Firm But Thin Leather

[OurJud]

Thanks very much, Toolingaround

I've had a quick look at those links and as I'm sure you can appreciate it's difficult to ascertain anything (the problems with buying online I suppose). I also searched for tandy leather UK and it seems there used to be a .co.uk version, but that has now moved to .eu. The store finder reveals their only UK store is in Northhamton - 150 miles away from me.

I contacted a UK seller on ebay who had a bag of dark scraps for a few quid, but she doesn't think they'll be big enough for what I want so she's agreed to take a look at what else she has in the colour and thickness I want. I'm waiting for a comeback, but at the price she'll be asking I think I'll just take the plunge and see what I get.

[DavidL]

Thanks very much, Toolingaround

I've had a quick look at those links and as I'm sure you can appreciate it's difficult to ascertain anything (the problems with buying online I suppose). I also searched for tandy leather UK and it seems there used to be a .co.uk version, but that has now moved to .eu. The store finder reveals their only UK store is in Northhamton - 150 miles away from me.

I contacted a UK seller on ebay who had a bag of dark scraps for a few quid, but she doesn't think they'll be big enough for what I want so she's agreed to take a look at what else she has in the colour and thickness I want. I'm waiting for a comeback, but at the price she'll be asking I think I'll just take the plunge and see what I get.

Springfield leather has 2/3 ounce tooling leather for $4.29 a square foot.

[JoeSnuffie]

OurJud, I'm using veg tanned goat for thinner wallets and card slots. It's thin and very stiff, even after dye, oil, finish and wax. Since you're not interested in dying and finishing yourself you should look for book binding leathers. They have some thin and reasonably stiff leathers that are already finished. Unfortunately, it can be expensive. Typically, though, goat will be a lot stiffer than cow at the same thickness. All of my 1mm veg tanned cow is a little soft, though it still takes stamping.

http://www.hollanders.com/index.php/bookbinding-supplies/bookbinding-leather.html

This wallet is from 1.75oz, or about .7mm - .8mm veg tanned goat. It is really easy to dye and work with.

Oh, and here are the pieces of goat before I stitched it up

[leatheroo]

Have you tried veg tanned kangaroo? Kangaroo has 59% more tensile strength than bovine leather at the same thickness. So it is very strong when very thin. Lovely to work with. Comes natural veg tanned or coloured, also patterned. The only problem may be access to hides where you live and the cost. If you can get hold of some to try and like it, I know some leatherworkers group together and buy kangaroo direct from australia. Check out http://www.packerleather.com and http://www.packerdirect.com.au

Very innovative company. They have just developed a leather that can be sewn into clothing that is washable.

Alternatively, you can buy single kangaroo on ebay. This seller seems to do all the export paperwork for you.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HIGH-FASHION-SCARLET-Kangaroo-leather-VEG-TANNED-800-mm-x-800-mm-/281239627020?pt=AU_Leathercraft&hash=item417b30250c&_uhb=1

cheers

Edited March 11, 2014 by leatheroo

[johnv474]

OurJud,

I think you have found some of the answers, but not yet a final solution.

I can't give a specific supplier but you may want to look for glazed / sole leather.

Of the two primary tanning processes (vegetable tanned and chrome tanned), chrome tanned tends to be soft/floppy, as used in clothing and upholstery. Vegetable tanned tends to be firmer, as in saddles. These are general statements.

Sole leather, as used for the sole of some dress shoes, is vegetable-tanned that is then glazed (i.e. compressed under a heavy pressure from a glass roller). This makes it both more dense/firm. Not all glazed leather is used for soles, however. It is also available in several thicknesses, and is often undyed.

For what it's worth, this leather can be dyed fairly easily (as well as sealed) with no odd equipment and few supplies. Even without dye, it will darken as it ages and develops patina as it is exposed to sun, skin oils, or any oils/waxes used to treat it. (You can search for undyed leather patina for image examples).

I think very thin leather is not easily found that is thin, firm, and dyed because there may not be enough consistent demand. Many suppliers (Wickett & Craig, and others) will split many leathers to the thickness desired for free. They sell veg-tanned, that is dyed and treated, and also split.

I hope this reply helps some, though it is a bit circuitous. If you don't mind, are you looking to make multiple wallets or just one or a few?

-JV474

[jk215]

The good thing is you are in the UK where thin, finished veg tan (mostly calf) is very popular as opposed to here in the USA. The bad thing is its expensive unless you can find scraps or work out a deal with someone. If pricing is going to be your hang up leatherwork might not be the hobby for you. The price of leather is very expensive and is only climbing each year.

[Toolingaround]

Hi OurJud

Me again, don't give up if it is something you really want to do. I love leatherwork but don't have much money either. After over two years I finally bought some leather dye to play with. It takes me a long time to get stuff and I don't own anything high end. The price of leather is painful but perhaps you could go to thrift stores and repurpose old cloths or purses. I know thin cheep dyed, stiff chrome tan leather exists because I have some so it is out there. I don't drive and my Tandy is at least as far as yours thus I hardly ever get to go there so I do sympathize. Some of my leather punches are cheep ones from a surplus store that are not specifically made for leather, cutting gaskets maybe, not sure. Anyhow I was looking at knife sheath videos on you tube yesterday and ran across this one.

I like his can do attitude. He obviously lives near a great cheep hobby store but the take away for me is to do what you can with what you can get and think outside the box. I am the queen of repurposing things from the dollar store, thrift stores and Walmart.

Take Care, Toolingaround

[RoosterShooter]

I haven't read all of the comments, but has anyone suggested horse hide? It is very dense! Comparable to cowhide you can get three times the density and 1/3 the weight from horse hide as opposed to cowhide.

For example ... I can use a 4-5 oz. horse hide that has the same thickness to density ratio as a 10 - 12 oz. cowhide.

Edited March 15, 2014 by RoosterShooter