Alternative To Austin Leather

[jqtoms]

I have used Maverick for a couple of pieces. I have found they have great customer service and are very honest about the flaws a piece may have. I bought one piece from their closeouts which was exactly as described on the phone, a piece in the middle was very damaged but the price reflected that. I bought Horween Austin and it was very good. I just received some strips and they look to be great as well. I have even bought two double shoulders veg tan that they sell (not Horween) and they are nice too.

My advice is call them, ask plenty of questions if you have them, and you can even make recommendations. For example, I needed 50 in. in length for strap so I asked about two pieces of leather, and they led me through the options and even searched for a piece that was the right length and less flaws.

Best of luck!

[DavidL]

Horweens has a large selection of leathers over 20+ of leathers beside the chromexcel, cavalier, essex. The good thing about horween chromexcel is that they are in marketing an "ingredient brand", something people will understand the quality of the materials just by the name. Ex. Togo, clemence, berenia, zeiss lenses, gore-tex

charles hardtke In the USA sells a nice selection of pebbled bison that would look good for a rustic and rugged bag.

They also sell smooth calf skin, box calf and crocodile leathers. Prices I was quoted for the calf skin was around 9 for regular and 11 for premium.

[MonicaJacobson]

@jqtoms - Thank you, I appreciate the ideas. Now I just need time to finish off the leather I have so I can order some!

@David - I agree, I would love to use only Horween. But unfortunately, I have to stagger my buying and selling, which makes it hard to invest in a $300.00 hide. Maybe in a year, once I've made a range of bags in more expensive leathers. I'd also love to use crocodile. I'd especially like to use it for bags that look less overtly handbaggish.

I assume calf skin is too thin for what I like to make, but I haven't researched it.

[antipaladin]

http://www.je-sedgwick.co.uk/products/bridle-leather/girth-backs-hides/#more-359

[MonicaJacobson]

Thanks, AP. I'll have to see if I can find larger pictures of that stuff. It looks cool.

[tboyce]

Hey Monica, I really like the way you did the gusset on that bag in your picture but I have to say, I think it would be too time consuming...particularly with someone that has hands as large and arthritic as mine. I've seen an alternative stile and I woner if you've ever considered it

ALTERNATIVE GUSSET ATTACHMENT.pdf

[MonicaJacobson]

Tom, I've seen that (or something like that) on briefcases, and never gotten around to looking up how it was done. Or maybe it's not the same at all. Anyway, it's a great idea, and I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks a lot!

(I agree on the arthritic pain - that method, combined with some other extenuating circumstances (like not using an awl, not using pliers when I should have, and over-using my wrists outside of leatherworking) gave me ten days of severe carpel tunnel pain where I couldn't sew at all. However, I think it's possible to work form the middle and go out and it's not completely terrible.)

Edited March 17, 2015 by MonicaJacobson

[tboyce]

It seems that, by stitching a leather strip onto the gusset like that, it would make it easier to attach the gusset to the bag while, at the same time, making a cleaner seam.

[MonicaJacobson]

Oh yes, definitely. it would look like this, right?

Not my photo, obviously..

[MonicaJacobson]

Coincidentally, I was just looking at this bag last night, and regretfully thinking I needed to buy a book to find out how the gusset was done.