What is he best leather for?

[Wdfd908]

I too am an amateur hobbyist. For me, I have found 4-5oz leather is the sweet spot. If I want something thin, I use one piece (wallet backs. A little thicker, I'll add a thin lining (3oz suede or such). If I want it heavy duty, like a belt, I'll use 2 pieces of 5oz back to back and stitch them. I have made bags, wallets, belts, briefcases, etc and that seems to work well. I have also bought thicker and thinner leathers, I have some beautiful black 2 oz buffalo hides that a PERFECT for wallet lining and pockets.

As for where to buy? As a hobby it I don't need top quality so I tend to buy seconds. Two places I shop from are Brettuns Village Leather in Maine and Maverick Leather Company in Oregon. I like Brettuns because they have a good prices, online ordering, and offer free shipping in the US. They also have a variety of tools and hardware. Maverick has a wider selection, including Horween, WC, and HO. I tend to buy from them as they have more variety in color and thickness and have specials on Facebook a couple times a week. Maverick charges you for shipping and only seems to take phone orders. 

You asked about Horween, they have some great leathers and some consider them a gold standard (Chromexcel) They are good and have been doing it for a century. If you want to buy Horween, you should go through someplace like Maverick who sells a ton of Horween seconds.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Wdfd908

[metroplexchl]

1 hour ago, Wdfd908 said:

I too am an amateur hobbyist. For me, I have found 4-5oz leather is the sweet spot. If I want something thin, I use one piece (wallet backs. A little thicker, I'll add a thin lining (3oz suede or such). If I want it heavy duty, like a belt, I'll use 2 pieces of 5oz back to back and stitch them. I have made bags, wallets, belts, briefcases, etc and that seems to work well. I have also bought thicker and thinner leathers, I have some beautiful black 2 oz buffalo hides that a PERFECT for wallet lining and pockets................

Man, excellent info! I appreciate it.  All of this has been very helpful. 

Please keep the good advice coming.  

Wdfd908, did you take a class, watch any particularly helpful youtube tutorials, or did you just fake it till you make it like I am? :-)

chris

 

[Dwight]

13 hours ago, metroplexchl said:

Thanks,  do you get all your leather at tandy? They seem high according to some other online shops, but I have no experience on the best quality reputable places to buy leather online. Where do you get your leather?

Chris

Yes, . . . I have tried the "order without seeing" thing from different suppliers, . . . and was basically disappointed every time.  I go into the Tandy store, . . . search through the piles, . . . buy the piece that works for me, . . . and I'm on my way.  

No shipping costs, no waiting three or four days, . . . and NO big holes, blemishes, scars, etc, . . . such as I have gotten before.

May God bless,

Dwight

[JLSleather]

I rarely buy ANY leather at Tandy.  Last couple times I went, I dug through STACKS of leather and didn't find anything I was willing to use.

I used to praise and promote their "Royal Meadow" carving leather -- prolly made THOUSANDS of projects with it over the years.  Then they discontinued it.  I suppose it was a cost decision -- probably takes more money to make that than the other "brands" they sell.  Too bad for me - though it may have benefited them to close it out.  That stuff carved beautifully, draped just a bit being somewhat less rigid than H.O., and I never got a piece that didn't take dye VERY well..

In fact, that leather is the only stuff I've bought and not ONCE had an issue with -- perhaps, as Dwight mentioned - that's because I went to the store and picked out the ones I wanted.  Ahh... the good ole days -- when you only went through 7 hides to find 5 you like ....

In carving leather, I like Wickett & Craig, Hermann Oak, and if I could find it again... that tandy "royal meadow" brand.  I've made what I think is acceptable projects from all the above.

But that's just regarding tooling leather, and you didn't say tooling leather.  While there are some leathers more commonly used for some projects, there is no "rule" that must be followed.  

• Bridle leather or harness certainly does better on items which are subjected to hard use or the elements.  
• Garment leather obviously intended for garments (though I've seen some very nice "garment leather" handbags).
• "Tooling" leather required for tooling (duh)

I personally never did get the Horween "thing".  I don't find it all that nice looking and don't actually care for the feel of it.  But there is that. 

Beyond that, I've bought a LOT of different weights and colors of leather for various projects over the years.  Much of it from suppliers who didn't say where or how it was made - but still worked great.

 

[zuludog]

I use 3mm veg tan to make knife sheaths

Scroll down to the bottom of Tandy's homepage and click on 'Leather Buying Guide'. It has a conversion chart between the various measurements for leather thickness. And a diagram showing the choice of thicknesses for different items - wallets, sheaths, holsters and so on.

A veg tan belly is cheap and will give you a fair amount of leather to practice on and make small items.

[Wdfd908]

20 hours ago, metroplexchl said:

 

I have not taken a class. I watched a lot of YouTube Videos and read a ton of articles here. Other than that, I'm a hands on learner, I started with a few coasters with suede sewn on, then a few belt, and within 3 weeks I made my first briefcase.

The thing to do is find something you want to work on (saddle stitching for example), watch the videos, then practice. I usually work at night after my kid is asleep and my wife is watching TV. The more I do the better I become.

[metroplexchl]

Goo advice all.  Anyone know what this thing is? I've had several instances where I could've used one.

 

[metroplexchl]

A circle tracer maybe?

[billybopp]

Wind Fire Designs Circle Tool

[metroplexchl]

4 hours ago, billybopp said:

Wind Fire Designs Circle Tool

Woot! WOOT!  Thank you sir.