Where do we get our leather?

[haptalaon]

Ive got some nice soft stuff but id have to double it over for a sturdy project I have in mind, which seems obviously wasteful.

Is the stiffness merely about thickness, or are there different ways leather has been treated to get a sturdy finish?

I want to make a sort of 'box pouch' so it needs to be something that will retain the shape of a box.

I like Hedgehog Leather for small quantities and small hardware, but they didn't have what I wanted this time.

 

[John Fenna]

I get my leather from https://identityleathercraft.com/ - they have just about everything - or from LePrevo https://www.leprevo.co.uk/ though I have not had anything from them for a while.

 

[Kepis]

Used to get all of my leather and leather working supplies from LePrevo

 

[Tengu]

Identity leathercraft for me, though I will admit I try to keep my projects to what I have to hand...leather can be expensive and then of course it takes up storage space...

To make a box pouch you would need offcuts of Veg tan. Probably 2-3mm thick?

The Identity store sell offcut packs

Natural Vegetable Tanned Pieces

An assortment of natural veg tan pieces from calf, stallion, buffalo calf and cowhide ranging from approximately 0.8mm through to 4.0mm from Identity Leather Craft.

identityleathercraft.com

 

[William_Montgomery]

Same, Identity Leathercraft too. They're really helpful people.
I've made a few box type pouches using 3mm veg tan leather. They keep their shape but also soften up nicely with use.

 

[Broch]

Ive got some nice soft stuff but id have to double it over for a sturdy project I have in mind, which seems obviously wasteful.

Is the stiffness merely about thickness, or are there different ways leather has been treated to get a sturdy finish?

I want to make a sort of 'box pouch' so it needs to be something that will retain the shape of a box.

I like Hedgehog Leather for small quantities and small hardware, but they didn't have what I wanted this time.

I buy from Le Prevo too but I usually but it by the side or at least the shoulder (see this page: https://www.leprevo.co.uk/hides.htm#natvt ) as it ends up working out a lot more economic.

Just to clarify, are you aware of the difference between veg-tanned and chrome-tanned/upholstery style leather? You need veg-tanned to form shapes and do any carving or embossing. Sorry, I don't know how much leatherwork you've done.

 

[haptalaon]

Just to clarify, are you aware of the difference between veg-tanned and chrome-tanned/upholstery style leather? You need veg-tanned to form shapes and do any carving or embossing. Sorry, I don't know how much leatherwork you've done.

No apologies! I have done close to zero leatherwork. I have a box pouch & was going to try and replicate the pattern but I have no idea what kind of leather to look for, so any advice is gratefully received.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Vegetable tanned leather is much thicker and sturdier, the kind you'd expect a good belt or sheath to be made from. It can be tooled, embossed and wet-formed. It's tanned using more natural products (vegetable tannins from bark etc) and is generally considered a more natural product itself.
Chrome tanned leather is more like what you'd expect to see upholstery, jackets, gloves etc made from. It's cheaper and easier to produce, tanned using chemicals such as chromium sulfate. Thinner and more fabric like.

There are other methods, but they are the two most common. For your purposes I'd suggest veg tan is the way to go.

 

[HillBill]

LePrevo. I get their premium stuff, I make a living from knives and sheaths, so it needs to be top quality. Last time i got some it was Segovia shoulder. They used to have a better one called Valencia shoulder but not seen that for years.. Reason i go for the better stuff, is that the reverse side, is far smoother than the regular stuff. I once bought some regular stuff and the back might as well have been a fur coat it was so fibrous and rough. We had a fall out over it. But they eventually sorted it out.. took a while, but this was a decade ago and not had an issue since.

 

[Toddy]

Re-enactors use Lyon leathers for a lot of stuff.

Lyon Leathers

We are a family run business that manufactures leather goods and supplies leather hides and skins. We serve upholsterers, belt manufacturers, wholesalers, re-enactors of all periods, the film industry and the general public.

lyonleathers.co.uk

 

[MrEd]

I use J Wood leathers

Leather Supplier / Leather Wholesaler / Buy Leather Hide / UK Based

Family run, UK based quality leather supplier & leather wholesaler. Fully stock supported, leather hide available to purchase online. J Wood Leathers Ltd.

www.jwoodleathers.co.uk

But you have to buy large bits. I like their tomahawk leather as a medium firm for making box type stuff, or things that need a bit more ‘body’.
This is made from their Indiana shoulder and is 3mm thick


Or try leather4crafts for small ‘A’ sized labels

Leather4Craft

Leather4Craft is a leading supplier of quality leather panels, hides and tools for crafts, small businesses, hobbyists and trades. Hundreds of colours and sizes.

leather4craft.co.uk

The horween is nice but £££

Both companies will send you samples of whatever leather you like the look of, and J Wood will also give excellent advice based on your needs and project

 

[Toddy]

@MrEd
Nice

If you can get to one of the re-enactors markets (Warwick) then there are tables and tables and tables covered in stacks of hides and skins of all qualities.....and some real bargains to be had

Most of the leather suppliers will happily take phone calls and often they have stock available that's not on their website. They know that not everyone wants and entire cow skin to play with.

 

[bobnewboy]

It’s not much use for the OP, but if you’re in reach of Surrey, the UK Hide Co at the industrial estate at Brooklands in Weybridge used to sell offcuts. They mainly deal in whole/half hides for car/boat etc trimming these days, including some very expensive pieces (!), but they used to have a large variety of leather pieces to sell to hobbyists.

 

[Tengu]

I must say that the OP is not skilled in leather and maybe best not to blind with science?

 

[HillBill]

I must say that the OP is not skilled in leather and maybe best not to blind with science?

People have got to learn somehow lass. If you can post on a forum, you can google the meanings etc.

 

[Falstaff]

So I need softer chrome leather to make a softer loop-sort of grip fopr my walking staff, bit like a hiking handle loop?
I don't want it so soft it'll tear,because it's got to take some body weighted support. I've got some scraps of something firmer, and wondered if it was going to soften up with use.

 

[Wayland]

As Toddy says, the re-enactors markets ( TORM and ARM ) are a good source where you can get your hands on and feel the quality for yourself.

Usually held in early spring and late autumn near Coventry.

 

[HillBill]

So I need softer chrome leather to make a softer loop-sort of grip fopr my walking staff, bit like a hiking handle loop?
I don't want it so soft it'll tear,because it's got to take some body weighted support. I've got some scraps of something firmer, and wondered if it was going to soften up with use.

Veg tan is fine, just use thinner stuff 1.5mm ish. You can soak in water to make it supple for wrapping etc, then once dry, you can oil it or use a balm to keep it soft

 

[William_Montgomery]

So I need softer chrome leather to make a softer loop-sort of grip fopr my walking staff, bit like a hiking handle loop?
I don't want it so soft it'll tear,because it's got to take some body weighted support. I've got some scraps of something firmer, and wondered if it was going to soften up with use.

I'd use veg tan as it is much more durable. It softens up nicely with use. You can oil it too, to help it become more supple.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Reason i go for the better stuff, is that the reverse side, is far smoother than the regular stuff. I once bought some regular stuff and the back might as well have been a fur coat it was so fibrous and rough.

I bought some cheaper stuff once and I've still got most of it knocking about. It's really not worth it, is it. I know what you mean about the back.