Veg Tan Hide Suppliers In Uk?

[Shamenlong]

I brought a delux starter kit from Tandy the projects were terrible nothing lined up but what I paid for it I have enough tools to get me started so for tools alone it was ok.

I'm going to look at these company's that have been suggested by others as I'm in the uk as well

[narrowsuch]

I have been struggling to find any local suppliers until now phil, Im going to call into JWoodleats though as they arent too far from me! You are right though, it seems like we dont have a great choice in the UK... Tandy are ok but when I have ordered from them the quality isnt always there even from the "Oak" range. I would like to go and choose my hide and have a look around and see what else I could pick up : )

[Dangerous Beans]

The German leather is indeed excellent but very difficult to source in the UK. Metropolitan are one of the cheapest for decent full shoulders. 60 for 14ft +VAT and about 12 postage. It works out to 86 which is 6.17 a foot. Abbey are not far off.

You can get cheaper... By a little but I will add that both Metropolitan and Abbey do decent leather. It has a good clean grain and the back is even and tight, not fluffy of raggy as many veg tan shoulders can be.

Both will send out samples and take small orders.

The shoulder im using in this is from Abbey,

it's not a great view but about 4 mins in you can see it in the clamp. It stitches well and takes a stamp nicely. You don't have to line it to hide the back.

Hope that helps.

The pound sign seems to be playing up.

Nige

Edited January 20, 2013 by Dangerous Beans

[Half Goat]

thanks for the info dangerous beans reckon i will check them out! I always use leprevo as i can usually get what i need in the sales and therfore save myself a fortune

[narrowsuch]

The German leather is indeed excellent but very difficult to source in the UK. Metropolitan are one of the cheapest for decent full shoulders. 60 for 14ft +VAT and about 12 postage. It works out to 86 which is 6.17 a foot. Abbey are not far off.

You can get cheaper... By a little but I will add that both Metropolitan and Abbey do decent leather. It has a good clean grain and the back is even and tight, not fluffy of raggy as many veg tan shoulders can be.

Both will send out samples and take small orders.

The shoulder im using in this is from Abbey,

it's not a great view but about 4 mins in you can see it in the clamp. It stitches well and takes a stamp nicely. You don't have to line it to hide the back.

Hope that helps.

The pound sign seems to be playing up.

Nige

Cheers Nige, will give abbey and metropolitan a try...good video too!

[lightningad]

weird - 4 months after starting this thread, the forum has told me i've had a a reply! Thanks to all for their suggestions.

Hopefully i'm visiting JWoods tomorrow so can have a proper rummage through the offcuts!

[humperdingle]

With regard to suppliers... If it's a smaller quantity, try local saddlers' workshops. I found one very close to me, and they were willing to supply the odd hide here and there, and can also order me pretty much anything I need from catalogues without paying excessive shipping charges.

Plus, being an established (very old!) workshop, they have some lovely old hardware in solid brass, etc, that they're also willing to sell bits of here and there.

[Barristan]

Only just seen this topic :D

In London I would highly recommend JT Batchelors in Islington. Ive had countless shoulders of veg tan off them for a very reasonable price.

If you can go there all the better so you can spend an hour wandering through the warehouse packed with every type of leather you can imagine. They also do tools, fittings and dyes at an incredibly cheap price too.

http://jtbatchelor.co.uk/

[Matt S]

I will add my recommendation for Batchelors. They have a full range of Ivan tools (much better than Tandy prices), about any buckle you can imagine and all sorts of hides at very reasonable prices. No Fiebings 'oil' dyes though.

[lightningad]

Finally managed to visit J Woods nr Keighley.

Well worth the trip - i managed to get two really nice pieces from the offcuts pile. approx 45sqft at £2 a sqft - bargain!

Now i have some lovely thick red stuff for making a couple of traditional satchels, and then i have a waxy finished chrome full grain cowside which is perfect for the flight bag i have been wanting to make myself for ages!