Hello Helen. You may be interested in the Beginner Class. www.leathercraftmasterclass.com/beginnerclass This includes 20 page article which will give you the knowledge to choose the best quality tools for your needs as a beginner. As for your workshop setup, this blog may help: www.leathercraftmasterclass.com/post/workshop-setup-7-not-so-obvious-tips-and-hacks-for-better-focus
French edger, but more so to allow almost anyone to create this bag even without machinery. But for those that can use one, a manual splitter or crank splitter is far superior.