Cracking leather

[oldsparky]

Hello, I have made a few projects over the years. I'm 56 and started making Tandy leather projects for myself back in the 70's. Recently I made a fold over type holster from 12ish oz leather. I cut the leather out then dyed it with pro dye (black) let it dry then started stiching it. the darn leather started cracking. Just the surface about 1/16 deep, everywhere I would bend it it cracked. What happened? The leather was a new piece I had bought from the Tandy store.

 

 

thanks, Jim

[OLDNSLOW]

there are 2 things absent from your explanation, 1. did you apply water to the bend area of the leather, if not that was mistake number one, 2. did you oil the leather either just before dying the leather or right after?  If not that was mistake number 2.  Those things are pertinent to a long lasting holster, you can almost count on all leather coming to you dry from all the suppliers, or direct from the tannery.  Do yourself a favor and watch some utube videos.  I am not trying to be harsh our sarcastic in my response to you, I hope what I have said will help, one of the makers that does come here periodically has some very good videos up, his business name is Adams leather, I cannot recall what he goes by here on the site, but his stuff is worth looking at.

Good Luck.

Ron

Edited November 27, 2017 by OLDNSLOW
adding

[fredk]

also: it might be the Tandy leather. Last week I went to one in England and was shocked to discover how dry and brittle their veg tan leather is compared to what my usual supplier sends me. I did not buy any of it.

[KingsCountyLeather]

I made a leather belt for a hairdresser’s apron this week and the exact same thing happened... I did oil it after dying as always and when the  leather started cracking, I oiled it again and again. Still the same. The leather was also from Tandy in the UK. 

Here’s a pic, it looks like a vintage belt now.

[OLDNSLOW]

there is something to be said for top grade leather from top grade tanneries, not sure what you folks across the pond have for top notch leather.  We have a small assortment of providers, now I might take some heat for that comment but, there is Wickett and Craig as well as Herman Oak.  They are both top notch providers of leather, one can be bought from directly and the other unless you can meet their minimum  has to come from a resale distributor.  Now if these 2 can be bought from and not kill the deal with import and shipping you should give one a go and determine what the difference is between top grade USA stuff and what Tandy sells.

[mikesc]

Plenty of superb top grade leather tanneries in Europe ( some of their stuff gets resold in the USA ) ..and at reasonable prices.

and then there is Tandy..

who in Europe at least are pretty much the walmart of the leather world...best avoided.

[Bolt Vanderhuge]

18 hours ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

I made a leather belt for a hairdresser’s apron this week and the exact same thing happened... I did oil it after dying as always and when the  leather started cracking, I oiled it again and again. Still the same. The leather was also from Tandy in the UK. 

Here’s a pic, it looks like a vintage belt now.

Did you bend the belt while the leather was still moist? That could be from oiling or, dying, glueing or wetting.

[KingsCountyLeather]

After I used the dye, I did notice that the leather was more stiff than normal... and I oiled it as normal... but the leather didn’t soak up the oil as normal and I did flex the belt to soften it up a bit... that’s when it started to wrinkle a bit. 

[Bolt Vanderhuge]

The leather likely stretched as you bent it. So now you have extra leather with no place to go but out leaving you with the wrinkles you have. 

Edited November 30, 2017 by Bolt Vanderhuge

[nrk]

On 11/27/2017 at 4:36 AM, oldsparky said:

Hello, I have made a few projects over the years. I'm 56 and started making Tandy leather projects for myself back in the 70's. Recently I made a fold over type holster from 12ish oz leather. I cut the leather out then dyed it with pro dye (black) let it dry then started stiching it. the darn leather started cracking. Just the surface about 1/16 deep, everywhere I would bend it it cracked. What happened? The leather was a new piece I had bought from the Tandy store.

 

 

thanks, Jim

could be leather (overdry)

could be the process itself - oiling after or before dying is a general conditioner treatment which prevents cracking and penetrates into leather fibres.

Pro OIL dyes from Fiebengs pretty  good, but their Regular dyes (alcohol) do make leather go very very dry.