Members Vettius001 Posted January 5, 2015 Members Report Posted January 5, 2015 HO I have always had good luck with. In the past I have seen what you are describing more or less but in the extreme. The one I had issues with was a (forgive me) an asian hide, hard to cut, real dense, horrible. I am glad I was making lamellar (scale) armor. It worked well for the project, real durable but even punching it was not nice. Once in a great while a not so good hide turns up, I would make mention to the supplier when you go to place the next order, usually they handle so many hides they may be able to pick one that you will not have this issue with. I have a "special" blade I use for hard hides (I do some blacksmithing and made it myself) it holds an edge forever but takes a lot to sharpen. I hope you do not have to cut many inside corners out of it, Good luck Stephen Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted January 9, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) We seem to have different opinions about what is "good" leather. The NAME on the receipt means nothing to me. I don't care which tannery it's from or who retails it, if anyone. Simply, with good leather, you can fold a billfold closed, and opening it will NOT cause waves and/or wrinkles. Belt buckles may cause a "kink", but not wrinkles. It has an even and continuous thickness - no weak spots. The back is not 'fuzzy' and the front is not 'grainy'. I sometimes wonder how many hides are sold, and later PRAISED by people who are so used to seeing junk leather that they think that's normal. Edited January 9, 2015 by JLSleather Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members leatherwytch Posted January 9, 2015 Members Report Posted January 9, 2015 I have gotten HO from Tandy, advantage is I pick my own out. I just love the stuff, it cuts like butter. I think one of two things on the hide you got was maybe it wasn't HO or you got a bad lot. Quote Creative people need maids. Http://www.LeatherWytch.com
Members Tramps Leatherworking Posted January 9, 2015 Members Report Posted January 9, 2015 JLS and Leatherwytch just nailed it --- the way to buy leather, with consistent characteristics (Quality), is to personally hand select it... People put too much faith in the name on the receipt, I have bought good and bad from all sources in the past, that is why all my leather is hand selected by me, or someone from my shop I have trained... Right or wrong --- I know what I want leather to look, feel (hand), and smell like... (Your Opinion May Vary) Quote ~Tramp~ Experientia magistra stultorum --- (Experience is the teacher of fools)
Denster Posted January 9, 2015 Report Posted January 9, 2015 You had an episode of Hermann Oak from Hell. When I was going through thirty to fifty sides per year I could count on having and least four or five that were virtually impossible to cut with a round knife. Had to use a razor knife with a hook blade pulled around the pattern and stropped frequently. The upside is that those sides made excellent holsters. Never figured out what caused it but others have posted on the same problem. Quote
Members Modad2010 Posted January 10, 2015 Author Members Report Posted January 10, 2015 The thing is I was at SLC and the piece I selected was opened from a fresh roll f ten hides with the tannery label on it. I do like to hand select the leather I work with and am able to do so most of the time. Quote
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