What's happened to Hermann Oak?

[buzzardbait]

Chief31794 that sounds like my experience exactly from multiple suppliers. I think on my next order I will try Wickett & Craig. I am normally brand loyal and I like to stick with the same products  because I know  how they react to dye and paint and the finishes I use but I think it is time for a change.

[chiefjason]

On 1/29/2018 at 1:00 PM, pentelaravi said:

Is Wickett & Craig natural skirting slimier to H.O natural veg tan leather?

Right now i am using PREMIUM BELT BEND from SLC, and issue with the quality. Thinness is not consistent between orders ,Low spots in leather if thickness above 9 oz,  scars, clamp marks,…..

Looking for alternatives.

I use the tooling/holster/carving sides.  Veg tanned.  I did not use a lot of HO but the WC is nicer than the HO I did order from SLC.  Cleanest hides I have ever seen.  The color is a very light cream color.  Flesh side has a nice grain to it for the majority of the hide.  Not as fleshy as cheap stuff.  You can have them level the side for free, it just takes about a week longer to ship.  I ordered a level 8 oz for the front of my holsters and it is fantastic.  The 8-10 oz sides can be very stiff, nearly too stiff for the fronts.  So I ordered 2 sides and had them level one for me.  I deal with Dave and he's been great to work with.  I have never gotten a hide that didn't have a mark or two from clamps, they have to clamp them when they dry so they don't shrink.  But these hides have less marks and defects than other hides I have used.  

[Pergamena]

Hello Everyone,

Doing a little outreach here... I apologize if this is not the right venue for the advertisement. If so, please feel free to delete! (Or point me in the right direction...) I help run a tannery in New York's Hudson Valley named Pergamena Parchments & Leathers. We have been around for a very long time, but have been producing vegtan for the last 10 years. We do cow hide, as well as goat and calf leather. We do a softer cow leather than Hermann Oak, or Wickett & Craig, but it might be suitable for some applications. I have also seen some of the goat and calf leather producers/sellers mentioned on here so I thought this might be the right place to mention that as well. We also do some deerskin. Again, all vegtan and all domestic hides, mostly from the Northeast US. We supply primarily the bookbinding trade, accessories, and handbags. If someone is also looking to buy craft leathers from Tandy or similar suppliers, we have a good supply of one offs or 2nds that we offer on our Etsy shop. www.etsy.com/shop/PergamenaNY   You are also welcome to check our website www.pergamena.net 

If you are seeing this and would like to give us a try, you can use the promo code LEATHERWORKER2018

Thanks again and I hope we can help you!

Jesse Meyer

Pergamena Parchments & Leathers

 

[NVLeatherWorx]

Been a long time since I have visited this place and posted but here I go.

I have been, and still am, an H.O. supporter and have not had any issues with their leather.  I get all of mine from The Hide House (www.hidehouse.com) in Napa, CA and it costs MUCH less than SLC or anyone else, even with my wholesale pricing as a business operator.  In fact, my average price per square foot for H.O. is $7.95 and so far every side that I have purchased from them has not had any issues in the usable portion of the hide.  You will always have the clamp marks and some rough areas around the edges and that applies to all suppliers and tanners but foot prints and the other stuff, not even a hint of them.

[toe2short]

I have a HO on the way. The last one I ordered was a 3/4 oz and I was not crazy about the quality. I ordered a 6 oz. Holster cut. If it is not better then the last one, I will try Wicker Craig

On 3/1/2018 at 11:55 AM, Pergamena said:

Hello Everyone,

Doing a little outreach here... I apologize if this is not the right venue for the advertisement. If so, please feel free to delete! (Or point me in the right direction...) I help run a tannery in New York's Hudson Valley named Pergamena Parchments & Leathers. We have been around for a very long time, but have been producing vegtan for the last 10 years. We do cow hide, as well as goat and calf leather. We do a softer cow leather than Hermann Oak, or Wickett & Craig, but it might be suitable for some applications. I have also seen some of the goat and calf leather producers/sellers mentioned on here so I thought this might be the right place to mention that as well. We also do some deerskin. Again, all vegtan and all domestic hides, mostly from the Northeast US. We supply primarily the bookbinding trade, accessories, and handbags. If someone is also looking to buy craft leathers from Tandy or similar suppliers, we have a good supply of one offs or 2nds that we offer on our Etsy shop. www.etsy.com/shop/PergamenaNY   You are also welcome to check our website www.pergamena.net 

If you are seeing this and would like to give us a try, you can use the promo code LEATHERWORKER2018

Thanks again and I hope we can help you!

Jesse Meyer

Pergamena Parchments & Leathers

 

I will give you a try.

Thank you

jim 

[Ken Nelson]

I have been using HO for 12 or 13 years.  I have not noticed a decline in quality.  I get all mine from Panhandle Leather in Amarillo, TX.  Their prices are the best I have found and they are the most reasonable on shipping.  And they usually get the orders out the same day if I call in the morning.

[JLSleather]

On 1/25/2018 at 3:59 PM, buzzardbait said:

from a couple of different suppliers. It has all been crap

Think about that -- is it Hermann Oak, or is it these retailers? 

I have purchased leather from quite a few different places., sometimes left to wonder how they even stay in business - I suspect it has something to do with selling to the inexperienced and those not properly warned.  .  

But direct from Hermann Oak is the ONLY place that has never sent me a hide I didn't like.  I absolutely recommend ordering direct from the tannery.  $8 per foot for fantastic leather.  Direct from HO, a side of top notch, "A" leather is about $200. 

IF a retailer marks it up a bit and lets you avoid buying 10+ sides, fair enough.  Think about it - say you only want one side. 

• Those people charging $300 are out of control - let's just skip those.   
• leather, marked up, should look and carve just like if I would have got it direct from HO - and any deviation is unacceptable.  You don't get to sell me lower grade leather AND mark up the price.
• AND, I have had retailers (they are often called "suppliers", but that's not actually true) sell me something substandard - then offer to "fix it" by sending me a different batch or refunding my money.  But that's not a leather purchase - that's a 0% interest LOAN to them

[JRLeather2]

I bought direct from Herman Oak , "A" grade sides and they were terrible, sent the whole roll back.