I have a question regarding how to select the correct cut from a hide.
I have some experience tanning hides as a hobby and have learned that hides and skins vary in thickness; bellies are thin and necks are thick, generally speaking. In the case of factory tanned leathers, hides are split to a somewhat uniform thickness. With an un-split hide, it is important to observe what part of the hide is used for certain projects. But in commercially processed hides, is this still necessary? Assuming both to be the same weight, is there more to leather than simply its thickness based on where is was located on the animal? Is a bend more flexible than a shoulder or a butt from a belly? My assumption is that even though a factory tanned hide may be of uniform thickness, the nature of a hide varies; a shoulder would have a denser/less pliable fiber structure than a belly, etc. But frankly, I don't know. As such, my decision on what cut of leather to buy is at a standstill.
