Where To Buy Leather?

[Buddytink]

Im wanting to get some Herman Oak leather so that I can practice tooling, and all that I can find is 24sq ft of the stuff for $100+ dollars. Does anyone know where I can buy it by the sq ft?

[dirtclod]

http://springfieldleather.com/store/ will cut a piece for you.Not sure if it's Herman Oak or not though. Edited August 30, 2010 by dirtclod

[Mick]

Im wanting to get some Herman Oak leather so that I can practice tooling, and all that I can find is 24sq ft of the stuff for $100+ dollars. Does anyone know where I can buy it by the sq ft?

I'm going to suggest http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/sides.htm and also suggest that you contact them, they have a form you can fillout if you have a special request. their veg-tan sides are all over 20 feet, ($75 + free shipping) but they may have something smaller hanging around. Great people, I enjoy working with them.

[BAD HIDE]

If all you're doing is practicing tooling, get a veg-tan remnants pack. It'll give you different sizes, thicknesses and quality to work with so you'll have some variation to play with, and it'll be really cheap.

Yes, it's lower quality leather, but you don't need grade A if all you're doing is doodling practice. Most of your carving experience will be trial and error, learning as you go, so don't use up your cash all at once. People have said on here that you can't tool remnant packs and bellies, which is just false; they're not ideal and the results won't be stellar, but it's economical to learn on and you CAN tool it. The first few things you make will be less than perfect, but hopefully you learned something, which you can take to your next piece. After you use up your remnants, get a shoulder and start making small items with slightly better leather and tool the hell out of them, then keep going till you're brave enough to start some really good pieces. Then a $100 Herman Oak side won't be that expensive, and you'll really appreciate how much better it is, and hopefully you'll have your miss-stamps out of your system.

Where to get it? Springfield, Zack White, Siegels, Brutten's Village - take your pick.

[Skald]

I am also looking out for a place to buy leather, and first and foremost from USA. The reason is the horrible prices here in Sweden, you'll have to pay more than double the prices you have there, for the exact same type of hides (Herman Oak for example). Then there's postage too, and it's not much cheaper to pay for postage inside Sweden, than it is to order from abroad. Sick, really. I know.

So, does anyone have any recommendations about what company/companies I should order from, that handles international orders well? I am thinking about ordering from Springfield Leather right now, I have heard nothing but kind words about them. I'll probably order like +25 sq. feet of leather, maybe even double that for a starter, depending on the conditions. I would want some standard cheapest possible shipping alternative, as delivery time is less important than price for me at the moment. I really would like to get a trustworthy and smooth working source to buy leather from, as I'll most likely start to order quite regularly ahead. Some retailers seems to have a problem to deliver internationally due to tax and custom issues, but again - some doesn't make an issue about that.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

For parctice pieces I would just find you local Tandy store, mine has a bin full of remnants to pick through. I believe they also carry Herman Oak. They also offer classes, and you can have access to a tutor that can give you hands on help if needed-the internet is only so good. In Vegas the leather guild meets at the Tandy store every month. Check em out.

[joquarter]

Skald , I buy my leather in Belgium , Lederhandel Berten , they also have a webshop, ore www.boomsma.nl, in the netherlands.

If you give them a call what you need , they give you a price.

Have to find out how the prices are in Germany , heard that there are some good leathershops.

[Skald]

Skald , I buy my leather in Belgium , Lederhandel Berten , they also have a webshop, ore www.boomsma.nl, in the netherlands.

If you give them a call what you need , they give you a price.

Have to find out how the prices are in Germany , heard that there are some good leathershops.

Never thought of that possibility really, this requires some further investigation.

I have some friends in Belgium and Germany, that might prove helpful. Anybody tried of the hides from Belgium or Germany? If they are any good for carving etc. that is.

[joquarter]

The last leather I bought in Belgium , was half of a hide vegtan leather , don't know in oz but its 4mm.

Very fine leather to carve , payed € 60 for it.

At Boomsma, bought two straps of dorset vegtan leather for making new stirrups 5mm × 60mm×1500mm , huge leather.

My 21 years old saddle is happy with it ,

[joquarter]

Here a pic of it almost ready , painted it mahony , carved the old fender , and gave it the same color.