What Kind Of Leather Is This? How Do I Finish The Edge?

[hong kong tom]

Hi All,

I am a newbie from Hong Kong, and this forum seems like a godsend to me. I am a new comer to leather craft, and I like making bags and stuff. I have a brief introduction course and worked with veg-tanned leather so I know only the basics of leather craft. I recently bought a piece of leather from a local leather shop, mainly attracted by its color. However when I got home and cut it up, I found the edge to be something I have never dealt with before. Also, the back side of the leather seems a bit strange to me too. I am wondering if there's anyone here who could help me identify what kind of leather is this, and what would be the proper way to finish the edge on this kind of leather? Thank you!

Yours,

Tom

Close up of the edge:

Top side:

Another top side view:

Back side:

Closeup of back side:

[electrathon]

A complete guess here but from the looks of the back i think it is not real leather but reconstituted leather (I think that is what they call it). Basically they take all the leather waste, grind it up and glue it back together. Sort of like particle board instead of wood.

Aaron

[hong kong tom]

A complete guess here but from the looks of the back i think it is not real leather but reconstituted leather (I think that is what they call it). Basically they take all the leather waste, grind it up and glue it back together. Sort of like particle board instead of wood.

Aaron

It does make sense, considering when I try to sand the cut edge down it would becomes more hairy and basically can't do anything to it... It's either cut it right the first time, or cut it right the second time....