JerseyFirefighter Report post Posted October 9, 2014 Hey guys, I appreciate all the info i've found on this site. Up until now, I have made a few dog collars and small firefighter stuff. I have been buying 8/9 oz natural veg tan belt blanks to do this work. I know that what I buy can be had for cheaper when buying a whole side, shoulder, back, etc. but what im not sure of is if it is more economical and commonplace to buy black leather and not have to go through the dying process. The majority of work I do is/will be black, and when I come across a friend that wants a different dye, I may pony up for a larger natural veg tan buy. Am I missing out on the difference between the two? Are there pros and cons to buying black vs natural? The work in question besides dog collars would be helmet bands, F/F Shields, glove keeps, and maybe one day I'll get the stones to make my own pair of suspenders. Side note, I can't find a good answer about cuts of leather without finding a novel about leather and its origins. For the work in question I cant figure out what the better cut of leather for my purposes would be. Lastly and I know im being a pain, but for the firefighter guys in the group, are copper rivets a defacto for the FD stuff or just more ornamental over brass plated rivets? Thanks a whole bunch you gents. I cant wait to get my first 15-20 sq ft to practice tooling and larger starter projects. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwillielv Report post Posted October 14, 2014 This all really boils down to personal preference. When you die something black it has a bad habit of rubbing off. Don't die the bottom side of the suspenders you make for your chief, lol. Personally the majority of what I use is natural veg tan. You can also use vinegaroon if your item is going to be all black. In my opinion start out with natural and go from there. Yes the majority of guys do use copper rivets. I don't because everyone else is. Once again it doesn't really matter it just comes down to what you like. Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
camano ridge Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Short over simplified answer Backs will be stiffest with least stretch, followed by shoulders. Belly will give you the most stretch and for your projects probably the least desireble. I cut all my straps, belts etc from backs or the back portion of a side. Shorter straps can be cut from shoulders. Just my spin on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barehandcustoms Report post Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) 1. Lastly and I know im being a pain, but for the firefighter guys in the group, are copper rivets a defacto for the FD stuff or just more ornamental over brass plated rivets? It is hard to beat a good ole copper rivet when you want something that will last a lifetime. Double cap rivets will not hold up during prolonged hard use and Chicago screws will loosen overtime unless you glue the threads. 2. Side note, I can't find a good answer about cuts of leather without finding a novel about leather and its origins. For the work in question I cant figure out what the better cut of leather for my purposes would be. Camano Ridge nailed it regarding this question. 3. Am I missing out on the difference between the two? Are there pros and cons to buying black vs natural? The work in question besides dog collars would be helmet bands, F/F Shields, glove keeps, and maybe one day I'll get the stones to make my own pair of suspenders. I switched to drum dyed leather several months ago. It is amazing how much time you save by not having to dye your own leather. Most factories can do a vastly superior job of dying leather than someone can in their shop. Generally the factory dye will penetrate completely through the leather which hardens it a bit and helps to hide scratches. Depending on the product and how many colors you sell....I would suggest switching over to factory drum dyed black leather. Try a side or a shoulder of drum dyed black Hermann Oak and see if you like it. Links below http://springfieldleather.com/34306/Side%2CHermannOak%2CBlack%2C8-10oz/ http://springfieldleather.com/34774/Shoulder%2CSingle%2CHO%2CBlk%2C8-11oz/ Edited October 17, 2014 by barehandcustoms Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerseyFirefighter Report post Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Thank you folks. I bought a double shoulder of 8/9 oz from Zack Whites and am currently waiting its arrival, as well as a considerable hardware order from strapworks.com for a few projects on my try list. I will end up going and grabbing some natural veg tan for some red/brown projects, but I see black being the overwhelming choice of color for things I have coming down the pike. Thank you very much for giving your input. Looks like I need to buy some copper rivets as well. Edited October 17, 2014 by JerseyFirefighter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
