Soling Leather: Uses Beyond Soleing?

[Matt S]

I have the option of some well priced soling bends. I've played around with a few scraps but never a large piece. I have come across using it as a backing for leather pouches and even saddle bags. What are the uses of sole leather beyond making shoe soles?

[PappyUSA]

I think maby 10 or 12 years ago I ended up with a sole bend and I ripped it into 1 1/2” strips on a table saw and sold unlined heavy duty belts on ebay for 30 bucks each and everybody loved them. I recently came across one still in use holding up a 1911. I think it was a 12/14 oz bend.

[Matt S]

Blimey, soling belts? Still trying to get my head around that!

[PappyUSA]

Yeah, they actually worked out well for a cheap heavy duty belt. After you cut them into straps run them through a splitter to shave off the back.

I cut a couple with a round knife but soon turned to the table saw with a plywood blade. If you don't have a splitter a round knife will do to shave off the back but you have to be carefull.

[Glendon]

This isn't my area of leather, but I know some of the SCA guys love sole leather for armor projects.

[oltoot]

Probably outside of your area of interest but sole bends (ex heavy) are used in the brush country of Texas to make bulldog tapaderos to protect riders' feet from spines and from running sticks through stirrups.

[johnv474]

I recently got a good deal on a bunch of scrap pieces. Ive made small wallets, like cardholder wallets, some keychains, and some belts. I even made a breadbasket, just for kicks. If you oil it up it softens quite a bit, but remains on the firm side... just no longer like cardboard. I am going to use it next for some braiding experiments. Note: I prefer thick, simple, rugged leather pieces. I would not recommend trying to, say, make a pair of pants with the stuff.