Is it ok to store the leather rolled up in the boxes?

[esantoro]

I'm in a position right now that when I find the leather I need and the price I'm willing to pay, I need to buy about 20 sides. However, it will take me some time to use up all this leather.

Is it ok to store the leather rolled up in the boxes it comes shipped in for a considerable period of time, say. six months to a year, or should the leather be stored outside the boxes? This leather will be 4 to 7 oz veg tan and chrome tan.

Thanks,

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

I have one supplier that wraps their leather up in black heavy plastic to ship. I open theirs immediately and let it have air. For the leather that comes in boxes, I sometimes leave the chrome tans in the box, if all the same color. I have found that some mixed colors will rub off onto each other over long periods. If it is one or 2 veg tans, I leave them in the box. On quantities like you are talking I get them out. Seems like on the big orders, they roll and pack them as tight as they can to get as many in one box as they can. I roll them back up looser to store. I am a fan of rolling grain side in. Some distributors roll grain out, and some users think that rolling grain in compresses the grain and makes it raggy when unrolled. I roll mine loose enough it has not been an issue, plus I am protecting a bit from light damage on the grain side.

I usually try for minimum inventory on hand for things like leather that I can usually get within a few days, so mine usually is not sitting for months to a year. I do know guys who buy a large quantity like you are talking about. They store it rolled and standing on end in dark closets, and get by OK.

Bruce Johnson

[abn]

Ed,

I agree with everything Bruce says above. I work on small projects over long periods of time, and consequently I have leather laying around sometimes for years. I have a double shoulder I've been using for about a year. I keep it rolled up grain side in.

Bruce's recommendation of finding a dark closet is a good one. Even though my workspace doesn't have a window, I've found that over time, even when rolled, the lightbulbs have suntanned the leather somewhat, darkening it a bit and making it harder. I'd definitely make sure I had a dark and dry place before investing in 20 sides!

-Alex

[Art]

Hi Ed,

With Hermann Oak, they wrap it pretty well in butcher type brown paper with their mark on it. This I have stored in a closet for quite some time. With HO, I order 10 sides of a color and optional finish at a time. There is probably not that much of a break in ordering 20 sides instead of 10. On chrome tan, keep it away from veg tan and away from other colors, however same closet is ok. Closet should be dark and relative humidity or 40%-60% however in the winter, I don't humidify the closet so it sometimes it can get down around 20%. On latigo, keep it away from everything. I roll everything grain in and about 18" diameter except the HO which is about 10" diameter as rolled and packed by them.

Also, mark your leather so you know what it is and especially who or where it came from. Mark the rattiest edge of a side and make it all that is left when cutting the side for use, that way you throw it in a box on your desk and you know what you need to order.

If you are doing production, use the folks in the industry for their knowlege. Ultimately you have to make your own decisions, but there is a lot of willing help out there for the asking. Phone calls are cheap these days so there is a cheap valuable resource out there. Leather suppliers are a pretty tight lot and know not only each other's business but their clients business. Use that resource.

Art

I'm in a position right now that when I find the leather I need and the price I'm willing to pay, I need to buy about 20 sides. However, it will take me some time to use up all this leather.

Is it ok to store the leather rolled up in the boxes it comes shipped in for a considerable period of time, say. six months to a year, or should the leather be stored outside the boxes? This leather will be 4 to 7 oz veg tan and chrome tan.

Thanks,

Ed