What Type Of Leather Is This?

[doomed]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to working with leather and have been experimenting with a few different types to see what I like.

I was in a leather store a few days ago and purchased this raw looking dry leather. I took it home and tried to condition it but had little success.

I'm not sure what kind it is and thought maybe someone here knew what it was.

Note: I have asked the shop owner but I'm in a country where I don't fluently speak the language, so I had a little bit of difficulty understanding what he was telling me.

Anyway, the leather is dry and stiff. Does anyone recognize this or know what it's used for?

Thanks for taking the time!

[Wild Bill46]

your Doomed !

No your not Doomed, are you ? haha

Can't tell by the pictures that well ,

But my guess would be a 7-10 oz. rough piece of Veg tanned ?

others might know precicely ? --- Wild Bill46

[Tugadude]

Yes, looks to be rough vegetable tanned leather. Looks like the backside you frequently see on cheap veg-tan belly.

[simontuntelder]

I hope you didn't pay a lot for it.

I think you bought yourself a piece of split (not top grain or full grain) and its most likely from a cow. Could be vegtable tanned or chrome tanned. And it looks very poorly finished.

[doomed]

Thanks for the 2 cents everyone!

I did not pay a lot, I think I bought around 3-4 lbs of it for $4 USD.

Any advice on treating this type of rough leather? My naive self thought I could resurrect it, but maybe I thought wrong. If it helps I'm looking to make a belt.

Thanks again kind folks!

[chiefjason]

Forget a belt out of that. Pretty sure it's a split. Which means it's weak and will stretch. You need a full grain piece, the back (flesh side) will look like yours but the front (grain side) will be smoother. Might want to ask about belt blanks too. It's a strip of leather cut for a belt but unfinished.