Leather University™
Leather Working Surfaces
by Dan Concord
Author, speaker, teacher, and educator on leather working tools and techniques.
Leather University™
Author, speaker, teacher, and educator on leather working tools and techniques.
Welcome back to the studio! Today, we’ll explore various types of leather work surfaces. We all use them, and there are many different types. We’ll discuss their uses and common types, provide examples, and offer some tips to help you choose the best one for your shop.
So, with that, let’s dive right in.
Leather work surfaces encompass the various surfaces and areas used for leather working, including:
Leather working doesn’t require many surfaces, but it’s important to choose the ones you do use carefully. This ensures good results and enjoyment of how they fit your work and style.
Key qualities to look for in a leather working surface include:
To get a better idea, let’s check out a few of the most popular leather working surfaces, one by one.
First is a small tabletop anvil, which is actually a vise. These can be useful for setting rivets, for example. If you don’t have a stone slab or a really, really sturdy table, you could mount the anvil on the end of your table for a small work surface that will absorb a lot of force. If you are doing any technique where you need something to absorb a lot of force and you don’t have a sturdy table, finding a place to mount an anvil may help with that.
A sturdy table would be best, and then getting a stone slab to absorb the force across your tooling or hardware setting would be ideal. However, if you already have a vise with an anvil, this could work well if you don’t have something else.
A self-healing cutting mat is a layered plastic surface designed for use with knives and other cutting implements. It’s soft enough not to dull your blades, making it a safe surface for cutting.
The self-healing property comes into play as the marks made by your knife gradually smooth out. Over time, the material naturally pushes back together, or you can press on it to make the knife lines disappear.
Self-healing cutting mats can last a long time, but it’s important to invest in a quality one. Cheaper mats may not perform as well and can start to wear and even tear with use. Higher quality mats look better, perform better, and last longer, and they aren’t significantly more expensive.
You can choose from various colors, with the most common being white, gray, green, and black. Your choice depends on personal preference and what you like as a backdrop for your leather material. I prefer black because it provides a good contrast with brighter leather.
Cutting mats also feature different measurement markings. Some have inches, some have centimeters, and some have geometric patterns to use as cutting guides. If you need fixed 90-degree angles, these mats will help you achieve that. Many also have markings for other angles, such as 45, 60, and 30 degrees, which helps cut precise angles.
However, another consideration regarding quality—and I wish I didn’t have to mention it, but I do—is that some of them don’t have the correct measurements printed. So you think you may be getting a 24-inch, but really, maybe it’s 23 inches, and they skipped a number or something like that. Look at reviews and product photos to ensure you get what you need and that the numbers are correctly printed.
Overall, a cutting mat is probably one of the most basic staples of leather working. You definitely want one in your studio, and there are many great options to choose from.
The Japanese cutting mat is a really cool work surface. It’s a thick, dense surface mostly made of a plastic, rubber-type material. They come in different sizes and thicknesses, and the idea is that they provide a relatively dense and soft surface for activities like using hole punches and things like that.
So when you’re punching a hole in your material and putting striking force on it, it will push the leather material into whatever is below it. This can put some pretty significant marks on the self-healing cutting mat, which is usually meant for straight-bladed tools.
When using heavy striking force, it’s typically best to have another type of secure pad like this below your tool and above your cutting mat. Some people can definitely get away with their cutting mat below it. However, I prefer having something in between simply because we are providing extra vertical striking force right down into that material.
The Japanese cutting mat will also help keep your blade structurally intact and sharper for longer. It’s also going to help give a nice, clean cut because the blade isn’t jamming up against a harder surface right as it gets to the end. It can actually go fully through that material right into the mat. So, depending on your preference, these can be pretty helpful to have.
The poly cutting board is like those commonly found in kitchens but can also serve as a surface in leather crafting for striking implement techniques. Its ability to absorb impact and vibration, along with its softness, helps protect the edge of your blade.
Because it’s softer than your blade, your blade can easily sink into it, keeping the blade sharp and protecting the cutting mat underneath.
For example, after making a cut, you’ll notice a small hole in your leather item but no significant damage to the board, and your tool remains in good shape. Poly cutting boards are relatively inexpensive, making them a great option if you’re starting out. They provide a large, affordable surface for practicing your striking techniques.
Another option is a novolene chopping block. Novolene is another thick, plastic-type rubber that helps absorb the shock while the tools go through. It can be used to protect those tools and provide a denser surface to absorb some of the shock and striking force.
These are often red, and different sizes are available depending on what suits your workspace the best.
Stone slabs are dense materials made from natural stone, typically available in granite or quartz. Quartz is the most popular material due to its density and properties.
However, because quartz is so hard and dense, it’s important not to place it directly under your tools. Striking a metal-bladed tool into quartz can damage your tools. Instead, use the quartz slab primarily as a shock absorption surface. Place the stone slab on your desk, and add your cutting surface on top of it, whether it’s a Japanese cutting mat, a nylon cutting board, or another plastic or rubber surface. This setup will help protect your tools while you work.
By using this method, the stone slab absorbs some of the shock when striking on top of the softer surface. This reduces the tool’s bounce, leading to better-quality results in your technique. Whether you’re punching holes or tooling leather, minimizing vibration ensures a more consistent application of the tool, resulting in a higher-quality final product.
Stone slabs come in various sizes. A 6 x 6-inch slab works well for tasks like setting hardware or punching holes. If you’re working on something larger, a 12 x 12-inch slab provides a bigger surface area and better force dissipation thanks to its size and greater absorption capacity.
You can find them in home improvement stores or kitchen remodeling stores. They are also available specifically for leathercraft, though essentially, there’s no difference. They may be shaped slightly differently, but what you’re ultimately looking for is a relatively thick piece of quartz or granite, with quartz being preferred.
If quartz isn’t available, granite can work well too. In terms of thickness, around an inch to an inch and a quarter is ideal; something thinner can work, but thicker material generally provides better results due to its density and greater mass to absorb shock and vibration.
Another surface you can use for cutting is a poundo board, a rubber surface designed for blade protection and shock absorption. This board is ideal for placing under your knife or as a backdrop when punching holes, providing a protective and supportive surface for your tools.
When using a poundo board surface, the tool passes through the leather material, leaving a mark on the board. This setup allows the tool to pass through the material safely, providing a clean cut all the way through, and the soft material also protects your blade. Poundo boards come in various sizes; mine is about 12 x 12 and a quarter-inch thick. It’s relatively sturdy and durable and also helps with shock absorption.
We all have tools, and being organized goes a long way in an efficient shop. A leather tool holder or stand holds and organizes leather tools. It will make them easy to access, and you’ll know where everything is. They’re helpful when you’re in the middle of a project and want to quickly reach for your next tool to keep that project flowing.
Tool holders usually stand upright and are easily moved around; there can be multiple levels and drawers, and you may have places for stamp holders and other tools. Your holder may grow as you grow as a crafter. As you get more tools or you specialize in a certain area of the craft, you may find and/or make holders that will benefit what you have.
A tool holder could be something as easy as a toolbox when you’re just starting out. Then, as you get more advanced in the craft, you can make something custom, purchase pre-made storage systems, or combine any of those. Essentially, it’s whatever works best for you in the space that you’re working in.
The cork board tool holder is a cork block, ideal for holding leatherworking awls or sewing needles. Cork, being a natural and firm material, is easily penetrated by sharp tools, and its firmness keeps them securely in place. When it comes to storing knife blades, hobby knives, needles, and other sharp, oddly shaped tools you want to keep readily accessible; a corkboard can efficiently serve this purpose.
Cork boards come in various sizes. A helpful shape for crafting is a 4×6-inch board. You can have it sitting securely on a wooden base, or you could just have a cork block on top of your desk—really, whatever works best for you and makes crafting easier.
Leather weights come in various forms, including specialized designs. These small metal devices are used to secure leather in place during cutting, stamping, punching, tooling, and similar processes.
They have very smooth, polished surfaces and are made of very dense materials, usually metal and often brass. Leather weights are helpful in leather crafting because they won’t mark or mar the leather when placed on top. The best weights will be sturdy, dense, and smooth, so they hold things in place and don’t leave marks behind. While I certainly would love a fancy machined type of leather weight, there are all kinds of things that you could use for it.
If it is strong, dense, well-balanced, and smooth, that will be your best bet. The wider it is, the more that weight spreads over the leather, reducing potential indentation risk. If you aren’t sure, try it out. Use it on a scrap piece of leather. Even if you have something that isn’t specifically intended for a leather weight, it could probably work.
Although, if you want to invest in dedicated leather weights, they’re pretty cool, and you’ll likely find a couple of different uses for them while crafting.
When I’m crafting, I use a sturdy wooden table under my cutting mat. I recommend this setup because leather crafting often involves a lot of striking and cutting, which transfers force into the table. A sturdy, thick wooden table can absorb this shock and effectively dissipate it down into the floor, so you get less vibration on your surface and less vibration that comes back into the tools that you’re working with.
We want the force to travel down through the tool, the leather, and the table to the floor. The more secure and sturdy your setup, the more stable your surface will be. This typically results in better tool performance, as the force is effectively absorbed and less is reflected back to you.
If you don’t have a very sturdy table, consider using a solid core door on some sawhorses to create a flat, strong surface. An old workbench or similar sturdy platform can also work well.
A steel table is another option, though it won’t absorb as much shock as wood. So you will want some absorption layer above that, like a poundo board, Japanese cutting mat, or novolene chopping block; basically, the sturdier your table, the better.
Another great leather working surface is a bar mat. What? We’re not doing bar things here. We’re doing leather things. You’re right, but this works great in several ways. One, it’s your typical format, and it’s intended to go on a bar and catch spilled liquids. You notice these have an indented surface with space in between, a little lip on the end, and a nice thick rubber density.
We can use this in two ways. First, it works well as a tool absorption pad, similar to the others mentioned, because it’s dense and relatively soft. Second, it’s useful for cleaning small items. If you’re using a small amount of water or other cleaners, it will be caught, making cleanup easy.
For example, when cleaning a belt and rubbing some water on it, any excess will fall and collect into the channels instead of on your work surface. This setup allows you to get a head start on cleaning while keeping all your tools nearby, and then when you’re done, you simply put the dry items away, lift up the mat, bring it to a sink, and just pour everything out and rinse it off. You’re in great shape because it’s intended to be wet and cleaned. Just wash it off.
This setup is versatile—on the other side, it also doubles as a dense rubber mat for other leatherworking tasks. I find this really cool, and it is worth mentioning that this bar mat has multiple uses for crafting.
When looking for a leather working surface, keep these tips in mind.
First, consider the price. Smaller surfaces generally cost less, while larger ones made of more advanced composite materials may be a bit pricier but not excessively.
Ultimately, your choice will come down to personal preference—what style, look, and feel you prefer. For instance, some may prefer the resilience of a nylon cutting board, while others may prefer the shock absorption of a poundo board. The key tip here is to try them out and see which one best suits your crafting style. This will enhance your comfort during crafting and lead to better results in your projects.
Secondly, invest in a sturdy table. A sturdy table provides a more comfortable and consistent work surface, especially when using striking techniques. It also reduces wobbling and shaking when cutting and performing other tasks, laying a solid foundation for a good workshop.
And there you have it, a look into leather work surfaces. There are all different kinds out there, and as you get more experience, you’ll likely have a preference in terms of what works really well for you and what you like the most. Once you have that set, you probably won’t have to think about it all that much again. It will just be there and you’ll be doing the work on top of them.
If you have any questions, or if you have other preferences or suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
Until next time, keep crafting.
Dan Concord is a professional leather crafter with 15 years of design experience and expertise. He is founder of the successful Liberty Leather Goods studio, and also a published author, speaker, teacher, and educator on leather working tools and techniques. He lives in the USA.
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