Storing Leather

[chicago johnny]

Whats the best way to keep leather and for how long .before tooling

[UKRay]

Oh my - that is a tricky one!

It all depends on what sort of leather you want to keep, how much of it you have and how much space you have to store it - plus any number of other variables. Can we assume you are talking about tooling leather?

Essentially:

1. Keep it out of direct sunlight if you can - leather will darken in the sun
2. Keep it flat if possible - or rolled rough side out if not. Don't fold it as you will find it hard to get the creases out
3. Keep it away from direct heat sources - like radiators and hot air blowers
4. Keep it cool - it helps to keep the leather from drying out
5. Keep it covered - to prevent marking
6. Keep it dry - if it gets damp it will probably develop mould
7. Keep it away from your dyes - yup, obvious but I made this mistake once... just once!
8. Keep it off the ground - to discourage rodents
9. Keep it away from children - some of the tanning fluids aren't too good if they get chewed
10. Keep it away from pets - yeah, right...

I have some leather on my rack that is almost 30 years old and still seems perfectly usable - although I wouldn't want to use it on anything important. This is an unusual situation as I mostly buy to use right away (or within a year or so). I would suggest you do the same.

I think that is all for now - anyone else want to add anything?

Ray

[celticleather]

Keep it flat if possible - or rolled rough side out if not. Don't fold it as you will find it hard to get the creases out

An interesting difference here, between Ray's method and my own. I always roll my tooling hides grain side out (rough side in). I once found that rolling with grain inside caused the grain to compress, making it to go 'loose' when unrolled. I figured that rolling with the grain out tends to put the surface of the leather under slight tension, helping to keep it flatter when unrolled.

The leather should obviously not be rolled too tightly, whichever method is used, and rolling with grain out requires more care when protecting from sunlight or soiling. There's no question that storing flat is best, but this can be a space-hungry method.

Any further thoughts on this . . ?

Terry

[bentley]

I made a 4'x8' box from plywood and 2x6 frame, added a hinged masonite cover and hang it from the garage ceiling at an angle with chains so I can open the cover. Works great for me, keeps the dust and light out, the leather lays flat inside so no problem a curl in the hide.

[chicago johnny]

Oh my - that is a tricky one!

It all depends on what sort of leather you want to keep, how much of it you have and how much space you have to store it - plus any number of other variables. Can we assume you are talking about tooling leather?

Essentially:

1. Keep it out of direct sunlight if you can - leather will darken in the sun
2. Keep it flat if possible - or rolled rough side out if not. Don't fold it as you will find it hard to get the creases out
3. Keep it away from direct heat sources - like radiators and hot air blowers
4. Keep it cool - it helps to keep the leather from drying out
5. Keep it covered - to prevent marking
6. Keep it dry - if it gets damp it will probably develop mould
7. Keep it away from your dyes - yup, obvious but I made this mistake once... just once!
8. Keep it off the ground - to discourage rodents
9. Keep it away from children - some of the tanning fluids aren't too good if they get chewed
10. Keep it away from pets - yeah, right...

I have some leather on my rack that is almost 30 years old and still seems perfectly usable - although I wouldn't want to use it on anything important. This is an unusual situation as I mostly buy to use right away (or within a year or so). I would suggest you do the same.

I think that is all for now - anyone else want to add anything?

Ray

thanks ray very helpful

[chicago johnny]

Thanks everyone all good to know.