American Leather Direct or other sources for American leather

[CraftyNick]

Hi, 

I'm looking for input on what is the best company to buy from.  I want veg-tanned not-dyed leather for carving and dyeing from a U.S. source.  American Leather Direct says much of their leather is from U.S. sources.  They are telling me their tooling leather is $7.00 - $6.40 per sq. foot.  How do these prices compare?  How does their leather compare?  What other companies do you know of, or buy U.S. sourced leather from?  To be clear, I don't have a business so I'm not talking about wholesale deals.  

Thanks!

Nick

[JLSleather]

$7 is a GOOD price if the leather is decent.  Most of us here, I would dare say, use leather from

Hermann Oak (natural tooling leather at about $8) and/or Wickett & Craig (natural tooling at about $10)

They are not the same, but both quite good.

 As for american leather, THEY may be in the US,but is the LEATHER from teh US?

 

[CraftyNick]

HI JLSleathr, in response to your question, according to the company, "AMERICAN LEATHER DIRECT INC. offers a wide range of high quality leathers produced at one of the most modern equipped, state of the art tanneries in North America. We use only the finest U.S. steer hides."

Thanks for the info on how prices compare. 

Do you know if Herman Oak leather is from U.S. sources?  

Edited August 10, 2016 by CraftyNick

[Studio-N]

33 minutes ago, CraftyNick said:

HI JLSleathr, in response to your question, according to the company, "AMERICAN LEATHER DIRECT INC. offers a wide range of high quality leathers produced at one of the most modern equipped, state of the art tanneries in North America. We use only the finest U.S. steer hides."

Mexico is in North America.  MANY US hides are tanned in Mexico and returned.

[JLSleather]

HO claims to use only domestic hides.

But "my question" wasn't for me -- just for your consideration. Maybe its made here with cows from here. Maybe not.    Since I use the two I listed, it's not something that matters to me.  

Gotta wonder, tho -- if 'they say' that they " use only the finest U.S. steer hides", then why does your first post read " American Leather Direct says much of their leather is from U.S. sources "

But you point out that you don't have "business license" (whatever that is).  If you're talking about strictly retail purchasing, then your best bet might be to post in the "wanted" section, and perhaps someone here can get you the piece(s) you need for less than an arm ...

 

 

[electrathon]

5 hours ago, CraftyNick said:

HI JLSleathr, in response to your question, according to the company, "AMERICAN LEATHER DIRECT INC. offers a wide range of high quality leathers produced at one of the most modern equipped, state of the art tanneries in North America. We use only the finest U.S. steer hides."

Thanks for the info on how prices compare. 

Do you know if Herman Oak leather is from U.S. sources?  

Tricky wording for Mexican tanned leather.  Not a slam on ALD quality of leather, but they sell Mexican tanned hides.

Herman Oak and Wicket and Craig both tan in the USA.

[CraftyNick]

You guys are probably right that much or all of the American Leather Direct hides are tanned in Mexico, but, according to what they say, they must be from domestic steers.  However, they told me that their "economy" leather is not necessarily domestic, but this doesn't apply to their normal tooling leather.  That's why I said "much of their leather".is from US sources.  

It's good to know that they tan in the U.S., but does anyone know whether Herman Oak or WIcket and Craig use hides sourced from the U.S.?  

I don't know, maybe most people on here are professionals who buy in bulk, but I'm just a beginning crafter and would like to get material processed and sourced in the U.S. if possible.  We ought to be able to make leather in this country, still.  

Edited August 10, 2016 by CraftyNick

[Studio-N]

4 minutes ago, CraftyNick said:

......We ought to be able to make leather in this country, still.  

ha! try convincing the EPA of that.

I remember having a convo with an EPA guy in Kansas who was involved in a closing of a tannery there that specialized in deer hides.  He told me basically it's all political. the argument that chromium tanning pollutes the water supply (which it does) didn't hold water (pun intended). He said he tried to convince the feds that there was just about the same amount of chromium in the surrounding rocks but they didn't want to hear it. So now we send stuff to Mexico.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Studio-N

[billybopp]

ALD's website says that they sell Chahin leather, which is from a tannery in Mexico.  Weaver leather also sells the brand.  I've never used it, so can't give an opinion on it.

 

Bill

[CraftyNick]

I don't think I'll actually buy from ALD.  Not that I think there is really anything wrong with them, just don't know why I'd choose them since they don't even sell US tanned leather apparently.  Does anyone get US leather from Tandy?