A first timer wanting to source leather to work

[TheTravellingTree]

Hey all, I have a question I'm hoping some of yourselves might be able to help me with.

I was given a leather working kit and project book for a present a while ago but I've yet to use the kit as I'm lacking the materials to start a project.

I was wondering if anyone knew of some good sites I could visit to purchase some leather thats going to be of good quality but not massively expensive for a first go.

Thanks in advance

 

[William_Montgomery]

Have a look at: https://identityleathercraft.com/

You can buy smaller quantities and they're a pretty helpful bunch.

 

[Tengu]

What are you intending doing?

 

[TheTravellingTree]

Have a look at: https://identityleathercraft.com/

You can buy smaller quantities and they're a pretty helpful bunch.

Thank you, I appreciate that I'll check them out!!

What are you intending doing?

Umm .. in all honesty I'm not 100% sure yet probably nothing overly complicated for my first few projects, probably something like some smallish draw cord pouches and a pouch for my Trangia would be quite useful.

Ideally some soft durable leather and some harder wearing leather, would nice to have a little variety.

 

[John Fenna]

Try Charity shops for leather garments that are too poor for them to sell - broken zips/missing buttons/ one stained panel etc will have a garment headed to the rag-man : a couple of quid donation might secure a bit of recoverable leather for pouches etc .... that is where I used to get all my light weight leather for pouches
For new leather, fittings and such https://identityleathercraft.com/ is my "go-to".

 

[TheTravellingTree]

Try Charity shops for leather garments that are too poor for them to sell - broken zips/missing buttons/ one stained panel etc will have a garment headed to the rag-man : a couple of quid donation might secure a bit of recoverable leather for pouches etc .... that is where I used to get all my light weight leather for pouches
For new leather, fittings and such https://identityleathercraft.com/ is my "go-to".

Ha, Thanks John!
I didn't think of that, thats not a bad shout at all.. makes sense really

William beat you to the link for the site though, thank you any ways seems like thats the most popular one, I was just having a gander on there they definitely have a good selection!

 

[bobnewboy]

Try making one of these (linky)

It will help you get used to cutting, punching, threading etc. If you make one big enough, you can use it to store firelighting materials, as an example.

 

[Broch]

Thank you, I appreciate that I'll check them out!!


Umm .. in all honesty I'm not 100% sure yet probably nothing overly complicated for my first few projects, probably something like some smallish draw cord pouches and a pouch for my Trangia would be quite useful.

Ideally some soft durable leather and some harder wearing leather, would nice to have a little variety.

Most of my 'soft' leather, for pouches and bags, comes from discarded leather sofas and chairs - look in your local recycling centre or occasionally you'll see one in a skip

My veg-tanned hides come from Le Prevo: https://leprevo.co.uk/hides.htm#natvt

 

[slaine_23]

I’d second the ideas of the leather goods in charity shops and old sofas - the leather can be thin, won’t be be veg tanned, but you can glue two sheets together to make it thicker. Vinted can be good as well, there are big pieces for sale - I got a piece almost 2m long and 1m wide pretty cheap, it wasn’t square, but that’s okay - would advise to check the colour though, not sure the salmon pink of this piece is what you would call bushcrafty*. Smaller veg tanned pieces are available from temu and the likes but once you finished practicing the providers linked already can get all types of wonderful materials.

(*if there’s advice on changing leather colour would like to hear it ;-) )

 

[Chris]

I have some veg tanned leather ranging from 1mm to about 1.2mm I could part with if you want some. Not soft/thin enough for drawstring bags but fine for wallets/small knife pouches/sheaths or something like that. People on this forum very kindly helped me out when I was starting out and I’d be happy to pay it forward, if you want it let me know/drop me a message with your address and I can post it this week.

 

[Billy-o]

I bought a couple of cheap chamois skins for my first projects. The bags and patches I made then are still in use. Doesn't need specialized equipment like leather needles, punches etc. It stiches up like cloth

 

[Tengu]

Glovers needles are best for shammy.

(The haberdashers sells them as `Leather` needles but they have triangular tips; go careful with them; very pointy).

 

[T1tch]

Leprevo have practice off-cuts and pre cut kits. I've been buying leather (admittedly usually whole skins) from them for years - bit of an antiquated ordering system, but the leather is superb.

Le Prevo Leather Homepage

Leather fittings and hardware wholesale and retail handcrafted

www.leprevo.co.uk

 

[TheTravellingTree]

Try making one of these (linky)

It will help you get used to cutting, punching, threading etc. If you make one big enough, you can use it to store firelighting materials, as an example.

Thank you I will have a look at this, I could do with a few little things like this

Most of my 'soft' leather, for pouches and bags, comes from discarded leather sofas and chairs - look in your local recycling centre or occasionally you'll see one in a skip

My veg-tanned hides come from Le Prevo: https://leprevo.co.uk/hides.htm#natvt

Thats a good idea.. currently eyeing up my sofa I'm sat on as we speak .. I'll have to have a wander down the tip definitely a good idea!

I’d second the ideas of the leather goods in charity shops and old sofas - the leather can be thin, won’t be be veg tanned, but you can glue two sheets together to make it thicker. Vinted can be good as well, there are big pieces for sale - I got a piece almost 2m long and 1m wide pretty cheap, it wasn’t square, but that’s okay - would advise to check the colour though, not sure the salmon pink of this piece is what you would call bushcrafty*. Smaller veg tanned pieces are available from temu and the likes but once you finished practicing the providers linked already can get all types of wonderful materials.

(*if there’s advice on changing leather colour would like to hear it ;-) )

Thank you for this reply, again vinted I forgot that site even existed! Im definitely not short of places i can venture to find some materials it seems

Is there a particular glue i would use for leather?

 

[Broch]

Thank you I will have a look at this, I could do with a few little things like this

Thats a good idea.. currently eyeing up my sofa I'm sat on as we speak .. I'll have to have a wander down the tip definitely a good idea!

Thank you for this reply, again vinted I forgot that site even existed! Im definitely not short of places i can venture to find some materials it seems

Is there a particular glue i would use for leather?

In the days of Wilko, I would have said their leather glue - very effective and cheap. Recently I've been using Gorilla Contact Adhesive - possibly not quite as good but it works.

 

[Chris]

I’ve got on quite well with this.

 

[TheTravellingTree]

I just wanted to say a BIG Thank You to everyone on this thread for your helpful and insightful ideas!

I'm genuinely glad I signed up to this forum, my experiences with speaking to everyone here so far has actually been a breath of fresh air

 

[TheTravellingTree]

In the days of Wilko, I would have said their leather glue - very effective and cheap. Recently I've been using Gorilla Contact Adhesive - possibly not quite as good but it works.

In the days of Wilko.. have they shutdown?!

Oh yea cant beat a bit of Gorilla glue.. speaking of glue someone put me onto some of this amazing adhesive when I was trying to find the right thing to stick my rubber seal back to the under part of my car door, its called "Wurth - Super Fast Glue" thays was 3 years ago now and its still holding.

View attachment 104893

I’ve got on quite well with this.

Thanks for that Chris ive just Google lense that glue, not overly pricy either.

Im quite surprised actually when I was looking at the the leather vendors its not overly expensive to get started it seems.

 

[Tengu]

You havent looked at the quality tools then? Most of mine were inherited with massive gratitude.

But a few basic things and some offcuts wont break the bank, you are right in that respect

 

[FerlasDave]

In the days of Wilko, I would have said their leather glue - very effective and cheap. Recently I've been using Gorilla Contact Adhesive - possibly not quite as good but it works.

I always thought will contact adhesive was the best too! The gorilla stuff you’ve been using, that’s not the one that comes out white is it? I found that was no good.