Contributing Member JLSleather Posted February 22, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted February 22, 2022 14 hours ago, 327fed said: It’s like steak. If you never had a ribeye a chuck wagon tastes OK. And retailers PRAISE the rough cut, NEVER show you the ribeye. A couple of "retailers" HERE made a LOT of money by catering to those who DONT KNOW ANY BETTER. Kinda simple business plan -- find a place where all the new guys are collected in one spot, and shoot the fish already in the barrel. In fact, they'll show up on here by the dozen proudly ANNOUNCING they don't know what they need or how to tell the good from the bad. Like, you see people come to the church for help when they can't pay the rent, or don't have food. Simple logic.. you go to where there are ALREADY PEOPLE GATHERED who WANT to help you. Easy pickin's ... 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.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted February 22, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted February 22, 2022 16 hours ago, JayEhl said: Thanks for sharing that picture. I only have Tandy stores near me and the wrinkle look is all they seem to have so I thought that was normal. That is BENDS ... meaning a side but the shoulder and belly area is removed (hence the square cut on one end and the bottom). In teh right side pic, that's a "B" grade bend (belly and shoulder removed). Clamp marks on the right side identify that as the SPINE side of the hide. It's not MARK FREE, but purdy durn close. And this is a B... I think most "retailers" are selling you "B" but sending "D". I have LONG told people it's best to order FROM HERMANN OAK OR WICKETT-CRAIG DIRECTLY. IF you don't want to buy the minimum 10 sides at H.O. then get together with a few guys in your area and SPLIT an order. If you order 10, then a BACK (I order with bellies already removed) runs about $185 after shipping. To be clear, $185-ish gets you that piece in the right side pic AND about 7-ish sq feet of the shoulder not in that pic. FYI.. I didn't intend it, but I see in that pic ---- under the natural H.O. side is a Wickett-Craig "chestnut" drum dyed tooling leather. VERY nice. 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.
Members MarlinDave Posted February 22, 2022 Author Members Report Posted February 22, 2022 There are only 3 leatherworkers in my area that I know. One does boots, one does bags. Gabriel will blow his horn before the three of us would use 10 sides of the same stuff. Quote
Members JayEhl Posted February 22, 2022 Members Report Posted February 22, 2022 I wished I knew a few guys in my area that would be willing to go in on something like that.... Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted February 22, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted February 22, 2022 13 minutes ago, JayEhl said: I wished I knew a few guys in my area that would be willing to go in on something like that.... At the price some of these places are charging for BAD leather, a guy could buy the GOOD stuff, take his 3 sides, send the other 7 to a couple guys doing leather and STILL get BETTER LEATHER for LESS MONEY (H.O. GRADE A is about $8 per foot, NOT $12, NOT $14....) Last time I did that, it cost $20 to ship ONE side, but only $50 to ship FIVE sides. 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.
MikeRock Posted February 23, 2022 Report Posted February 23, 2022 Jay, Any harness makers or saddle makers around your area? My Amish buddy up here buys enough HO from the factory that he gets great stuff, and will add my requirements to his order. I pay his invoice prices too! I'll buy a bit from various suppliers when he does not have an order going in. God bless Quote
alpha2 Posted February 23, 2022 Report Posted February 23, 2022 On 2/21/2022 at 3:30 PM, JLSleather said: TOO COMMON these days, but not "normal" (desirable, or even acceptable). NO cowhide is without a mark. It is then graded according to defects per square foot, "A" being the best (W/C calls it "standard" grade, and goes down from there). I've worked with some "B" hides that worked out just fine... those pics above are an A and a B from Hermann Oak (sadly, you have MANY "retailers" selling C and even D and labeling them "B" to those who don't know any better). Fat wrinkles will be most prominent in the shoulder area, and run "up and down" on the cow. This puts them the "short" way on a side, and the "long" direction on a double shoulder. I've used many double shoulders over the years for belts and holsters, even portfolios and bags. Perfectly good leather if you get "the good stuff". Some of the "retailers" (not a nice word around here) go on and on about how these DEFECTS add "charm and character" to your projects. But they are DEFECTS, which is why leather suppliers (MAKERS, not the resellers) CHARGE MORE for the hides without this war zone look. For those CON MEN calling themselves "retail outlets" (and such)... I prefer my leather LESS CHARMING, and since you claim it's beneficial, perhaps I can get a discount on the hides that DONT have that? Nah - didn't think so ... "since you claim it's beneficial, perhaps I can get a discount on the hides that DONT have that? Nah - didn't think so ..." Oh, man, I want to try that soooo badly! "If it's a value-added (my favorite BS) feature, quote me some of the nasty stuff without the value being added". Quote So much leather...so little time.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted February 23, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted February 23, 2022 1 hour ago, alpha2 said: "If it's a value-added (my favorite BS) feature, quote me some of the nasty stuff without the value being added". yeah, he gits it 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.
Members JayEhl Posted February 23, 2022 Members Report Posted February 23, 2022 20 hours ago, JLSleather said: At the price some of these places are charging for BAD leather, a guy could buy the GOOD stuff, take his 3 sides, send the other 7 to a couple guys doing leather and STILL get BETTER LEATHER for LESS MONEY (H.O. GRADE A is about $8 per foot, NOT $12, NOT $14....) Last time I did that, it cost $20 to ship ONE side, but only $50 to ship FIVE sides. I like this idea, just don't really know anyone who is into leather crafting in my area. I think there is a guy down in Texas City that makes holsters, though. Thanks for the idea. But may i ask, when ordering in bulk hides, do they all have to be the same weights? 2 hours ago, MikeRock said: Any harness makers or saddle makers around your area? I really don't know but another good idea. I'll have to check the yellow pages, er, internet. Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted February 23, 2022 Contributing Member Report Posted February 23, 2022 1 hour ago, JayEhl said: when ordering in bulk hides, do they all have to be the same weights? Unless they changed their 'policy' (I didn't ask), if ordering TEN sides (or in my case backs) they need to be the same weight. Order 20 or more you can "mix n match". Now, you might ask 'em, I don't know for a fact that's still the case. As a rule, I buy 7/8 and 3/4, and if I need occasionally a piece of say 5/6 or 6/7 I can get ONE piece of great Hermann Oak from Cheryl / Carlos at Goliger Leather or as little as ONE hide from Wickett-Craig (the tannage is a little different, but not in a "bad" way ). NOTE that buying a single hide from Goliger DOES cost more per foot, plus you're paying shipping on ONE instead of spreading the shipping over multiple hides, BUT I've never got a piece of leather from there I wasn't happy with 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.
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