Leather for Wallets?

[zuludog]

I make mainly sheaths from 3mm veg tan, but recently I've fancied making a wallet or two. My problem is that once I've started Surfing the Net I find there are lots of suppliers and possibilities for the leather, and things get rather confusing

However I've more or less settled on these from the clearance section of https://www.aacrack.co.uk - though I will have to wait a couple of days till after the weekend to find out prices

Tempesti Oregon veal half hide 1,5/1/7mm  and Horween Chromexcel sides 1,6/1,8mm

I'll also get Nigel Armitage's Wallet Design Pack

Any comments please?

Edited October 19, 2019 by zuludog

[gary]

I've used their chromexcel horse front quite successfully for wallets.

One thing I learned on the first wallet I made was to make sure the measurements on the pattern are suitable for the size of the banknotes in the country in which it will be used.

There are a couple of sites on t'internet that give banknote dimensions.

 

[TomWisc]

I have been using kangaroo leather, about 1mm thick and I love it! I got a hide from Maverick Leather Supply and I think paid $120. It is about 6 or 7 sq ft.There is a tannery in Australia that sells for much less but then there is shipping and time to wait. I am no expert but I think kangaroo is the strongest leather for it thickness. Very easy to work with and no skiving.

[zuludog]

I've heard that kangaroo leather is good, but it's not so easy to find in Britain. I also expect that it will be expensive, so I'll get some practice on something that's cheaper, but still fairly good, first

However, there has been some progress - there are several hide suppliers, but A &A Crack seems the most interesting. They don't publish prices, which I suppose is the difference between a merchant and a shop. Instead you choose a few likely products, then they send you a sample and a quote. I've done that, just waiting for a reply

There are two leather merchants near me -

J Wood Leathers, Keighly. I've visited them once, and it's definitely a warehouse, not a shop, and it would be unreasonable to ask them to unload 3 or 4 pallets just for me to choose one or two pieces. They do have a pile of oddments in the corner though, so I might call sometime

Newman Leathers, Bury I've phoned them and they will sell small quantities for hobby use, but I expect the setup will be similar to J Wood. Still, they're close enough to visit

[thefanninator]

AA Crack has some nice leathers. I've used the Minerva Box and Pueblo from the Badalassi Carlo tannery for wallets. But being from Texas I buy mine from Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. For wallet interiors/pockets I've been getting my leather split to 0.5 mm and folding it for a fully lined pocket. Here's a wallet using Navy Minerva Box split to 1.0mm for the exterior.

 

 

Edited October 20, 2019 by thefanninator

[zuludog]

45 minutes ago, thefanninator said:

AA Crack has some nice leathers. I've used the Minerva Box and Pueblo from the Badalassi Carlo tannery for wallets. But being from Texas I buy mine from Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. For wallet interiors/pockets I've been getting my leather split to 0.5 mm and folding it for a fully lined pocket. Here's a wallet using Navy Minerva Box split to 1.0mm for the exterior.

 

 

Thanks for the comment/recommendation

I've asked for 4 or 5 samples, including the Minerva but not the Pablo, plus the Tempesti & Horween I've already mentioned; can't remember what the others were.

If I produce anything like as good as your example I'll be happy enough!