bikermutt07 Posted October 26, 2016 Report Posted October 26, 2016 The horween is just a high quality leather. They have veg tanned and chrome tanned, they just seem to be better at it then any of the other tanneries. Or so I've heard. I'm with you on the tight budget topic. Nstar Leather has some really nice full grain olive colored hides for 2 bucks a foot in the want ads. It's 4-5 ounce and really pretty. I think it will make some nice messenger bags. Also, I have seen some really good deals on hides at Acadia leather. I read good things about them, but haven't tried any yet. Their pull up leather looks great (that would be chrome tanned that changes appearance as it is stressed and pulled). Hope this helps. Quote I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Members CaptQuirk Posted October 26, 2016 Author Members Report Posted October 26, 2016 @MADMAX22- I mostly make holsters and the occasional belt, and focus on tooling them. Since I am starting out, I make some mistakes on occasion, I haven't been buying the pricey top notch stuff. Rather I have been buying bellies that are on sale. Ruining a piece of that doesn't bother me as much. I would like to try a little of the good stuff now and then, but can't do a side... unless it is a real price buster sale. For example, Tandy's November flyer has a side of Craftsman for $70 I think. That will keep me going for a while, and actually cost less than the bellies I usually get. But not knowing what is what, I am pretty much stuck with buying what I know... ya know? I have heard about W&C, and heard mostly great things about their leather. I have also heard that they sometimes won't ship for weeks. Add that to the fact that it will take at least a week for delivery, not likely to happen. I want to get what I need, so that I can finish a project for somebody. But this last point is secondary to cost at the moment. Quote
Members leatherwytch Posted October 27, 2016 Members Report Posted October 27, 2016 Personally, for veg tan, I prefer Herman Oak for anything tooled. It is beautiful and cuts like butter. Becareful if the shop is not an approved shop for Herman Oak then they are liars. Herman Oak is very strict on who get's to be a distributer for their leather. As for Kangaroo there is nothing like Kangaroo lace. I still love it. I love to line using pig skin lining. As for inlays I have a big thing for colourful leather, like hologram and many others. Just my ten cents worth. Quote Creative people need maids. Http://www.LeatherWytch.com
MADMAX22 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Posted October 27, 2016 Cap totally understandable. With the fact your making holsters and belts and like tooling then I would suggest stiching with vegtan for the time being. Good on you getting away from the bellies, you will probably screw up far less with better leather thats not as stretchy and a more consistant thickness. Tandy leather is not great/good but it will serve ya much better then the bellies I imagine. I personally have not had the issue of W&C delaying shipping, just normal processing of a couple days and the usual time for ground delivery to where I live. Getting there lower grade will blow away the tandy stuff when you get to that point with the exception of W&C calf sides they have on special right now they arent so good. Now Hermann Oak is IMHO on par with W&C, usually HO is more expensive because you have to go thru retail unless you get large quantities from them then its cheaper. Maverick leather has some HO 8-10oz special on sale right now for $165 which even though its special is probably still a darn good leather. http://maverickleathercompany.com/product/hermann-oak-tooling-special/ I know its probably out of the price range right now but for future reference maverick has specials all the time on stuff. Belts Now for your belts if your not gonna tool them bridle and harness make good belts as well. Maverick has some of the W&C bridle on sale. W&C bridle is pretty affordable for bridle leather. It is vegtan with usually a aniline finish and totally finished on the outside FYI. Makes some nice belts. Quote
Members billybopp Posted October 27, 2016 Members Report Posted October 27, 2016 There is a lot of really great info about ... well .. just about everything leather, including tannages, usages and such on the Kingsmere website. There's quite a bit about types of tanning and usages here. The website is a bit hodgepodge, but the info is excellent reading. Bill Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted October 27, 2016 Members Report Posted October 27, 2016 13 minutes ago, billybopp said: There is a lot of really great info about ... well .. just about everything leather, including tannages, usages and such on the Kingsmere website. There's quite a bit about types of tanning and usages here. The website is a bit hodgepodge, but the info is excellent reading. Bill I was trying to think of that site earlier, but drew a blank.... too much in the brain today.. Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
Members HobbledCobbler Posted October 28, 2016 Members Report Posted October 28, 2016 On 10/26/2016 at 8:32 PM, billybopp said: There is a lot of really great info about ... well .. just about everything leather, including tannages, usages and such on the Kingsmere website. There's quite a bit about types of tanning and usages here. The website is a bit hodgepodge, but the info is excellent reading. Bill Now that's a treasury of information I can use! Thank you! Quote
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