Which Hide Would You Buy?

[inkii]

This will be the first leather I'll be purchasing with an eye toward selling the end product (rather than just practicing or making things for myself or friends). I really want to make sure that I get the best option for my needs within my budget. I don't feel like I know enough about hide selection to make an informed decision, so I would love some help with this choice from more experienced leather workers.

I'm mostly making tooled leather dog collars for the most part. My budget is around $150. I'm trying to decide whether it makes more sense to get a double shoulder or a side. My options are Tandy Leather or Zack White (both local to me).

So it looks like these are my options. I'm looking for 8-10 ounce leather.

1. Tandy Oak Leaf side: $167 (sale price)

2. Tandy Craftsman Oak double shoulder: $74 (sale price)

3. Tandy Oak Leaf double shoulder: $150

4. Zack White tannery run economy side: $167
5. Zack White tannery run Mexican double shoulder: $110
6. Zack White premium bullhide double shoulder: $125
7. Zack White Brazil double shoulder: $88


Of those options, which would you choose? And more importantly, why would you choose it? What makes it the best of these options?

Also, a few smaller questions
1. When buying something listed as tannery run in person rather than online, that just means that they haven't already pre-categorized for quality, right? Customers are still allowed to choose which specific hide they want from the ones that are in the store?
2. Assuming that length doesn't matter for these projects, is there a reason to prefer either a double shoulder or a side?
3. When cutting strips, is there a directional grain? By which I mean, would the end result be stronger if cut either head-to-tail or side-to-side? Or no difference between them?

Thanks for your input! I really want to do this right.

Edited September 17, 2015 by inkii

[Thor]

None of the given would be an option to me. Either you purchase some real quality leather like Herman Oak through Weaver Leather Supply, contact Wicket & Craig via their website at http://www.wickett-craig.com/preview.html or buy just any of what you listed there except for the Tandy stuff.

1. If I can't choose what I get, I don't go there as this is the only point of buying local. Every piece of leather is different and retailers know that and the good ones take that into account.

2. Whether you need a side or neck etc. depends on the product you're planing to make. The various areas of the hide have different properties.

3. Straps, depending on use - like belts, are best cut out of the back. That being said, I know plenty of people cutting belts from double shoulders.

[cgleathercraft]

If it were me - I'd get a side and cut along the back. I'd pick it out personally if it were an option for me (nearest is tandy and thats 60 miles).

Shoulders will work for collars but could have some stretch.

I second Herman Oak (haven't used W&C yet).

You didn't mention the weight of leather. Doubling it up will increase strength and reduce stretching allowing use of a thinner leather. The thinnest i'd go for doubling would be 6oz. The thinnest I'd do for single ply would be 8oz (for non lunging dogs)

[Jimdad]

If you want to try a premium leather at reasonable prices, give the wicket & craig bellies a shot: $13 each, so the risk is low, and there ought to be enough usable area to get a feel for what you'd get from them vs. any tandy stuff you may have-- maybe bring one of their bellies with you to tandy to compare quality.

[dbusarow]

Check out the Wickett and Craig overstock sales

http://www.wickett-craig.com/overstock1.html

and check out their regular pricing too. Special, which is their lowest grade, is going to be better than any of the options you list above.

http://www.wickett-craig.com/pricing2.html

Dan

[memheli]

I just took the advice and ordered some myself.

[Red Cent]

I have used veg tan shoulders from Zack White and they are decent leather. I have also used Tandy Leather, sides and shoulders. Since Zack's is 45 minutes away, I can go and pick out what I want. Tandy's is about an hour away and the same applies. I would try some of the mid price range leather before I would buy Herman Oak. Wickett & Craig will sell you one side at a decent price.

You are just an hour away from Zack White. Go ask for Tim. Be prepared for an unsmiling face and a lack of salesmanship. Or, maybe, ask for Darlene or Heather. Tell 'em Red Cent sent ya.