is not all vegtan 4-5 oz tooling leather from tandy the same?

[codejoy]

I had a question wasn't sure what to ask or how.   I started this hobby a few months ago.  Went to my 'local' tandy (60 miles away) and got a roll of 5-6oz veg tan tooling leather.  I wanted to play around with a cricut to have it cut it (I cannot cut a straight line to save myself) did a wallet tutorial using rivets, the wallet I use to this day but noticed it always felt 'plasticy' or wasn't very supple.  Even before I put the satin shene on it to seal it.   Okay...so made a few fun things from that leather, and even another roll after.  Always felt i mean like leather, but a bit hard or plasticy or almost cardboardy..  Then I went to buy a third roll, now this roll same thickness, veg tan tooling leather and yet this one, feels VERY soft and way more supple than the other.  What am I missing? They were all the same leathers, they all had the same cost.   Why does the most recent roll feel much softer/supple and pliable.

 

 

 

[Retswerb]

I’ve definitely seen the same at my Tandy, their leathers vary widely even when nominally the same. Thickness is often way off as well. It pays to be choosy and poke through the whole stack to find the better pieces at a given price point. Or buy from one of the various reputable online sellers.

[fredk]

a. Tandy leather is quite notorious for not being of high quality nor being consistent.

One time when I visited a Tandy and was tempted to buy some leather, checking thru the stock on the shelf I found leather soft & supple as well as hard as plywood with various grades in between. I did not buy any leather from them

b. if you can, use another supplier. Others on here will recommend ones local to you. Get to know them, let them know you and you'll get what you need.

[codejoy]

I got nervous, cause as I am learning I want to keep things... the same? I guess.  So I can figure out when *i* mess up and its not a product.  But this was kinda of annoying.  I am feeling more comfortable branching out and heard of rocky mountain leather I will give a try.   Their 3-4oz does vary in thickness too but it has always been supple. Hmm.  Oh well still learning and having fun glad I asked this...lol for a moment the cardboardy'plasticy one I thought I needed  a deglazer on to turn it supple like it had stuff left over from the tannery :D

 

My local supplier is this small mom and pop store that I would LOVE to support but they are really in shoe repair and rarely have the right thickness in of the right kinds I want to work with.

 

[fredk]

2 minutes ago, codejoy said:

I got nervous, cause as I am learning I want to keep things... the same? I guess.  So I can figure out when *i* mess up and its not a product. 

If you use variable quality leather you won't know when its you or the leather at fault. With good leather and good tools then you know its you when it goes awry, but also you'll know you can repeat what you did right

5 minutes ago, codejoy said:

My local supplier is this small mom and pop store that I would LOVE to support but they are really in shoe repair and rarely have the right thickness in of the right kinds I want to work with.

Adapt your needs to what they can supply. They are a vital source of help and information and by buying some from them you'll work up a very useful contact

[AzShooter]

I was at my local Tandy last week, looking for a few tools, and saw that they had some 7 - 8 oz leather on sale.  I looked at about five pieces but none looked good enough for what I make.  The Salesperson explained that their sale leather isn't always the best and to buy their more expensive leather.  It looked much better so I bought a double shoulder.  That will last me for a while.

I've found a few on line leather companies now that I've ordered leather from.  SLC, Weaver, Montana and Maverick Leather have all sent me good pieces.  Let me add Weaver as well, I've bought a few tools from them and even had to return a rotary punch with no problems in getting a refund fast.

[Retswerb]

28 minutes ago, fredk said:

35 minutes ago, codejoy said:

My local supplier is this small mom and pop store that I would LOVE to support but they are really in shoe repair and rarely have the right thickness in of the right kinds I want to work with.

Adapt your needs to what they can supply. They are a vital source of help and information and by buying some from them you'll work up a very useful contact

Have you asked them specifically about what leathers they might be able to get for you on special order? I wonder if they might be able to at least save you some shipping $$ by throwing in something for you alongside their regular orders from their suppliers.

[codejoy]

2 minutes ago, AzShooter said:

I was at my local Tandy last week, looking for a few tools, and saw that they had some 7 - 8 oz leather on sale.  I looked at about five pieces but none looked good enough for what I make.  The Salesperson explained that their sale leather isn't always the best and to buy their more expensive leather.  It looked much better so I bought a double shoulder.  That will last me for a while.

 I've found a few on line leather companies now that I've ordered leather from.  SLC, Weaver, Montana and Maverick Leather have all sent me good pieces.  Let me add Weaver as well, I've bought a few tools from them and even had to return a rotary punch with no problems in getting a refund fast.

I need to order online more, and I have to say, I didn't spend a lot of on the stuff I was buying at tandy.  The roll or whatever it was (not a belly but next one up) was like $40 , so to start a new hobby it was a nice investment.  I guess as I am growing in it I am learning that I need to spend more to make better stuff.

 

[fredk]

I'll add, sometimes, sometimes, a leather supplier will let you have a 1/2  postcard sized sample of the leather you're after.

I did sometimes ask Le Prevo for a sample, but its not something I ask for very often After using them for 20 years I trust them to send me what I require