Jan 7, 2012

Leather Buying Guide


Types of leather

Chrome Tanned Leather

This process uses soluble chromium salts during the tanning process which results in beautiful quality leather that is typically very soft and supple.

Great for: Upholstery, garments, liners, bookbinding, horse collars, trim, craft projects.

Vegetable Tanned Leather

Vegetable materials derived from tree bark and barious other plants are used during this tanning process. Leather tanned this way typically is very firm and rigid with little or no stretch left in the leather.

Great for: Belts, harnesses, leather armor, tooling, straps, embossing, crafts, art projects, saddles, bridles, gun holsters.

Sub-Types



Bridle

Firm, rich-colored leather with just enough oils to withstand weather. Great feeling leather can be oiled for darker hues. Vegetable Tanned.

Great for: Belts, straps, fine pet collars, leashes, gun belts.

Chrome Oil Tanned

Beautiful, durable leather has just the right amount of oil for a soft, supple feel.

Great for: Chaps, cases & bags, boots.

Deerskin

Very supple, beautiful quality leather. Chrome tanned whole hides with very little waste.

Great for: Garments, pouches, linings.

Kipskin

Very clean piece of leather that dyes and stamps beautifully. Produced from smaller calf hides. Vegetable Tanned.

Great for: Belt liners, personal leather goods.

Latigo

Latigo leather is combination tanned to make it rigid but very pliable, great for use on products in which strength and flexibility are needed. Chrome Veg Retanned.

Great for: Tack, straps, belts, pet collars, leashes, cinches.

Natural Strap, Tooling & Molding Leather

Perfect leather for tooling, embossing, molding, dyeing & oiling. Uniformly absorbs dyes and oils. Dries to a firm, long-lasting shape. Vegetable Tanned.

Great for: Belts, straps, holsters & sheaths.

Shearlings & Sheepskins

Beautiful quality wool sheepskins in a variety of thicknesses. Available in both veg tan and chrome tan in a variety of shades and colors.

Great for: Lining saddles, padding, ect.

Suede

Finished by buffing the flesh side of the hide to produce a “nap”. Chrome Tanned.

Great for: Chaps, garments, trim.

Upholstery

Soft, supple leather is very strong and durable. Tanned in whole hides for little waste and for use in automotive and restoration upholstery where larges pieces of leather are desirable. Chrome Tanned.

Great for: Upholstery, garments.

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Hide Sizes & Patterns

What cut/pattern of leather is best suited for my project?

The total size of your product along with the total number of individual pieces you are making will determine the cut of leather you should use.

Typical pattern sizes listed in square feet(sq.ft)

Whole Hide: 45 - 65 sq.ft

Side: 20 - 30 sq.ft

Back: 18 - 28 sq.ft

Double Shoulders: 9 - 15 sq.ft

Double Bend: 20 - 25 sq.ft

Culatta: 16 - 20 sq.ft



Thickness:

The vast majority of leather is sold according to its area. The leather is placed through electronic measuring machines and its surface area is determined in square feet. The thickness is also important, and this is measured using a thickness gauge.

Most thickness measurements are listed in either ounces per square foot(oz) or thickness in millimeters(mm). The weight or thickness is usually given as a range because the inherent variability of the material makes ensuring a precise thickness very difficult.

Typical uses for different weight leathers.

1 - 3.5oz: Linings, Garments, Upholstery, Bookcovers.


3.5 - 7oz: Bags, Shoes, Boots, Cases, Chaps.


7 - 11oz: Belts, Strap Goods, Cuffs, Bag Straps, Leashes, Pet Products.


11-14oz: Harnesses, Saddle's, Rein's, Extra Heavy Belts & Straps

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