reuben cogburn Report post Posted May 27, 2014 I am up here in Alaska and have very limited access to leather. We have two stores. One is a Tandy Store where I buy wholesale, and another is a store which I believe also buy's, then resells Tandy leather. What I have found is that I lose thickness in my leather after dying it. Sometimes a significant amount 30% or so? Even with 9/10 oz leather I lose enough, that I have been lining my holsters with 2oz to make up the difference. I don't really mind because it makes a much better looking holster. However it is a problem, as I can't "line" everything.... Is anyone else experiencing this with any brand leather?? Or is it just the leather that ends up getting sent up here? I have had some serious quality issues with hides and have gotten to the point I either drive 110 miles to hand pick, or I am getting out of leatherwork. I'm a small fry and can't place an order big enough to get anything shipped in from down south... Regards... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavenAus Report post Posted May 27, 2014 Tandy Alaska just got a new manager didn't it? (Say Hi to 'Lofty' for me ) AFAIK they are on training at the mo, may have finished, but give them a chance. Explain your concerns and she'll see what she can do she's a good egg. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reuben cogburn Report post Posted May 28, 2014 Yes the Tandy store in Anchorage has new owners. I'm not saying they are giving me "bad" leather... I'm more saying that the lower 48 is sending up the leftovers! I am having real trouble getting consistent leather, though I only buy a few times a year. I've gotten sides I can't make anything I can justify selling to a customer, and many of the hides have wide inconsistencies in the same hide. I know David Johnston at Diamond D won't use them anymore. I'm kinda stuck.. I should dye a bit of it and get a measurement with my calipers and post pics. I can't even sew it after dying, with my tippmann because the leather gets so incosistent with the stitching. I try and sew everything before dying, but if you need white thread on dark leather what do you do.. (other than hand sew)... ciao y'all... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
