Smoothing Split Suede

[Harag]

Hi All

I got a sample of the below Suede from my leather supplier as I was hoping to make some "pouches" out of the soft leather, with a draw string at the top. but when I received the sample it was sort of hairy on both sides. I would like the outside of the bag to be smooth.

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/photos/suede-split.htm

So my question is, how do I make the outside smooth?

I've just watched a video on Leather Craft Library (premium) by George where he makes a stirrup bag (under project misc) and the soft leather (chaps) he's using is the same stuff, but his outside is smooth and he didn't say what he did with it (guessing it came like that).

Any help / advice would be great. Thanks

[mikesmith648]

Suede is essentially the split part of the leather and is going to be "hairy" on both sides. Chap leather is finished leather and smooth on one side.

[dirtclod]

I've bough quite a bit of suede over the years for saddle seats and chaps. Most of the time it pretty smooth with a light fuzz. I'm guessing the piece they sent you was off of a corner and it was hairy. Their not going to cut in the middle of a hide to get a smooth piece to send out as a sample.

[Tree Reaper]

Sand it with a fine grit sand paper.

[GrampaJoel]

Order a chap leather.

Split leather is rough on both sides.

Edited April 20, 2013 by GrampaJoel

[Harag]

Hi all

Many thanks for the replies. I'll email the firm and ask them which leather I should order from their site as they don't specify chap leather.

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/hides.htm

Split Leather (#088 Suede split):

These suedes are made by splitting a hide into two sheets. At first the lower sheet has a rough surface but after buffing a velvety nap is raised. It normally has a nap on both sides but the tanner pays more attention to one side and this is regarded as the ‘right side’. It is a strong material with a wide variety of uses. The lighter weights are used for clothing soft bags and belts. The heavier grades are used for riding chaps and shoes. Being sueded on both sides makes it popular with westerners for tasseled goods.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Harag

[mikesmith648]

the "clothing cowhide" or the "dyed veg tan" are going to be the closest

[Harag]

the "clothing cowhide" or the "dyed veg tan" are going to be the closest

Thanks, I've got samples of these and they are not the right ones, too think. I have emailed the LePrevo and they said the best one would be the Scandianavian hide, looking at the pictures of the colours the Tuscan one is the closest match. I'll request a sample of that the next time.

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/photos/scandinavian.htm