Scrap Leather Thoughts

[bruce johnson]

      There have been some recent posts that Id like to share my thoughts and opinions on. This is just that - my personal thoughts. Take it for what is it worth and if you can use it - great. If not, write it off as a rant. Pricing leatherwork is not easy. When people ask about pricing, they have crossed a line. Gone from hobby to business (registered or under the radar, we are not the business police here). Grandma might give away her knitting she does for fun, but as soon as she sells a little and people ask for more - she's in it for some measure of money now. Break-even, coffee money, Disneyland trip, help a little with mortgage payments, quit your day job - there is probably room for everyone. There are complicated pricing formulas that work, some that don't. Not many simple formulas work. I made every mistake you can make and sometimes on a big scale. Some people here know my story, some don't and doesn't matter. That is not my intent here to be all knowing on pricing. I am only going to focus on one factor and that is leather.  Realistically, leather is the cheapest part of anything you make if you have to value your time, tools, and other materials. 

   Leather costs and scrap. Scrap is NOT free just because it is scrap. If you bought a side then you  paid exactly the same amount for every square inch piece of flank as you did for every square inch piece of back or butt. You might not like the flank and should have bought a bend, but that flank or belly was paid for just the same. Figure out a place to use it with a "purpose for it's properties".  (not an original quote). Then account for the real cost of it when you use it.  You might be surprised what can be done. My late first wife took little end cuts off headstall pieces - 1/2 or 5/8 by 1" sometimes, stamped a random flower center impression or some small geo stamp impressions, put an eyelet in and a small split ring - instant designer zipper tabs. Even with chemo she might do 4-6 an hour when she felt like it. Sold them for $8-10,  little beaded inlay took longer - $20. I was mainly doing strap work and personal stuff then with the occasional saddle and scrap was never an overflowing problem. My wife now started with 4" coasters, clicked out my saddle scrap and stamped simple designs on decent leather, on the crappy pieces glued some hair-on hide. At that point I was still building saddles, rope bags and cans, and she ran me totally out of scrap. Called my supplier and bought her rugged sides and second grade hair-on hides to keep up with those orders at the time. Point is, money was made and materials from either scrap or supplier pay their own way. I'd say don't fall into the trap of the scrap is just scrap and not account for it. Go into it with the idea that is has the same value and you will make "Profits From The Scrap Bin" Another not original quote - used to be regular feature in the Leather Crafters Journal. 

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[SteveOz]

I like to make watch straps, so my scraps are tiny. I tend to be as frugal as I can with leather so I end up with some small but useful pieces for practicing on. These can be really useful for testing edge finishes, sharpened tool tests, stitching and padding trials as well. Unlike Bruce's late wife I'm not making money from it directly, but I am in a way saving some money from not ruining a sellable product by testing something on it that may go very wrong.

[SUP]

@bruce johnson that is eye-opening, for newbies like me, especially. It is not a rant at all. You are perfectly right that we have paid for every inch of the leather, scrap or otherwise and  I admire your late first wife who was so talented and imaginative at using up every last bit, even through the pain of illness. Very inspiring. Thank you for this post. 

 

[BigBore]

Really good post and thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly. 

[TomE]

My day job mucking stalls and making/taking care of foals keeps getting in the way of starting a leathercraft business from my hobby.  However, the dream lives on.  I use scrap to practice construction and finishing techniques, and in the process figure out what I'm good at and what I enjoy.  I bought a larger splitter with plans to make small bags and cases from bridle side leftovers.

[Tugadude]

Bruce, we are truly blessed to have folks like yourself, willing to share their wisdom on this forum.  It is one of the reasons I keep coming back.  

Most of us are here because we love the craft and love sharing that love with likeminded people.  Some of us make money, but many probably never will.  But all of us can learn from experienced and passionate people like you.

Thanks Bruce!

[chuck123wapati]

Good job Bruce very well worded, i even keep my scrap thread it cost the same too and can be used for small stuff such as sewing belt loops or holding thing together temporarily.  I was taught as a young un to be frugal from my folks who just happened to grow up during the depression. We didn't waste much as a family and I still don't. 

[Gezzer]

Ain't I the odd duck here ? My scrap is free in that if after buying a  B side of H O for $ 260.00 ( about $11.00 a sf / $ .95 a square inch ) I haven't paid for that in projects , I need a new hobby . I am sure if I made a living from leather I would feel different  but even then I wouldn't charge my butcher the same for scrap as for top line leather .I know I wouldn't want to pay the same price for stew meat as prime rib !  

 

To each his own after all the man that paid  for whatever has the final say .

[chuck123wapati]

10 minutes ago, Gezzer said:

Ain't I the odd duck here ? My scrap is free in that if after buying a  B side of H O for $ 260.00 ( about $11.00 a sf / $ .95 a square inch ) I haven't paid for that in projects , I need a new hobby . I am sure if I made a living from leather I would feel different  but even then I wouldn't charge my butcher the same for scrap as for top line leather .I know I wouldn't want to pay the same price for stew meat as prime rib !  

 

To each his own after all the man that paid  for whatever has the final say .

i used to think that until chicken wings became so popular lol now they cost more than breast.

I think he is looking at this through the butchers eyes, the butcher buys a side of beef he then doesn't throw the scraps away just because he paid for the beef with the prime ribs. he sells them for a different cut, even sells the bones for the marrow. 

In essence the butcher pays the same price for both scrap and prime rib  but sells at different prices. like buying a half of a hide its not all the same quality of leather all over. 

[Gezzer]

9 hours ago, bruce johnson said:

       Go into it with the idea that is has the same value 

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

i used to think that until chicken wings became so popular lol now they cost more than breast.

I think he is looking at this through the butchers eyes, the butcher buys a side of beef he then doesn't throw the scraps away just because he paid for the beef with the prime ribs. he sells them for a different cut, even sells the bones for the marrow. 

In essence the butcher pays the same price for both scrap and prime rib  but sells at different prices. like buying a half of a hide its not all the same quality of leather all over. 

 

My point exactly , butcher pays x $ per pound . He knows that some cuts will be worth more and charges accordingly  . No one is talking about throwing out scrap leather just how to value it .