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.
This isn’t about brand names or fancy setups—it’s about what works. I cover blade shapes, comfort, and balance, and how small differences in the handle or barrel can make a big difference in control and fatigue during long carving sessions.
If you’ve been wondering what makes one swivel knife better than another or just want to see how another craftsman sets up their tools, this video will give you some solid insight before you buy your next knife or modify the one you have.
Remember that it’s not how expensive the knife is that makes it a good knife… It’s more the quality of the blade and its shape and function for the task you are trying to accomplish.
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.
End Punches are designed to round off or shape the ends of leather straps and pieces. The end punch gives you a clean, uniform curve on strap ends—perfect for belts, billets, or tack work.
The Bag Punch, or Oblong Punch, is designed to create a slot with rounded ends in a variety of sizes. This is used for buckle tongues on straps or anywhere you might need a slot.
Why They Matter
Using an end punch or bag punch instead of cutting by hand helps keep everything consistent and professional. No uneven corners, no guessing where your curve should start—just clean, repeatable cuts every time.
If you’re producing multiple pieces or want your work to look crisp and balanced, these punches are worth having in your toolbox.
A Few Tips from the Bench
Keep your punches sharp—a dull one will leave ragged edges.
Always punch on a firm but forgiving surface (like HDPE or heavy rubber).
If you need to, mark your center line first so every punch is aligned.
Final Thoughts
Leather end punches and bag punches aren’t flashy tools, but they’ll quietly level up your work. Once you use one, you’ll wonder why you ever tried to freehand strap ends.
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.
The Glues We Tested
For this round, I tested a handful of the most common leather adhesives used by pros and hobbyists alike. Each was applied to the same leather, allowed to dry, and then peeled apart to see how well it bonded.
This wasn’t a lab test—it was real-world use, just like we do in the shop every day.
What We Found
Some glues tack up quick but don’t hold as well under pressure. Others take longer to dry but create a stronger, more flexible bond. In leathercraft, that balance between open time, tack, and final hold matters more than the label on the bottle.
One stood out as the strongest bond in the group… and it was a true surprise to us in both type and application.
My Recommendation
You don’t need the most expensive glue on the shelf—you need one that fits your workflow and leather type. For everyday projects, I like a glue that’s:
Easy to spread
Quick to tack up
Holds tight even when flexed or sewn
I share my personal favorites and show the test results in the full video so you can decide which glue might work best in your own shop.
Final Thoughts
Leather glue is one of those small details that separates a good project from a great one. Take the time to find the adhesive that matches your projects and your process—it’ll save you time and frustration in the long run.
Craft Your Own Leather Tortilla Warmer with Our Latest Project Video
The world of leather craft, is not just about making horse tack, belts, and wallets; it’s also about creating pieces that add a unique touch to everyday life. That’s exactly what we’ve done with our new leather tortilla warmer. This project is perfect for anyone looking to blend functionality with craftsmanship, offering a unique and stylish way to keep your tortillas warm.
Our newest video on YouTube, “Making a Leather Tortilla Warmer,” takes you through the entire process of making one of these. From selecting the right leather to the final stitching, we cover every step making it easy for LeatherHeads of all levels to follow along. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out, this project is bound to pique your interest.
Why a Leather Tortilla Warmer?
Leather is not just durable; it’s also an excellent insulator, making it the perfect material for a tortilla warmer. However, what truly sets this project apart is its uniqueness. Fabric and ceramic dominate the kitchenware scene, a leather tortilla warmer stands out, offering both aesthetic appeal and practical use. This is a product that will make an outstanding gift or item that your customers will surely have to have.
For the Love of Leathercraft
This project is more than just a leather tortilla warmer; it’s a merging of leather craft and cooking. It’s about taking the skills and techniques of leatherwork and applying them to create something not only beautiful but also useful in the kitchen or around the barbecue pit. It’s a testament to the versatility of leather craft and its potential to transform ordinary items into extraordinary pieces.
Get Started Today
Eager to start crafting your own leather tortilla warmer?
Check out the full project video to see how to make one in your shop.
We do offer a pattern pack for sale as a companion to the video. This pack includes all the patterns and and a collection of floral tooling patterns to craft your very own leather tortilla warmer. Click Here to purchase your copy of the pattern pack for this project.
Whether for yourself or as a gift, this leather tortilla warmer is sure to impress. Crafting a leather tortilla warmer is not just about creating a functional item; it’s about expressing creativity, honing your leathercraft skills, and making something truly unique. So, why wait? Dive into the world of leather craft with this fun, unique project that both you and your customers will love.
In this video, I show you how I go about transferring larger floral patterns when I have to do them twice or a left and a right side. This is a very efficient way of accomplishing this task and allows for the most accurate copy of your tooling patterns.
In this project video, I show you how to make one of our new Crossbody Fannypack style purses.
I made this purse from French Calf on the outside and Goat skin on the inside with a tooled feather front panel. This is a really fun bag to make and they seem to be a popular style these days.
In this video, I show you how I make one of our Leather Rifle Saddle Scabbards.
These are a lot of fun to make and have a ton of room for tooling and artwork. They are not really difficult to make, they are just large and use a lot of leather.
As we always do, we do offer a pattern pack for this project. You can use the links below to go directly to our website to purchase your copy. We offer this in a PRINTED and a DIGITAL version.
This is a large format printing so if you get the digital version, you will need to take it somewhere and have them print it out for you.
If you follow us on social media and/or our YouTube Channel, then you have heard us talking about building a new course for the DG LeatherCraft Academy. After months of gathering information, photos, and videos we have finally completed what we think is the most comprehensive online course on Floral Carving and Tooling that is available.
I will first say, there is no in person or online course that is going to make you a Master Floral Carver over night. Becoming efficient and proficient with leather floral tooling takes practice and study over a long period of time. What I wanted to do with this new course was to consolidate all the information in one place that is easy to follow and offers the best information possible. Along with this information, we created patterns and exercises that help to develop the skills and techniques needed to begin to build a quality skill set.
Our First Floral Carving and Tooling Course is Open for Enrollment!
