Where Do You Buy Your Leather?

[arocco]

So I'm new to this forum and I've done some searching and one post I've wish I've found but still seems to elude me is a post on leather sources. I'm relatively new to leatherworking and I'm making watch straps right now from various Horween hides purchased from Maverick Leather Company out of California.

The quality of the leather is very good, while the price is relatively cheap (~$5 sqft)

I'm in the mood to start trying leather from different sources and other tanneries other than Horween but am not able to approach most tanneries directly because of the small amounts I buy.

Is there any other good leather dealers you guys would recommend?

[TXAG]

Last side I got was from Wickett & Craig...but I'll try anyplace (other than Tandy and Springfield)

[jk215]

You can approach most tanneries directly even for small orders. A lot of us use Wickett & Craig for a good variety of high quality veg tan and you can buy as little as 1 side. You can also contact Horween's "little guy" extension called Tannery Row where you can buy as little as 1 side as well.

[Bob Blea]

Where are you located? There are several smaller leather distributors around the US, like Sheridan Leather Outfitters in Sheridan, WY, or Panhandle Leather in Amarillo, TX, that are good to deal with and may be close to you. I like dealing with Sheridan Leather Outfitters when I can.

Bob

[chiefjason]

I have used both Thoroughbred Leather in Kentucky and American Leather Direct in Kentucky and have been happy with the products. Which one I use depends on what leather I need. Both have been good to work with even for one or two hides.

[lightingale]

Shipping costs and duties to Canada make it difficult to obtain some of the nice leathers directly from the tannery.

I do, actually get most of my veg-tan leather from Tandy. They have one line of leather "European Tooling" bends that are of acceptable quality. The grain is nice, the flesh side is tight, and most hides don't have major faults to work around. The elite discount helps.

To any Canadians that have ordered leather from outside of Canada.. I would love to hear about your experience.

[r lenna]

If you want tooling leather I've had a a lot of luck from Panhandle Leather. They have good prices and deliver pretty fast. I use Springfield leather for most other kinds. Wicket and Craig have good stuff, but it costs more. If you're going to carve its rough to cut with a swivel knife. A.M.D. has good prices but it's hard to tool. If you like to use Horween leather, Maveric leather has some of the best prices I've seen.

[Fullmetalsam]

Shipping costs and duties to Canada make it difficult to obtain some of the nice leathers directly from the tannery.

I do, actually get most of my veg-tan leather from Tandy. They have one line of leather "European Tooling" bends that are of acceptable quality. The grain is nice, the flesh side is tight, and most hides don't have major faults to work around. The elite discount helps.

To any Canadians that have ordered leather from outside of Canada.. I would love to hear about your experience.

Same here.

Would love to hear from some other canadian leather worker.

Being in Canada the shipping on the US tannery is killing us (for small orders)... so I do get my leather from Tandy as well.

[arocco]

I have used both Thoroughbred Leather in Kentucky and American Leather Direct in Kentucky and have been happy with the products. Which one I use depends on what leather I need. Both have been good to work with even for one or two hides.

Great will try out these two as well.

Any other companies? I've also tried "The Leather Guy" in minnesota as they have a good website but was unimpressed with their leather quality.

[r lenna]

I've used American Leather Direct also and most likely will not again after trying Hermond Oak. The differnce is like night and day. H.O is easy to tool. It will spoil you