Free Leather

[Liberty]

This may seem odd but it crossed my mind and I thought I'd ask those with more knowledge than myself.

I frequent Craigslist, particularly the free section and I often see leather couches posted. I know that we're not talking veg tan or any HD leather but for lighter things isn't leather leather? Yeah it probably has a backing on it but so what? Can't that backing be backed as well? Or, stripped off and replaced?

Maybe my ignorance is showing but I can see finding these couches and skinning them and then making stuff from the couches hides.

[mikesmith648]

This may seem odd but it crossed my mind and I thought I'd ask those with more knowledge than myself.

I frequent Craigslist, particularly the free section and I often see leather couches posted. I know that we're not talking veg tan or any HD leather but for lighter things isn't leather leather? Yeah it probably has a backing on it but so what? Can't that backing be backed as well? Or, stripped off and replaced?

Maybe my ignorance is showing but I can see finding these couches and skinning them and then making stuff from the couches hides.

Cool idea!!

[Mike516]

I know people re purpose lots of things for the leather like old handbags and jackets so why not couches? I think it's a great idea.

[Liberty]

Well, so far I don't seem like such a nut to yaw'll but the idea of "couch rustlin' really makes me lmao.

[electrathon]

Remember that most couches are only leather on the tops of the cushons. The rest is vinyl.

[Liberty]

Remember that most couches are only leather on the tops of the cushons. The rest is vinyl.

That factor is addressed in the OP. So, it has a vinyl backing. Remove it? Or, cover it with something else?

[dirtclod]

You have to get rid of the couch once you get the leather. After you pay the cost to dump it, is it worth it ?

[electrathon]

That factor is addressed in the OP. So, it has a vinyl backing. Remove it? Or, cover it with something else?

I ment that the sides of the couch, the rear, the front lower, etc are vinyl. Not that the leather is backed with vinyl. Visably, good quality vinyl is hard to look at and tell from leather. I would be surprised if the leather is backed, most auto seats I have taken apart are not.

Aaron

[Liberty]

You have to get rid of the couch once you get the leather. After you pay the cost to dump it, is it worth it ?

I reckon you'd have to figger the cost.benefit numbers out. Here they pick up that stuff with everything else so it's not an issue.

That being said....how many sq feet of leather on a couch? How many things can be made from it? For how many X of $? What's the typical dump fee? I think you'd still come out ahead in the long run.

[LNLeather]

Remember that most couches are only leather on the tops of the cushons. The rest is vinyl.

Hmmmm, Maybe some are not all leather... I worked for a couple of years cutting out

leather pieces from patterns for leather couches, chairs, and cushions and they were all 100% leather...

It was called 'garment leather' and was real soft. Not suitable for tooling, but I have seen that Garment Leather

used for purses and small zippered bags - real easy to sew.