Contributing Member JLSleather Posted January 11, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2022 37 minutes ago, Gulrok said: . Thats not that bad at all.... Nope, it aint. Course, ya gotta keep the kitty off of it, but otherwise it'll keep 'til ya use it 10 backs shipped up here ends up running around $18-1900 ... for 180 feet of leather and no bellies. So, right at $10/foot for the best leather you can get, and the best hides of the best leather. I have ordered from a number of "retailers" selling Hermann Oak leather. They all claim they're just reselling what H.O. already graded, but with one exception (Goliger Leather) they all seem to think the customer won't know if they send a "C" or "D" grade, even though the order was for an "A" or "B". I had one place send me a side of 5/6 I could literally stretch line a fitness band. Now, granted... 5/6 isn't that heavy, but stilll.... I mean I could cut a 1.5" wide strap, and grab each end, and pull it out about 4-5 inches! And they charge 30% more than H.O. charges for the GOOD STUFF. So, yeah - if you're going to do leather every 7th Saturday, don't worry about it. If you're serious about making quality goods - either for yourself or for sale - call Hermann Oak Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Gulrok Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 6:18 PM, JLSleather said: Nope, it aint. Course, ya gotta keep the kitty off of it, but otherwise it'll keep 'til ya use it 10 backs shipped up here ends up running around $18-1900 ... for 180 feet of leather and no bellies. So, right at $10/foot for the best leather you can get, and the best hides of the best leather. I have ordered from a number of "retailers" selling Hermann Oak leather. They all claim they're just reselling what H.O. already graded, but with one exception (Goliger Leather) they all seem to think the customer won't know if they send a "C" or "D" grade, even though the order was for an "A" or "B". I had one place send me a side of 5/6 I could literally stretch line a fitness band. Now, granted... 5/6 isn't that heavy, but stilll.... I mean I could cut a 1.5" wide strap, and grab each end, and pull it out about 4-5 inches! And they charge 30% more than H.O. charges for the GOOD STUFF. So, yeah - if you're going to do leather every 7th Saturday, don't worry about it. If you're serious about making quality goods - either for yourself or for sale - call Hermann Oak I have consistently gotten really bad products from suppliers selling W&C and HO in heavier weights. We've gotten absolutely mangled leather and its expensive to ship it back. So much so that I'd gone ahead and switched to RJF leather for backs and sides of English Bridle. Been very very happy with it. Everything has been a home run. Its making me think about switching back to HO for some products. I'll have to think more on it. Quote
Members TomE Posted January 15, 2022 Members Report Posted January 15, 2022 14 minutes ago, Gulrok said: I have consistently gotten really bad products from suppliers selling W&C and HO in heavier weights. We've gotten absolutely mangled leather and its expensive to ship it back. So much so that I'd gone ahead and switched to RJF leather for backs and sides of English Bridle. Been very very happy with it. Everything has been a home run. Its making me think about switching back to HO for some products. I'll have to think more on it. Did not know about RJF leather. I've been using HO bridle and been pleased with the consistency and finish of the grain. The flesh side has this pastey thing going on that I'm not thrilled with. Doesn't affect halters made of 2-3 layers, but I'm starting to make bridles and not thrilled with having that junk on the back side of cheek pieces and throat straps. Maybe there's a better way to finish it with a slicker. How does the RJF bridle leather compare to W&C or HO? Quote
Gulrok Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 7 minutes ago, TomE said: Did not know about RJF leather. I've been using HO bridle and been pleased with the consistency and finish of the grain. The flesh side has this pastey thing going on that I'm not thrilled with. Doesn't affect halters made of 2-3 layers, but I'm starting to make bridles and not thrilled with having that junk on the back side of cheek pieces and throat straps. Maybe there's a better way to finish it with a slicker. How does the RJF bridle leather compare to W&C or HO? https://www.rjfleather.com/leather-products RJF Leather is a home run. They're quick to respond. They're close to me so I usually get the leather with in 2 days. The backs are pasted on it, but you might be able to ask for it with an unpasted back. ( I really have no idea if they offer that or not ). The leather is really consistent and I'm a big fan. https://www.rjfleather.com/#contact Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted January 15, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) i WON'T be shopping with RJF. A few years back, Robert and I decided to check this out. He ordered a couple different cuts, and I ordered a couple other than what he ordered. NONE of it was acceptable. Lesson learned. There was another one, too.. same approach, same results. American.. something something ..? Edited January 15, 2022 by JLSleather Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Gulrok Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 2 hours ago, JLSleather said: i WON'T be shopping with RJF. A few years back, Robert and I decided to check this out. He ordered a couple different cuts, and I ordered a couple other than what he ordered. NONE of it was acceptable. Lesson learned. There was another one, too.. same approach, same results. American.. something something ..? Seriously? I mean, I'm purchasing English Bridle - and I can't say anything but wonderful things. We've legitimately ordered a few thousand dollars worth of EB from them over the last few months as we finish up some of our HO English Bridle. Now an unfinished / tooling veg? No idea - haven't even touched it. RJF leather is keystone leather.. or rather RJF leather is a distributor of keystone leather. https://www.keystoneleather.com/ American Leather Direct - yeah - we purchased from them too because the crap I was getting from our W&C suppliers (Not W&C direct) kept having disgusting and gouged finished backs. The ALD stuff was better than C or D stuff from W&C. We've had our growing pains with HO stuff too, just not directly from them. Trevor Quote
Doc Reaper Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 Buy hides or sides, most folks want your business, but the moment you get a bad side send that back. Tandy is not on my list Quote Doc Reaper
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