does leather have a grain like wood?

[Sjm1027]

I was wondering if leather had a cutting grain like wood does, if so how can you tell the direction?

[Rawhide]

Well, it does have a grain, but not like wood. Wood has a distictive pattern, a hide does not. (At least I don't think so).

The smooth side of leather is called the grain or hair side, and the rough side is called the flesh side.

Some others may chime in to add or correct me.

Hope this helps.

[Sjm1027]

Yes I know about the side... What I mean about grain is, when you layout a pattern... does the leather / project direction matter... With wood you must always keep the grain in mind.

I did read this morning that closer to the spine the leather is close fiber so the leather will wear better and this should be used in handle or strap areas verses belly leather.

I am talking cutting direction.

Steve

[ClayB]

Yes I know about the side... What I mean about grain is, when you layout a pattern... does the leather / project direction matter... With wood you must always keep the grain in mind.

I did read this morning that closer to the spine the leather is close fiber so the leather will wear better and this should be used in handle or strap areas verses belly leather.

I am talking cutting direction.

Steve

Like you said, the hide is firmer up along the spine, also at the butt end. The belly and neck areas are stretchier. For things like straps and belts etc where you want strength, you want to cut them from the firmer parts of the hide, and cut lengthwise. You wouldn't want to cut a strap starting at the spine going towards the belly or one end would be firm, the other stretchy. The belly and neck areas can be used for projects that dont require strength. I also use these areas for carving projects where I want to be able to mold or emboss the leather.

[Dale]

The only time I have found anything resembling a grain is when trying to use certain stitching groovers. When trying to use it in one direction, it worked fine. Using it in the opposite direction, it hardly cut at all. My assumption was that it had something to do with the direction of the hair growth, but I never really investigated much. My solution was a different stitching groover.

Clay has pretty much covered the strength of different areas of the hide. Other than that consideration, my experience is that there is no significant difference in the way patterns are laid out on the hide.

Dale