Bicicouture Report post Posted June 30, 2014 Hello! A few months ago my local leather supplier switched over to buying from a new tannery. I have noticed that the new leather does not patina, it just ends up looking kind of dirty after a few months of use. I have been working with 8/9 oz Veg Tan leather for about 4 years now and I have never encountered pieces like these. This isn't a problem for products that I dye but it is for products that I leave natural. I love watching the natural leather age and darken but this new leather just doesnt seem to do that. I also put it to the test with a few products that I use to see how it would react. I tested some Skidmores leather cream and some saddle oil on a few natural pieces. My local supplier was out of the 8/9 oz for a few weeks so I had to go out to buy a Hermann Oak piece from another supplier as that is all that they carried, of course Hermann Oak leather tanned and reacted nicely. I am wondering if anyone has ever experienced this? Is there something that leather could have been coated with? I spoke to my supplier about it and they said it isnt coated with anything and are surprised that it is not getting its natural patina. You can see that the new leather had some spotting once I put the saddle oil on it. Any information would help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kustom Report post Posted June 30, 2014 That is strange. Have you tried casing the leather to see if it takes water? If it has some kind of sealer I'm guessing it wouldn't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cem Report post Posted July 1, 2014 I've had that with one of my local suppliers some of their leather is from South America and it does the same thing ie looks dirtyish after trying to sun tan it or apply oil. From what I was told it has something to do with the type of tannin they use couldn't tell you what tannery it actually comes from though as my local supplier is only a agent. I swapped to Hermann Oak for anything natural as I much prefer the golden look of that after oiling or sun tanning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Sioux Saddlery Report post Posted July 1, 2014 Use leather tanned in the US, and don't be fooled by the term "North American" hides. That can mean Mexico. Although the quality has improved in recent years, I have yet to see leather tanned in Mexico or South America that equals leather tanned domestically. I know just what you mean; the leather works up grayish, muddy, or dirty looking. The more you try to improve it, the worse it looks. Stick with Hermann Oak or Wickett and Craig for the look you want. Neither one of those leathers are perfect either, but it comes a lot closer. I don't know who was tanning some of the leather I've seen in harness that's between maybe 30 and 40 years old, maybe older, but there was some super stuff being made back then that nothing being made now even comes close to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bicicouture Report post Posted July 1, 2014 Thank you for your replies everyone! I told my supplier and they weren't much help, they put a piece out in the sun to see if it would tan but they have not got back to me on it. You are right that the tanneries are from South America. I would love to only use Herman Oak on everything but that doubles my cost per sq. ft. I might just have to raise my prices by a bit to make up for it. For now I will be using Herman Oak for anything natural as cem said and this local leather for my dyed products. Its unfortunate to have to go to two completely separate locations to purchase my leather and supplies. I am glad a few people know what i talking about though, I thought maybe i was doing something wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
