Revisiting Veg Tanned Storage

[BDAZ]

I am just completing my new cutting table which is 40" high and 5'x3' to fit the self healing cutting mat I have. I intended to put a couple of shelves to store veg tanned flat but I am wondering if rolled wouldn't be more efficient.

Any down sides with storing leather rolled and storage in general. I am in Southern AZ so lack of humidity may be an issue.

Thanks!

Bob

[stanly]

I don't know about prefered method, but I see it being shipped in tubes. So part of time it's already been rolled.

[olds cool]

Mine tend to be stored rolled up just because I don't have a huge area to store things. It makes it a pain when trying to cut something out because it keeps trying to go back to a rolled state.

[BDAZ]

Thanks OC, that's the kind of feedback I am interested in. How tight do you roll it?

Cya!

Bob

[cgleathercraft]

I'm in the same position with not enough space. I keep it rolled as tightly as it was shipped or a little looser (is that a word?). An 8/9 oz double shoulder was about 6-8 inches in diameter. I don't remember for sure since its been a while since I've ordered leather. A full side of 4-5oz was shipped rolled up to be less than 6inches in diameter. It keeps trying to roll up on me when cutting so I lay it out flat on the living room floor for a while before cutting. If I had the room I would only roll up what I wasn't actively using.

[olds cool]

I keep it rolled the same as cg. I have pets and kids though so laying it out on the floor in a big no no unless I want it covered in dog/cat hair and misc who knows what.

[RoosterShooter]

The only places I've ever seen it laid flat or hung is in either retail facilities or the tannery! Every leather shop I have been to has it rolled up with a 'toe tag' that has the description on it. I store mine rolled in 2 to 3 hides of like weight and brand.

Of course ... I live in the Ohio Valley so humidity is not a problem here. I have a house-wide dehumidifier / humidifier installed in my home so that the humidity stays between 35 to 45% at all times.

Edited March 15, 2014 by RoosterShooter

[JLSleather]

I like 'em layed flat, grain side down, but I have a table large enough to do that, with a full-length shelf under it. It's also my cutting table, so I can pull out the piece I want, flip it on the table, make the cut(s), and right back on the under the table shelf it came off.

[Chief31794]

Mine stay rolled loosely grain side in. I dampen leather before I cut it, makes the cuts smoother and makes the leather lay flat, never had a problem with it and I live in South West Georgia where humidity is always very high.

Chief

[BDAZ]

Best of both..I made two shelves, one for rolls and a slide out for flat storage. Thanks for the input.

Cya!

Bob

[walkg]

Seems that we have similar problem. Since I can only stored rolled it does tind to roll while I am cutting, also. I recently reverse rolled the larger pieces (0n clean area) then rewrapped two or three pieces of heavy brown paper. I buy mine local lowes/home depot. 36" wide very heavy. Normally called "walk off" paper. Very inexpensive and thick. Couple of double reverse rolls keeps it from smacking in the face. Heavy paper protects the grain side very well. Just an idea.

Also, didn't mention, be careful of paper edges it's thick and sharp will give a very nasty paper cut.