Tips for Buying Leather

[rebelscum]

This is sort of a continuation of the thought process from the thread about my belt and pouches.

Like many raw materials, leather is cheaper if you buy it in quantity. If you buy a 2 1/2 inch belt blank, which is just under a square foot, it will cost you about $20. Add on the main belt an it will cost you another $8 or so. On the other hand, a side of leather costs as little as $5 per square foot.

This doesn't help the lone Jedi fighting injustice on his own with a limited budget, but if several Jedi chip in, the price of the belts drop dramatically. Four or five people can buy purchase enough leather to make belts AND pouches for themselves and still have a lot of material left over.

Any thoughts?

[Leda EmBorr]

I've always found it difficult to buy leather online. By not having anything to reference when ordering different animal skins and different thicknesses, it's like taking a shot in the dark.

If anyone has a simple comparison chart, it would be helpful.

[rebelscum]

You're right. There is nothing like being able to see and touch the leather before you buy it. However, if you know the lingo, buying leather online can work.

If you are going to make a belt, you are probably going to use cowhide. Anything else will probably be too thin to be useable (pigskin or lambskin) or to exotic to be affordable (kangaroo, ostrich).

I'm not quite sure what you mean by a comparison chart. The thickness of leather is measured in ounces. One ounce = 1/64th of an inch. Belt leather will probably be 8-12 ounces (1/8 - 3/16 inch). Pouches will probably be 6-8 ounces (3/32 - 1/8 inch).

I've bought leather online from this place www.hidehouse.com They have swatch cards that you can look at online or buy to figure out what the leather looks like. Their customer service is also pretty good, so you can ask questions.

[Leda EmBorr]

Yeah I agree, learning the lingo is key. By comparison chart I meant something really elementary, like ladies gloves=? But I guess that would be overkill, lol! And not very reliable given the fact that gloves can be made out of various types of leather. But what you just said is a good comparison. A typical belt would be 8-12 oz. And the thickness guide helps too. I wasn't familiar with that either.

I like that website. It user friendly!

[rebelscum]

The Tandy Leather catalog has a nice table that describes various thicknesses of leather and what they are used for. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything like it online. I'll scrounge around and see what I can come up with.

Of course, if you want, you can just order a catalog at www.tandyleather.com

[rebelscum]

No luck finding a table online. I guess I'll just have to type in the information from the catalog.

Weight	Thickness	Use - Tooling leather (garment leather)
2 to 3 ounce	2/64 to 3/64 inches (0.8 to 1.2 mm)	For molding, toolable linings, embossing
3 to 4 ounce	3/64 to 4/64 inches (1.2 to 1.6 mm)	For embossing, lightweight billfold backs, clutches (lightweight clothing)
4 to 5 ounce	4/64 to 5/64 inches (1.6 to 2.0 mm)	For billfold backs, organizers, clutches (clothing)
5 to 6 ounce	5/64 to 6/64 inches (2.0 to 2.4 mm)	For small cases and notebook covers (heavier clothing, chaps, moccasins)
6 to 7 ounce	6/64 to 7/64 inches (2.4 to 2.8 mm)	For carved handbags, camera cases, journal covers
7 to 8 ounce	7/64 to 8/64 inches (2.8 to 3.2 mm)	For narrow belts, knife sheaths and small holsters
8 to 9 ounce	8/64 to 9/64 inches (3.2 to 3.6 mm)	For belts, holsters, saddle bags
9 to 10 ounce	9/64 to 10/64 inches (3.6 to 4.0 mm)	For heavier holsters and belts over 1-1/2" wide
10 to 11 ounce	10/64 to 11/64 inches (4.0 to 4.4 mm)	For carpenters' and linemen's belts

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Thanks for the chart. It's very helpful. Maybe we should put it in out tutorials? Or a link to it?

Normally, I only like to buy leather in person, but I got a side of cow from Tandyleather when it was on sale. I used it for taking all the leftover belt bits and stuff I had and finished three belts. I still need to do the pouches, but there's plenty there and it came in very handy for a non-Jedi project.

[Leda EmBorr]

Wow... that's great! Thanks for typing that out--- yeah it would be useful amongst the tutorials.

I quoted this post in the sticky thread.

[rebelscum]

Hey! What's going on here? The table isn't formatting correctly anymore. Has there been a change to the forum settings?

[Xana]

There hasn't been any change in the forum settings that I know of. I didn't change anything. If Proboards did an update, I don't about it. Sorry, I can't help more. Maybe someone else knows what happened?

[LoreenShadowchaser]

I was wondering why it looked like that.

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

Great find.
I like to handle the leather when I'm buying it for the first time, then thereafter I'll order from the store online if I can't get to them otherwise.

The Leather Factory is a good supplier of leather, dye and anything else.

ALWAYS utalise the staff. Ask them questions, if they'er good knowlegeable people, they'll be glad to help. I've learned a lot from The Leather factory staff and they've given me tips to make my leather crafting job easier.

[Lartuenecrof]

My poor Jedi, why not use the tools you have at your disposal? I can get you leather at a better rate. Trust in the force and use my power to save the greenbacks you love so dear. I beg of you!

I work at the Leather Factory and can set you all up. I just need to know what you are wanting to do and I can work something out from there.

If your intrested send me a pm and let's talk.


Rudy G.