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Hello, I've been at leathercraft for a few years now, but I don't have a lot of hands on unfortunately. I'm really struggling with being able to evaluate leather for proper suppleness/ oil content? I am making a briefcase for my son. I selected a 6-7 oz veg tan side from my leather collection. It's a Tandy hide, probably Brazilian grade C, not terrible looking, not been oiled since I have had it. I rolled it out on my bench and had to weight both ends to hold it down while cutting out my pieces. My scratch awl didn't make a very convincing groove or line to follow; it was very shallow, almost like a light cat scratch and I had to look at it from different angles to see my cut lines. I had to make 4 or 5 passes with a reasonably sharp round knife. My knife would get stuck, and I had a few skip offs. I ended up pulling it towards me, and even using it like a strap cutter. My big pieces were still wanting to curl up by an inch or more, even after laying out on the bench for a few days. I had a disaster of a dye up and pretty sure now that I should have oiled my leather. I'm wondering if some of the above should have been clues that this hide needed oil? What do you guys look for when you are evaluating a hide for it's overall condition and usability? Do you have some tests that you make on the leather, or do you just know by feel and sight? How does temper figure in there? Is firm temper leather just dryer leather? Thanks in advance, Guy

I have some cheap very dry shoulder of 2.4mm veg tan, should i apply some neats foot oil to it before using and if I do can i still oil dye it afterwards Please excuse my ignorance but still a newbe to leatherwork

I have a belt I tooled about 10 years ago. Someone wants to purchase it. What can I use to put some life back into it ? It's not cracking, just a little dry from sitting for 10 years.

I was just given a full back, hair-on horse hide from a friend. Seen many different hides but never a horse! It still has the mane and tail on it and everything. Kind of creepy as I have one of my own and she is very alive. But still pretty cool never the less. Anyways it was given to my friend by her neighbor (it was her prize show horse who she had skinned after it died) who was moving and decided to give it away for some reason. Don’t think I want to hang it on my wall like she did but I do want to make it look somewhat nice again. It’s super dry and is pretty warped. Some of the edges are very brittle and tearing. It is now in a big box that it was kinda just shoved into for what seems to be a little bit of time as it’s kinda crumpled up. I was just wondering the best way to condition it? I know there’s some hydrating spray type leather products out there for cow hide rugs. Not sure how expensive they are but I really don’t want to spend a ton of money on this thing if possible. It doesn’t have to look perfect I just want to try to spruce it back up a bit. What is the cheapest way to do this do you think? I left it at my friends so I will post some pics of it tomorrow. Thanks!