Best value for leather

[Jason046]

I have been buying my leather from a local Tandy store and I was wondering if this was the best value for the leather I am getting. I buy a side of 8-9oz veg tan and I tool on it. The only problem I have found is I really have to look for good sides. I wouldn't mind buying from a supplier if anyone has a good recommendation. I have checked out Weaver but they are more expensive than Tandy.

[rodneywt1180b]

You might check out Springfield Leather.  Watch the shipping charges though.  They add up fast. Probably true for most online sellers.

You can buy individual hides from Wickett & Craig.

Maverick is another good bet.

 

[JLSleather]

"Value" is subjective -- question is what's it worth TO YOU?  I personally don't mind PAYING more AS LONG AS I'm GETTING more.  The same stuff at a higher price is not "value", nor it less stuff at the same price.  

I like Wickett&Craig leathers, usually get the skirting leather and have them split to thickness I want.  It isn't free, but it's quite good.

Hermann Oak is also very good.  Price is a little less, but there's a minimum order of 10 sides, if that's a concern.

Both carve very nicely.

[howlback]

I just spent nearly $300 dollars on a side of #1 Hermann Oak saddle skirting. Beautiful leather but it's reserved for customer who want to pay a premium. The guy it buy from said Chahin is a nice tannery in Mexico though. Might be worth checking out!

[TonySFLDLTHR]

Here is some write up that we have on Hermann Oak that JLS mentioned. http://springfieldleather.com/hermann-oak

We also sell it 4 different ways. So you can get as much or as little as you might like.

[JLSleather]

8 minutes ago, howlback said:

I just spent nearly $300 dollars on a side of #1 Hermann Oak saddle skirting. Beautiful leather but it's reserved for customer who want to pay a premium. The guy it buy from said Chahin is a nice tannery in Mexico though. Might be worth checking out!

Just FYI -- $300 per side is about a 50% markup.  A grade leather from H.O. tannery is about $200 per side ($8 per foot).

[howlback]

1 minute ago, JLSleather said:

Just FYI -- $300 per side is about a 50% markup.  A grade leather from H.O. tannery is about $200 per side ($8 per foot).

And can only be ordered 10 a time (about $2,070 for A/B after shipping).

[Ed in Tx]

Buying your leather from Tandy is the worst possible choice. Springfield Leather has a few different choice in veg tan at different price points. I recently purchased a belt bend that was on a flash sale for $99 and they split it to the weight I wanted free of charge. The leather was from a tannery in Europe (don't remember exactly where) but the hide is great. Tools extremely well and takes dye easily with very even results. 

When you are buying from Tandy your paying a lot more money for lower quality hides. Some of their prices just make me laugh, recently they had some European veg tan that priced out at around $17 a sq. ft.

[Hasbeencowboy]

I have been buying English Bridle and skirting leather from Wickett and Craig.  I have no complaints.  I bought  a few items from  Springfield Leather some time back and they charged me $25 for shipping and according to the invoice shipping was $17 or $18 , so in my opinion, what I bought wasn't all that good of a deal.  Just something to consider.

 

 

[Jason046]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will look I to all the options. I am buying oak leaf sides so it's a B grade leather I believe. I'm cutting 7" squares and tooling them along with 50" x 1 1/2" straps. We are running a business so the more we can get out of it the better. Would pay more for the side if I could get a better side with less marks