Good Leather Supplier?

[Spinner]

Checked my receipts last night as I was curious after this discussion. As suspected, Art is correct about the sale stuff.

The piece of W&C that I was really happy with was not on sale and I had it split from thicker stock which gave me a very even & consistent thickness. The second piece I bought that was so-so was on overstock sale and already in the thickness I needed.

[Ellen]

Hi Ellen, this "blotting" paper leather you mentioned, what brand is it? I might want to consider it as I rarely dye and apply finishes. But I do want blemish free leather and that sounds like what I am looking for.

Wicket and Craig, tooling leather, best quality. The distributor really did his best this time: cleanest leather I've ever seen. Usually even on best quality leather there were uneven surface and print marks (pulling from the shelf or something like this).

This one forms and cuts beautifully, only when you touch it with wet dye or finish it was momentarily sucked down. No chance on even application, plus colors distortion. I even tried apply neatsfoot oil before dyeing, with overnight drying, it didn't help.

Art, I would like not to be picky about surface of leather, but there is no place in everyday life for tooled leather, not everybody likes it, and not everybody is ready to pay for it. But Wicket & Craig best tooling leather price is quite acceptable, special production cost is beyond my means.

I just wonder how Valery Michaels (UK, vegtan bag maker) managed to get so clean and even leather as on photos in her book.

Edited January 26, 2011 by Ellen

[reddevil76]

Checked my receipts last night as I was curious after this discussion. As suspected, Art is correct about the sale stuff.

The piece of W&C that I was really happy with was not on sale and I had it split from thicker stock which gave me a very even & consistent thickness. The second piece I bought that was so-so was on overstock sale and already in the thickness I needed.

Spinner, how was the temper of the leather? Firm enough to do overlay style card slots in a wallet?

[Spinner]

Spinner, how was the temper of the leather? Firm enough to do overlay style card slots in a wallet?

Sorry Red, I'm not sure about that. First I'm not quite savvy on wallet construction and second, the weight I'm using from them is 5-6oz.

I can say that it holds shape very well and wet forms nicely around compound curves and on the first batch I didn't have the color problems that Ellen seems to be having.

[Art]

Hi again Ellen,

You might want to try using an airbrush. It takes a little practice, but a lot of the "impeccable" finishes are often sprayed. You can cut back your dye with Denatured Alcohol and it can reduce the uneven application, you just do more applications to get the required density.

Art

Wicket and Craig, tooling leather, best quality. The distributor really did his best this time: cleanest leather I've ever seen. Usually even on best quality leather there were uneven surface and print marks (pulling from the shelf or something like this).

This one forms and cuts beautifully, only when you touch it with wet dye or finish it was momentarily sucked down. No chance on even application, plus colors distortion. I even tried apply neatsfoot oil before dyeing, with overnight drying, it didn't help.

Art, I would like not to be picky about surface of leather, but there is no place in everyday life for tooled leather, not everybody likes it, and not everybody is ready to pay for it. But Wicket & Craig best tooling leather price is quite acceptable, special production cost is beyond my means.

I just wonder how Valery Michaels (UK, vegtan bag maker) managed to get so clean and even leather as on photos in her book.

[reddevil76]

Sorry Red, I'm not sure about that. First I'm not quite savvy on wallet construction and second, the weight I'm using from them is 5-6oz.

I can say that it holds shape very well and wet forms nicely around compound curves and on the first batch I didn't have the color problems that Ellen seems to be having.

I suppose nothing beats trying at least one hide out myself

[Spinner]

I suppose nothing beats trying at least one hide out myself

Yeah, that's how I found I liked their leathers. As I mentioned above though, pic the leather you want and have it split instead of buying the specials or overstock.

I've had more consistent results with leather the split specifically for me.

[Ellen]

Thank you, Art. I'll keep in mind advice on Matt for a future, but airbrushing is not for my conditions (living room) and other sides were taking manual dyeing very well.

As I understand now, most of you are not making smooth vegtan things on regular basis for a reason. I have to learn to work with leather what comes to me, and stop trying do make the smooth and even product. Sigh.

Thank you all, I appreciate your help. I learned my lesson.

[reddevil76]

Thank you, Art. I'll keep in mind advice on Matt for a future, but airbrushing is not for my conditions (living room) and other sides were taking manual dyeing very well.

As I understand now, most of you are not making smooth vegtan things on regular basis for a reason. I have to learn to work with leather what comes to me, and stop trying do make the smooth and even product. Sigh.

Thank you all, I appreciate your help. I learned my lesson.

Ellen, I share your frustration as I am in the same situation as you in a few ways. I have space constraints (working from a small desk in bedroom), I like to make clean plain items as well, and I pay alot for shipping too. Latest shipment, US$120 in shipping cost alone for 4 sides. So any mistakes is indeed costly for me.

I too have looked at some other's commercial sites and wondered where they get such clean veg tan. But then again, we see only the finish products, but we don't get to see behind the scenes. Maybe they too "throw away" half a hide for every half they use, just to achieve such clean results?

Anyway, some time ago, I came across Rowensworld.com. These folks sell leather from Tandy, but in a different way. They sell in pieces of 1 sq ft (you decide the dimensions), and they cut that piece only from the cleanest part of the hide. For the Live Oak, it was $10 per piece. I did email them asking if they could do a discount for 50 pieces. Their offer if I am not wrong is $8 per piece.

By the sq foot, this is almost twice the price as opposed to buying the whole side. If you are one who can find projects to utilise the blemished parts, Buying the whole side still brings bigger returns.

But if you don't wish to struggle with storing big hides, or cutting pieces from one, or having the headache of dealing with the blemished parts ( I hate to throw them away, yet don't know what to do with them), then maybe this is the way to go.

[BBVA]

Hi Ellen,

Sounds like you have very particular requirements for your leather. Wickett and Craig can probably meet your needs as they have quite a finishing facility at their tannery in Pennsylvania. Don't go looking for sale prices when you have higher standards as the premium hides are never on sale. I have seen backs that they produce for Louis Vitton that would, I hope, meet your expectations. You really need to tell them what you need and not flinch at the price. Get in contact with Matt Bressler at W&C and see what they can do for you. 1-800-Tannery.

Art

Well said. Once you have the need for certain standards, you can't go bargain hunting for vegtan. I learned that like most, the hard way.

I've been using W&C, having mine custom split and resprayed and have been happy with them so far. You're going to pay, but you as the maker, and whoever buys your goods, will be happy.

Just my 2 cents.