Hello from Brisbane Australia

[Wedgetail]

21 hours ago, AussieMade said:

Im just starting out again, but would love to meet up one day and pick your brains on belt making etc. I'm think that is the area I want to get into. I was going to head down to East Coast Leather some time in the next week or two and have a look at what they have, It has to be more than what Packers has.

 

Should have a Brisbane and surrounds meet up one day, I would love to get with like minded people that can show me the finer detail stuff that I seem to be having issues with (I will blame my tools for the time being). Just got my first order for a 35mm 10oz belt with knife pouch, so will be interesting to see how it comes out. And its the sort of order that may have repeat work coming from it.

I reckon a  meetup would be a great  idea mate! There are a lot of people around here into this stuff, and we can probably learn a lot from each other.

I'm planning on making the pilgrimage to East Coast Leather tomorrow arvo, time permitting, after a meeting with the accountant.

It is kind of unfortunate they aren't open on weekends, had too wait for a Brisbane public holiday to head down there... actually, better check they are open... haha

I'll be looking for belt leather actually, and some sheepskin or goatskin for wallets. So if I get there, I'll let you know how it goes!

[AussieMade]

9 hours ago, Wedgetail said:

I reckon a  meetup would be a great  idea mate! There are a lot of people around here into this stuff, and we can probably learn a lot from each other.

I'm planning on making the pilgrimage to East Coast Leather tomorrow arvo, time permitting, after a meeting with the accountant.

It is kind of unfortunate they aren't open on weekends, had too wait for a Brisbane public holiday to head down there... actually, better check they are open... haha

I'll be looking for belt leather actually, and some sheepskin or goatskin for wallets. So if I get there, I'll let you know how it goes!

 

 

Yeah I would love to get down there as I have a belt order I have to fill by early next week and send up to NQ. I'm not a big fan of the range at Packers, So yeah would be great if you could let me know what sort range of buckles etc, they have, as Packer Leather only have about 4-5 types of 35 - 40mm buckles.

[AussieMade]

9 hours ago, Wedgetail said:

I'll be looking for belt leather actually, and some sheepskin or goatskin for wallets. So if I get there, I'll let you know how it goes!

 

 

Would also love to know their belt blank lengths as well if possible thanks. The belt I need to make is for a 53" belt size.

[Wedgetail]

1 minute ago, AussieMade said:

Yeah I would love to get down there as I have a belt order I have to fill by early next week and send up to NQ. I'm not a big fan of the range at Packers, So yeah would be great if you could let me know what sort range of buckles etc, they have, as Packer Leather only have about 4-5 types of 35 - 40mm buckles.

Ok sure I'll have a look for you.

I have been buying my buckles from Adelaide saddlery and leather. Pretty bloody good! Good range, fairly inexpensive, the ones I have got are good quality, and they turned around my order the same morning I placed it.

http://www.adelaideleather.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=49_71

[Wedgetail]

10 minutes ago, AussieMade said:

Would also love to know their belt blank lengths as well if possible thanks. The belt I need to make is for a 53" belt size.

Ok, will do!

Also, if you're looking at Adelaide leather and saddlery, they also do belt lengths. Veg-tanned long ones are here

http://www.adelaideleather.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=116&products_id=6988

Haven't tried these myself.

I have tried their bridle lengths. The ones I got were around 1700 long. But they are partially chrome tanned in their processing so resist tooling or burnishing at all. Still, nice feeling leather if you're not needing to do that. See attached for how mine turned out.

[AussieMade]

1 hour ago, Wedgetail said:

Ok, will do!

Also, if you're looking at Adelaide leather and saddlery, they also do belt lengths. Veg-tanned long ones are here

http://www.adelaideleather.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=116&products_id=6988

Haven't tried these myself.

I have tried their bridle lengths. The ones I got were around 1700 long. But they are partially chrome tanned in their processing so resist tooling or burnishing at all. Still, nice feeling leather if you're not needing to do that. See attached for how mine turned out.

Nice Belt. Yeah I will be tooling a design, so Chrome Tanned is probably not going to be a good leather to use.

I used Packer Leather's 10oz (4mm) Bridle leather for my belt and it has come out nice I think.

[Wedgetail]

3 minutes ago, AussieMade said:

Nice Belt. Yeah I will be tooling a design, so Chrome Tanned is probably not going to be a good leather to use.

I used Packer Leather's 10oz (4mm) Bridle leather for my belt and it has come out nice I think.

Yeah that turned out really well!

I didn't expect bridle leather would tool that well actually... goes to show how much impact chrome tanning has on that sort of thing.

[AussieMade]

It's Veg Tanned bridle (what the receipt says), Whats the easiest way to tell Chrome Tan over Veg Tanned? I have some scrap leather that they said was Veg Tanned but is really hard, and doesn't soften with water very well (seems to bead off rather than soak in). and doesn't tool well either.

I have never worked with Chrome Tanned before so would be great to find out

 

[Wedgetail]

12 hours ago, AussieMade said:

It's Veg Tanned bridle (what the receipt says), Whats the easiest way to tell Chrome Tan over Veg Tanned? I have some scrap leather that they said was Veg Tanned but is really hard, and doesn't soften with water very well (seems to bead off rather than soak in). and doesn't tool well either.

I have never worked with Chrome Tanned before so would be great to find out

 

Yeah for what you are doing you need veg tan, for sure.

Chrome tan only even stamps half decently if you use a hot stamp.

Reason I was surprised about the bridle leather tooling so well is because it is so water resistant that it is hard to case (wet) the leather.

Easiest way to tell if something is chrome tan (though not always works) is to cut a bit off. If you can see a little grey coloured line near the surface it is probably chrome tanned.

But if it isn't chrome tanned it could have been tanned with other properties (oils, fat liquors, or surface treatment) like bridle leather is, to help waterproof it... or it may just be lower grade veg tan and doesn't tool as well as some premium stuff. I bought some tooling leather before that was a bit like that, and some other stuff that tooled like a dream.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Wedgetail

[Wedgetail]

OK so I just got back from East Coast Leather.

They are very helpful, have tonnes of great leather at good prices and I'll surely be going back next time I need more leather! I was literally running around like a kid in a candy store.

As for the strap lengths, we measured up the ones they had cut already but only got to maximum of about 1400mm (55"). Which is probably a bit short for what you're looking for.

Maybe call and talk to them, and they may be able to help you out. but there was nothing readily available there that I saw.

they also didn't have much in the way of buckles and hardware that I could see.

but I absolutely got what I was looking for, which is great quality leather for great prices. Actually picked up twice as much as I expected for my budget. And I could choose for myself, unlike mail ordering, which makes a BIG difference.