Who's your favorite leather supplier?

[pepin1948]

If you prefer someone else, put it in a reply; otherwise, just choose one of the two. The poll is ANONYMOUS but if you reply, it will show any comments...

Edited June 27, 2006 by wildrose

[Tom Katzke]

Though question. We are mostly buying leather at this point so I went with other. We buy most of our supplies and tools from Hide Crafter. A few from others. We try to get what we need at the trade shows. Like to touch, look, and feel. Tom Katzke

If you prefer someone else, put it in a reply; otherwise, just choose one of the two. The poll is ANONYMOUS but if you reply, it will show any comments...

[pepin1948]

I agree completely about buying leather at shows (seeing pre-buying) - that's what I was doing almost exclusively for a while; 'til I was in DE and there was a Tandy in the Baltimore, MD region, about an hour from my home. Then I could buy leather there. Because I do alot of small projects, I don't need a 1st rate high quality hide. I did a dog collar from a donated piece of Wickett and Craig, and MAN was that the nicest leather I'd used yet...but I can't afford to buy what I would need to from them, and then pay shipping too.

[bruce johnson]

For leather,

Skirting - Siegel of California

Lining and Chap leather - Siegel of California

lighter weight tooling leather - Hide House in Napa

For tools,

Osborne - Siegel of California

Stamping tools - Hide Crafters, Barry King, Wayne Jueschke

French edgers/Round Bottom Edgers - Jeremiah Watt (Horseshoe Brand tools)

Sewing machine thread and supplies - Ferdco!!

Hardware - Weaver, Walsall, Tandy/TLF

Silver - Hansens Western Gear/Hansens Silver

Monel Stirrups - Trina Weber (Weber Stirrups)

Saddle Trees - Quality Manufacturing/Timberline

That is my short list!! - Bruce Johnson

[Admin]

For the times that you need one or a thousand hard-to-find whatevers, and you need it yesterday, call Kevin Hopkins at Springfield Leather.

http://www.springfieldleather.com/

and if he doesn't have it, he'll know where to get it.

Another independent retailer is Stonehedge Leather, located in San Diego, which is Phil LeDuc

(619) 223-4211

Since the "old" Tandys closed, I've bought half a dozen hides from Hidecrafters, and been satisfied. I think the key is to establish a relationship with your leather dealer. When I was a Tandy manager, I knew what my customers were doing with their leather, so picking out hides for them was easier. For example, I would put aside longer ones for people who made straps, I knew some customers liked brands (range markings!) and some people wouldn't tolerate them. If the customer gave me a little explanation, I could sometimes recommend a better deal or a better leather for the project. When you go to a leather retailer's store you can handle the hides and inspect them. If you need to buy through mail order, you need someone you can trust to "do you right". Once you find that person (or people) stick with them and tell all your friends.

Johanna

* I didn't vote in the poll because I haven't bought enough supplies in the last five years to justify having any opinion.

[rayne100]

Personally I like Weaver. That's were we get all of our leather. They are very good about giving us the biggest hides possible with the least amount of blemishes. Their suede dye lots are consistant from year to year,but every 4 years they change their lot color, so keep that in mind if you are hoarding colors to match up for more thatn three years.

They also get the supplies to us in a timely fashion and have a 30 day billing option for up to 2000.00 for most merchants.

Edited July 28, 2006 by rayne100

[Orange]

Beiler's Manufacturing and Supply

3025 Irishtown Rd.

Ronks,Pa 17572

(717) 768 0174

carries most anything, wickett & craig leather,hardware,s.b,c.b, s.s, sewing machines,punches,creasesrs.

call for catalog

Fred

[rdb]

I have had modest spending lately, just basics so far, but I have been lucky enough to live within 40 minutes of Zack White, and 45 min from a TLC.

I know the belt leather I have bought from Zack's has been top notch; smoother backs, snappy tooling, and clean tops.

The Bridle leather I got from there , may not be sedgewick, but it was real nice, soft as a babies ... , well, you know.

He has a good supply of horse hardware; stainless buckles, d rings, etc.

I haven't tried the tooling sides yet, but they look good. (He doesn't carry Herman oak anymore, although I did see two 4 oz Hermans sitting there.

The TLC in Raleigh is small but clean, and the Mgr./Asst mgr seem pretty nice. If you deal there, ask about what's on the clearance table. I picked up some good stuff cheap.

[whinewine]

Mostly I get from Tandy's in Delmont, PA (near Pittsburgh), but I'll make the drive to select what I need & I'll pick out my own leather (it's definitely not as nice as leather I could easily get in the '60s & '70s, but I try to get the best of the best of their specials) & play with the tools till I get the best ones out of the bins.

Otherwise, I really like Springfield Leather for odds & ends (they carry some nice exotics & have great specials & also carry hidecrafter & other lines of 'stuff'.

Siegels of California has great prices on their friday specials. I use their vegtan goat a lot.

Beilers also has good prices on Osborne tools & I think they make their own edger blades which you can insert into your own homemade handles. They're Amish/Mennonite, so no website & no Visa/Mastercard, but they do have catalogues & do answer the phones. They cater heavily to the Amish buggy set, but will certainly deal with the "English" too.

Edited December 11, 2007 by whinewine

[outcast]

Alcove Leather & Crafts.

65A West State Street

Newaygo, MI 49337

Toll free (877)887-9188

Steve