My $60 bone folder was a total waste of cash

I bought this expensive bone folder from a leather supply shop in Portland, thinking it would be smoother and last forever. After three months it started cracking and left rough edges on my book covers. My old $12 plastic one from a craft store actually worked better and still holds up fine. Has anyone else found that cheap tools sometimes outperform the pricey ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

brian3281mo ago

Bone is too porous for consistent smoothness in leatherwork.

ivan_mason1mo ago

I had this exact problem with a bone folder I bought last year from Tandy. First time I used it on some damp veg tan, the surface started getting rough and I could actually see little bits of bone dust coming off. It left these tiny scratches in the leather that I had to sand out later. My $6 plastic thing from Amazon has never done that, it just works every time with no surprises. I know some people swear by natural materials because they're traditional, but for me consistency beats tradition any day. The weight thing you mentioned is real too, my hand cramps way less with the lighter plastic tools.

the_alice1mo ago

Totally agree with you on the bone being too porous. I think the real issue is that cheap plastic tools are super consistent because they're all made from the same stiff material. The expensive bone ones can have tiny cracks or natural flaws that show up later, especially if you work with wet leather or glue. Plus plastic ones are lighter and easier to control for someone like me who doesnt have the strongest grip. Honestly, my $8 plastic burnisher does a better job than the fancy wood one I tried.