21
votes
Accepted
What is this tool in my sewing kit?
It's a seam ripper. You use it to pick up and cut stitches in a seam that you want to "unsew".
To use it properly, poke the longer end under the stitch, then push it through so the U part cuts it. ...
- 1,828
16
votes
Accepted
Can someone tell me the purpose of this multi-tool?
That is a fishing/survival tool. To use most of the tools, you snap the needed tool (such as a hook) off the slab. The individual tools do not reattach.
As you noticed, most of the tools are for ...
10
votes
Accepted
What is this needle called?
It looks a lot like an old sail/sailing/sailor's/sail maker's needle:
"A rare and interesting Welsh Sailors or Sail Makers tool kit. A full set of sail makers needles, string and large for ...
- 11.4k
9
votes
Can someone tell me the purpose of this multi-tool?
I managed to find the same product on Amazon:
It's described as "a handy wallet tool [that] contains everything you need to survive":
This handy wallet tool contains everything you need to ...
- 191
9
votes
Can someone tell me the purpose of this multi-tool?
It looks a lot like this:
From the product info:
The Wilderness Survival Card is a set of tools and devices that are a game changer for somebody in a survival scenario. With this many survival tools ...
- 231
7
votes
Accepted
What is this tool (looking like half a birds beak on a shaft with a handle) for?
This looks like a bearing scraper, used for finishing the inside of soft metal bearings, such as Babbitt bearings which are made by pouring liquid metal directly around the shaft they will support, ...
- 257
7
votes
Accepted
What are these colored tabs in my art supply kit?
You probably have the 101-piece set, the 126-piece set doesn't appear to include any supplies that look like those.
Here's the product image of the 101-piece set, for reference:
This set contains, ...
- 2,375
6
votes
What do you call these snips/shears?
I know these as Tin Snips, or Tinner(')s Snips, and are identifiable as such because of the symmetry of the handles and blades, the wide aperture between the blades, and that the handles are longer ...
- 1,358
6
votes
Accepted
What is the name of this sliding collapsing square tool?
I think what you have is an adjustable viewfinder, a tool used by artists to help frame a scene.
By sliding the arms along the guides you are able adjust the view of the scene you are trying to ...
- 2,966
6
votes
Accepted
Whats is the mm equivalent of US / old UK knitting needles?
Here's an overview of all the knitting needle sizes I know.
Metric UK US
0.5mm 24 -
0.75mm 22 -
1.0mm 20 5/0
1.25mm 18 4/0
1.5mm 17 000
...
- 475
6
votes
What is this needle called?
It could be a leather working needle:
source
The ones in this picture are 7"/17.8 cm, but are described as 'large'.
- 11.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Plastic sheet for drawing to prevent smudging
I think you can buy any generic plastic sheet for that purpose. Sturdier plastic - acrylic, PET - sheets will probably work better as they are less prone to movement.
Many artists use regular paper ...
- 11.4k
5
votes
Tools for etching leather?
Based on the appearance of the tool (the thick shaft and the guard around it), the person in the video is drawing on the leather using heat, rather than 'cold' etching, carving, or engraving the ...
- 11.4k
5
votes
Can any leather crafters tell me what tool this is?
Awls are typically used for punching holes into objects, awls come in different styles. This one in particular, if you look at the back end, looks very durable, and able to be hammered on the back ...
- 1,771
5
votes
Accepted
Does drawing on a transparent sheet what you can see behind it have a name?
The method or technique with which you copy a subject by following its lines with a pencil (or other tool) on the surface it appears on or behind is simply called tracing.
I am not familiar with the ...
- 11.4k
5
votes
What is this craft tool used for?
It's a weaving device and may have a specific name. Even though I've had one in hand, I am unable to find an appropriately specific term.
The threads for weaving (often for lace) are wrapped in a ...
- 7,599
5
votes
What is this craft tool used for?
Apparently these devices are called "daisy wheels" or "daisy knitters". They were a novelty in the 1930s (usually made of metal) and had a short revival in the 1970s and 80s (...
Elmy♦
- 13.4k
5
votes
What is this thing on top of my bucket of resin?
The lid to the pouring spout :) I know them from cans of turpentine. Those two plastic semi-circles can be lifted to give a better grip when unscrewing the lid.
This picture gives a better ...picture:
...
- 11.4k
4
votes
Accepted
What is a good set of tools for a beginner in leather working?
The specific tools you need will depend on exactly what you want to do and the material you're working with; the list below covers both the tasks required to make a bag and the tools necessary to ...
- 2,325
4
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between miniature and standard brushes?
"Miniature" is a reference to the length of the tuft of bristles from end of the ferrule to the tip of the brush.
There is no standard to how measurements for artist's brushes are shown. The ...
- 2,966
4
votes
Accepted
What is this palette knife called, and where could I find it?
Painting knives don't seem to have much in the way of naming standards for blades. Most are just numbered in a given series. Some manufacturers do manage to group styles together but the names don't ...
- 11k
4
votes
Accepted
What kind of triangle / ruler is shown in this video?
It’s a ‘Brown + Sharpe toolmakers knife-edge #530’
In the video he was probably just referring to the second ruler he showed with the bevelled edge.
- 76
4
votes
What is this long free arm machine called?
"Feed-off-the-arm sewing machines – A feed off the arm sewing machine’s design is unusual in that its arm bridges a u-shaped bed. Such machines are ideal for seaming the inseams of pants and ...
- 191
4
votes
Can you identify this yarn tool?
That looks like a bone folder (aka paper creaser) to me. A plastic version though, not actual bone. I've got one that's similar in bright orange, although mine doesn't have the notch near the tip.
It ...
- 146
3
votes
Why are needles designed for sewing thick canvas or heavy leather three-edged?
Why are needles designed for sewing thick canvas or heavy leather three-edged?
The answer is quite simple. They are designed this way in order to avoid tearing leather and other thick materials. They ...
- 952
3
votes
Accepted
What is this antique thing?
It looks like a camel saddle. Numerous designs exist, for different camels & intended use (long riding trip, short ceremonial riding trip, pack animal, etc) and different regions. Some are made ...
- 325
3
votes
Can any leather crafters tell me what tool this is?
It's a Leathercraft 5-in-one Multi Tool.
https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/810136661/leathercraft-5-in-1-multi-tool-3ea
It's supposed to pull apart and... do various clever things, but quite frankly ...
3
votes
Can any leather crafters tell me what tool this is?
It looks like a multi tool, the very point could be used as a awl as previously said, the part with the indentations to aply all sorts of compounds to the edge end last but not least the end portion ...
- 31
3
votes
Can any leather crafters tell me what tool this is?
To me the tip looks just like the tool I use to apply edge coat. The little indentations hold the edge coat as you apply it. I’m assuming the pointed end spins? If so that’s what you have, a tool to ...
- 31
2
votes
What is a good set of tools for a beginner in leather working?
It depends on whether you are a beginner who expects to continue and is starting to build up a collection of tools, or whether you are a beginner who wants to make a single item and does not expect to ...
- 2,946
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible