singteck Report post Posted June 15, 2008 Hi, I have tried searching but can't find much info on this type of leather. I know it's used for making soles but I need more info as to it's properties. Can it be tooled? Can it be wet formed? Dyed? etc etc....... It looks like vegetable tanned leather compressed to harden it but I am probably wrong. Help? singteck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antipaladin Report post Posted June 15, 2008 "sole leather" or "sole bend" is veg tanned usually used, appropriately, for shoe soles. It's also used for leather armor for the SCA folks. It goes through some sort of special tanning process to make it stiffer than standard butts, but I'm not exactly sure what it is. If you call up Weaver leather, they should be able to tell you. I'm looking at their catalog and it's listed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted June 16, 2008 Can it be tooled? Yes, but not with the precision of the lighter weights. It can be stamped, but the impressionsa aren't going to be deep.Can it be wet formed? Kinda. It is so stiff it can't be rolled up. If you were really determined, wet it well and had a lot of time you can make it assume a little bit of a shaping, but don't expect to manipulate it like the lighter weights. Dyed? etc etc....... Yes, it will take dye, but be prepared for several applications. It looks like vegetable tanned leather compressed to harden it but I am probably wrong. I don't think it's compressed- I think it's just the whole thickness of the hide, not split at the tannery. singteck I don't think people use it for shoe soles much. It's not very easy to cut or punch, either. It does make excellent protective armor, and is popular with the folks that dress up to beat each other with swords and sticks. If I were going to play that game, it would be my leather of choice. Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singteck Report post Posted June 16, 2008 Thank you! I think I will buy a piece and see if I can make anything out of it. singteck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kseidel Report post Posted June 16, 2008 Sole leather is heavy veg tanned skirting leather that is compressed by casing with water and then plating, rolling, and pounding the moisture out of it tightening the grain and making it stiffer. It can be oiled, dyed finished much like any other skirting, however there is much less penetration due to the tightness of the fibers. It can be stamped and tooled but requires much casing, and it is impossible to get the same depth of impression. It is still the preferred soling material for finer shoes and boots. There are specialized machines for cutting and finishing sole leather soles. Keith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickybobby Report post Posted June 17, 2008 I just had my first encounter with this material. I just started working in a saddle shop in Wickenburg Az. (Ben's Saddlery) We use it to make Tapaderos (covers for stirrups) . To start you soak the whole hide overnight, cut your pattern out, let it soak some more then it is flexible enough to mold to shape. Rick J. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
