Recommended Supplies

Fiebing’s beeswax is a one-ounce cake of pure beeswax for workshop use, including waxing thread. A solid cake lets the maker apply a light, controlled coating without a liquid carrier.

Blunt harness needles for hand stitching leather through holes made with an awl or stitching irons. Their rounded tips follow the existing holes and help avoid splitting the thread during saddle stitching. Size 4, also written 004, is the fine size in this range; this pack contains 25 needles.

A French-made cabled linen thread with a smooth glazed finish for hand sewing leather. Size 832 is the finest in the Lin Câblé range at 0.43 mm, giving a relatively discreet stitch on small leather goods. The selected full spool holds about 375 m; a 15 m retailer-wound card offers a smaller way to try the same size.

A fine, round waxed linen thread for hand stitching leather. M30 measures 0.35 mm, the smallest diameter in the Super Fine range, and comes on a 150 m small spool. Its three-ply construction is polished and waxed for a smooth passage through stitching holes. The range offers many colors; black is the priced example.

Ritza 25 is a 16-ply braided thread made from 100% polyester and coated with synthetic wax. This retail spool contains 50 meters of 0.6 mm thread and is available in multiple colors.

A Japanese polyester thread with a round, twisted body and an internal bond that helps keep its strands together. It gives hand stitching a different appearance from flat braided thread and is also offered for machine sewing. Rocky Mountain stocks 25-meter mini spools in several thicknesses and many colors; the linked example is #5, approximately 0.6 mm.

A 12 × 12-inch canvas swatch sold specifically for burnishing leather edges. It can be cut into smaller pieces and folded into a pad for rubbing an edge smooth or buffing beeswax. RML recommends it with Tokonole or saddle soap. This is a canvas burnishing material, with a pronounced woven texture, rather than a soft linen polishing cloth. Made in the United States.

Tokonole is a water-based leather burnishing compound made in Japan by Seiwa. This clear 120 g version is used on leather edges or the flesh side to control loose fibers and produce a smooth, polished surface. It can be applied with a finger, cloth, spatula, or slicker and burnished as it begins to dry.

A wax block for polishing leather edges after burnishing. It fills small surface irregularities and adds a sheen, and the neutral version can also be used on linen sewing thread. Made in Japan, the blocks are about 2.5 inches long and 1 inch wide and come in neutral, black, brown, and burgundy.

The Fenice example combines AR6250 clear primer, a Matt PLUS edge color, and AR6350P clear glossy topcoat when gloss is wanted. Campbell-Randall supplies the components in separate 1-liter containers, making this a larger commitment than a small-bottle trial kit. Current prices require a customer login or a supplier quote; no complete-package price is publicly posted.

A leather edge-finishing system built around Giardini Basecoat Dense and Basic Edge Paint, with an optional Extra Matte Clear Top Coat. The basecoat fills and smooths the edge before the color coat, while the clear topcoat adds a matte finish over the paint. The products are bought separately: 30 mL each of basecoat and black paint cost $22.89 together, or $32.45 with the 30 mL clear topcoat.

Build this system from EP Coat primer, Pro Heatable matte edge paint, and the gloss finish when a shiny surface is wanted. Rocky Mountain lists 60 mL bottles at $6.99 each, or $20.97 for the three-bottle example before shipping. A separate 30 mL thickener is $4.99 when additional body is needed; components are purchased individually.

A 48-piece assortment of foam-backed aluminum-oxide sanding pads in eight grits: 180, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 2000, and 3000. The nominal 3 × 4-inch pads can be cut smaller, and their cushioning helps them follow curved leather edges. The hook-and-loop backing can attach to a compatible sanding block; no block is included. Use the finer grades between fully dried edge-paint coats when the paint system calls for sanding.

A solvent-based neoprene contact cement for permanent, flexible bonds in leatherwork and repair. It is applied to both surfaces and allowed to dry before the pieces are pressed together. This is the original yellow formula in a one-pint can, distinct from Barge’s toluene-free and rubber-cement products.

A water-based contact adhesive for joining leather and other flexible materials. It dries clear to translucent and forms a permanent, flexible bond, making it useful for holding layers together before stitching. This is Aquilim 315 in a 16 fl oz bottle; it needs drying time before the surfaces are joined and continues developing strength for about 24 hours.

A narrow, double-sided adhesive tape for holding leather or fabric parts together before sewing. The nonwoven tape can be torn by hand or cut, and its paper backing peels away when you are ready to join the pieces. This 5 mm-wide roll holds 50 m, a useful size for securing zipper tape and lining up small assemblies.

A small rubber block for rubbing away dried water-based glue that has strayed onto the leather. Its broad face covers flat areas, while an edge reaches closer to seams and corners. The block measures about 2.75 by 1.5 inches. Test it on a scrap with the same finish before rubbing a visible part of the work.

Weaver’s kangaroo lace is supplied in a 50-yard spool at 1/8 inch wide. The black example is $82. It provides a consistent-width leather lace for decorative lacing and braiding; match the slot or hole size to the lace and the intended pattern.

An antiquing paste that brings out carved, stamped, and embossed detail with a two-tone effect. Color remains in the recessed areas while excess paste is removed from the raised surface. It comes in several shades, including neutral, and the linked size is 4 ounces. The antique is not a waterproof topcoat; a compatible protective finish is a separate part of the finishing process.

A water-soluble finish used as a barrier before antiquing smooth or carved leather. Once dry, it helps keep the raised surfaces lighter while antique paste or gel emphasizes the recesses. The 4-ounce bottle is an alternative to Tan-Kote in the same antiquing-resist category, and it leaves a protective semi-gloss finish.

A resin-based leather finish that can also serve as an antiquing resist. Applied before antique paste, it helps limit the overall color change while the antique settles into tooling and recessed details. This 4-ounce bottle is an option for the Fiebing’s antique-paste workflow, including suitable painted tooling; it is not waterproofing.

A reducer for diluting Fiebing’s Leather Dye and Pro Dye when you want a lighter color or a mixture suited to spraying. The 4-ounce bottle lets you adjust concentration while keeping a record of repeatable mixing ratios. It is a dye solvent, not an interchangeable thinner for acrylic paint or water-based finishes.

An alcohol-based penetrating dye for natural strap, bag, and case leather. Pro Dye colors the leather without forming an opaque paint layer, so the underlying surface character remains visible. The 4-ounce bottle is a practical starting size, with larger bottles available for repeated work. Despite its older Professional Oil Dye name, the solvent base is alcohol.

A water-based acrylic paint for adding opaque color to prepared leather. The colors can be mixed, making the range useful for detailed artwork, contrasting accents, and shoe customization. Thin layers preserve flexibility better than a heavy coat. The linked range uses individual 1-ounce bottles; preparation products, brushes, and finishers are separate purchases.

A clear acrylic topcoat for leather painted with Angelus acrylic paint. It adds light protection against scuffs and scratches while keeping the sheen lower than the glossier finishers. The recommended 4-ounce bottle is Matte No. 620; the result is not necessarily completely flat or free of shine.

A solvent preparer for removing factory topcoats and surface contamination from suitable smooth leather before applying Angelus paint. This 5-ounce bottle is the stronger preparation option when an existing finish would interfere with adhesion. Fiebing’s Dye Prep, grouped alongside it, is for cleaning leather before dyeing rather than stripping substantial topcoats.

A cleaner for preparing tannery leather that has not already been dyed or finished. It removes dirt, grime, and light surface residues before dyeing. This 4-ounce bottle sits alongside Angelus Preparer & Deglazer under Paint Preparation, but the jobs differ: Dye Prep cleans for dye penetration, while the Angelus product strips an existing topcoat before repainting.

A flexible acrylic topcoat for dyed, antiqued, or polished leather. The neutral version dries clear and gives a medium-to-high-gloss finish with water resistance. This 4-ounce bottle is the protective finish option for work where that sheen is welcome.

An oil-based diamond polishing compound for refining an edge after sharpening. The set includes 6-, 3-, and 1-micron grades in 2-gram syringes, giving you a progression from fine polishing to a smoother final bevel. Apply it sparingly to a separate flat stropping surface; neither strops nor diamond plates are included.

Leather Wranglers offers this six-ounce green honing compound for polishing tool-steel edges. Use it to refresh a sharpened leather knife or carving blade on a strop. The maker does not provide a verified micron grade, so it is not presented as a numbered substitute for a diamond paste.

Veritas honing compound blends chromium and aluminum oxides in a bar for leather, felt, or wood strops. Lee Valley describes an average 0.5-micron scratch pattern. It is a polishing step after sharpening, not a substitute for removing chips or restoring a damaged bevel.

RML’s metallic foil is intended for transferring a metallic impression with a heated stamp. The gold example is a 30 mm-wide roll approximately 120 m long at $8.99. Other colors and a wider roll are separate options.

A paste saddle soap for cleaning dirt from smooth leather, including tack, boots, and other hard-used goods. This is the yellow formula in a 12-ounce tin. It is useful when brushing alone is not enough; delicate finishes and napped leathers need a different cleaning approach.

The 50 mL Beauté du Cuir Renovateur is a colorless care cream for smooth, fine leather, including calf and box calf. It combines light cleaning with conditioning and a buffed sheen, and comes with a small application cloth. It does not replace a pigmented repair cream for recoloring scuffs. This is the Beauté du Cuir product selected by the supplied Amazon link.

A neutral cream for gently cleaning, conditioning, and buffing smooth leather goods. Jojoba oil, lanolin, and beeswax help maintain suppleness and leave a polished surface. This recommendation is the 150 mL bottle; it is intended for compatible smooth leather rather than every tannage or finish.

Saphir Médaille d’Or Mink Oil is a conditioner for smooth and oiled leather that has become dry. Despite the Amazon title calling it a polish, its principal role is softening and conditioning rather than building a high-gloss wax surface. Apply it sparingly to clean leather and allow time for absorption before buffing away excess. Mink oil can darken some leathers, so test a concealed area before treating a finished piece.

Pâte de Luxe combines waxes, including beeswax and carnauba, with turpentine spirit to polish and protect smooth leather shoes and boots. This recommendation is the neutral 50 mL tin. Thin coats can be buffed to a gloss, with additional layers on firm areas such as toes and heels. Heavy wax buildup on areas that flex can crack, so use a lighter finish there.

Serafil is a continuous-filament polyester machine thread for leather goods and related work. Ticket 80, Tex 30, is the finest size in AMANN’s standard Serafil leather-sewing range; the selected U.S. example is a 4 oz white spool at $13.99. Thread weight is specified in Tex rather than a guaranteed millimeter diameter.

Coats Nylbond is a bonded continuous-filament nylon 6.6 thread used for machine-sewn leather goods, footwear, and upholstery. The selected U.S. listing is black Tex 135, Z twist, on a 16 oz spool at $29.99. This is a relatively heavy machine thread; match the needle and machine capacity to it.

This pack contains fifty 1-inch foam brushes with lightweight wooden handles. The broad foam face spreads liquid across a larger area than a swab or dauber, and the beveled tip reaches into corners. They are a useful disposable option for applying compatible leather dyes and finishes. The listed price is for the full 50-pack, without a subscription.

These disposable applicators have broad rectangular polyurethane foam heads on plastic handles. The 100-pack provides a fresh tip for each color or finish, while the flat head covers more area than a narrow swab. Each applicator is approximately 135 mm long, with a 25 × 15 mm head. Although sold as cleaning swabs, this is the wide foam-tip option selected for the leatherworking bench.

Chinco’s round foam-tip swabs provide a smaller contact area than the wide rectangular applicators. The selected black-handled pack contains 200 swabs, each 6.42 inches (16.3 cm) long. Open-cell foam heads are bonded to plastic shafts. Sold for precision cleaning, they also offer a disposable format for applying small amounts of compatible color or finish around leather details.

These small ball-tip daubers come in a pack of fifty, with approximately 20 mm (0.79-inch) heads and loop-ended metal wire handles. The compact head holds liquid for coloring leather surfaces and edges, and a fresh dauber for each color helps prevent contamination. Amazon markets them as wool daubers, but the seller also describes the head as chemical fiber, so natural-wool content is unconfirmed.

Buckleguy carries Riri continuous zipper chain in several gauges and tape colors. The brass Combi chain is listed at $20.89–$31.13 per yard depending on selection; Metal 4 is a useful small-goods starting point. A working zipper also requires a matching slider and appropriate top and bottom stops, which are sold separately.

Rocky Mountain Leather Supply offers YKK Excella in the U.S., including a No. 3 single-chain brass zipper on black tape at $13.99. The selected variant is 35 inches long and includes one slider, two bottom stops, and four top stops. Cut and finish the chain to the length the project requires.