Frog Skin?

I haven't yet, but I've read great things about it. I imagine it would be slightly fragile so might be best used as an inlay.

I've researched all kinds of exotics, but have only worked with snake and shark. Frog, and chicken (yes) are on my short list of what I want to try next.

Hopefully someone with experience will chime in about its use on a sheath.
 
Chicken feet leather! Yes! I missed an opportunity on a few of those a while back, never again! That and turkey, NEVER again will I miss that.

Frog is a wonderful leather to work with, especially cane toad, it looks like Zombie skin! I have been researching a good source for cane toad. RE, watch your sources!!!!! Most are not good, a very few are worth dealing with. This from an Aussie who deals with skins and such. Its worth the search and resarch, when you find a good one let me know, please.
 
It does look like zombie skin!

Um, I had a source, but wasn't aware of quality issues. I'll take a look and see if I can find it. If it's who I think it is, they don't sell anything low quality, but ya pay for it.

Nope, wasn't Roje leather.

This source was one I'd been looking at. Not sure about their quality, but prices seem fair. Might be worth $16 to find out.

http://www.exoticleather.biz/toad_frog_leather.htm
 
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Frog skin is fragile, thin but not delicate. When used as an inlay and backed up with veg tan it does just fine. Similar in thickness and strength to Karung snake skin. It is an in and out item for most skin dealers and quality can be spotty as well. I usually only buy Frog when I'm at a show where I can hand select the skins. The most I have paid is $5 per skin, and yes, they are small skins. Try Van Amburg Leathers 208 785 0800.

Paul
 
I've just received some frog skin to use as an inlay for my sheath. I've bought it from grassy river trading company and I think the quality is pretty good. No scars or nicks that I can see. But as someone mentioned before it is thin by nature so I think its best to glue it to a substrate layer.

10616589_10152835751481083_8030379449364838550_n.jpg
 
About how wide are those? I might like that for my wrist cuffs, but they'd need to be at least 5" wide.

How many inlays do you figure you'll get per hide? The center section seems like it would be the choice cut. Do you have an application for the rest or are you planning one sheath per hide?
 
Omega Leather Works said:
About how wide are those? I might like that for my wrist cuffs, but they'd need to be at least 5" wide.

How many inlays do you figure you'll get per hide? The center section seems like it would be the choice cut. Do you have an application for the rest or are you planning one sheath per hide?
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I've measured the skin and its about 5.5 inch by 3.5 inch. The centre piece is 2 inch wide. If you are making a wrist cuff I think it may be a good idea to selectively just use the centre piece. although the thickness throughout the skin seems to be relatively uniform so there should be no problem cutting a strip either.

Since I am planning to surgically remove leather that holds the inlay down to expose the inlay in the shape of my crest. I think I will use the middle part for that and use the sides for satellite designs around it. I think I can just about get one full inlay per hide but by tessellating the skin like a mosaic rather than cutting it out whole.

kenash said:
They look neat. I'd like tow see a pic. of the sheath when it's done.
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Will do ;) although I am still waiting on some other bits and pieces so it probably will be after Christmas. I can't wait to make it! :)
 
Yeah its this one:

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Its bell flowers. In case you're wondering I'm British with Japanese ancestry so this particular crest is a Japanese mon. :)

Its relatively easy enough to carve out I think.
 
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Yep caught the spelling of colour. I'm the only cowboy you know that sat their Highers at Waid Academy, Anstruther, Fife, Scotland, (second row forward, first fiteen in those days). That was really my question cause so many crests are very intricate, one of mine is two lions rampant, try inlaying that. But I think yours is a perfect candidate for an inlay. Also a perfect candidate for a stamp to mark your work.
 
Hmm... I'd definitely want a clicker die for that if I was doing more than a couple. I've cut some spiders and stuff and it's a lot of work. Would make a cool stamp too, as Dave said.

My crest is Welsh. A rearing dragon. Wouldn't want to cut that either. Maybe I'm lazy. :D

Looking forward to seeing what ya do.
 
Ah you were studying up north I see! :)

Yeah thanks for pointing that out I can imagine that you will need a rather large area for a more complicated crest. I'm hoping to make that stamp too when I start selling some wallets on etsy. I'm still at the stage of doing things for fun. Thanks for the advice again chaps! ;)

And a clicker die sounds like a great idea! I might invest in one once I work out what size I need. You both might be in luck with your crest though since its a popular design there may already be a die available somewhere.
 
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Got another one with horseshoes all over the place too. Name use to be De Ferrers. Yeah lived in the Highlands on an estate outside of Aviemore for quite a while too.
 
I've got fond memories of Scotland as well :)

Last time I set foot in Scotland I went to Glasgow to take part in a kendo tournament. In fact that is how I got into leather crafting, by repairing my own armour.

Interestingly some high end kendo armour uses stingray skin like a katana sheath and grip. I'm planning to make a frog stingray hybrid sheath after the frog only one. I'll post both up once its done ;)
 
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