Questions on tooling English Bridle

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

Does anyone tool English bridle leather and is there any secret to tooling/stamping?

I got another order for a belt but I ran out of belt blanks... Since I don't sell many belts, I usually only cut a few out of a each side. I didn't want to order a whole side quite yet because I have plenty to continue making holsters. So I jumped onto weaver's website and came across Hermann Oak english bridle 10/12oz 1½" belt straps. They're veg tanned and can be stamped and tooled. And since I only use Hermann oak veg tan I thought this might be a great option. I got the strap a couple days ago. It's a nice solid piece of leather with nice tight top grain. I'm not so happy with the flesh side. It's been finished and it's obvious there's a ton of loose fleshy leather. I'll line it anyway, but that's a red flag for me. It wouldn't be a part of the hide I would use for holsters because that typically tells me there's no real solid body to the leather. This strap feels solid though

I gave tooling a shot on the cutoff, which is where the most loose flush side is. It definitely feels tight and sold. So solid it's hard as hell to tool. It carves easily enough, burnishes like a dream, but it almost feels like I'm tooling a dry piece of leather. I need to hit my tools quite a bit harder than I'm used to, which is putting my tooling skills to the test. Before I start the actual belt, I had to ask the questions above

 

Thanks

[TomE]

A Google search of this site turns up a number of threads about tooling/stamping bridle leather.  "site leatherworker.net tooling bridle leather"  I use a fair amount of HO bridle leather for making English tack, and appreciate that it is firm and has a smooth "moss back."  In my limited experience, Wickett and Craig bridle leather has a softer temper.  If you're seeing loose fibers that might not be the best part of the hide.  I find that typically more than half a side of HO bridle leather is firm, smooth backed, and suitable for straps.  Bridle leather is stuffed with fats/waxes that impair water adborption so it won't case like regular veg tanned.  An alternative to carving/stamping would be to carve designs without stamping.  Jean Luc Parisot has some nice examples on his Instagram account.