Punches and Bag Punches

Posted by Don Gonzales

If you’ve ever struggled to get clean, consistent ends on your straps or bag handles, you’re not alone. In leathercraft, the small details make a big difference—and the right leather end punch can save a ton of time and frustration.

In this quick shop tip video, Leather Craft Tool Tip: End Punches and Bag Punches, I go over how these tools work, when to use them, and a few things to watch for when picking one for your shop.

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Which Leather Glue Is Stickiest? | Real Shop Test Results

Posted by Don Gonzales

When it comes to leatherwork, the right leather glue can make all the difference. Whether you’re building saddles, wallets, or belts, a strong bond keeps your project clean and lasting. But with so many leather glues out there, which one actually sticks best?

In my video, Which Leather Glue is Stickiest?, I put a few popular leather glues head-to-head in a real shop test to see which one sticks the best.

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