What did I buy??

[Omega Leather Works]

So I bought a side of this black leather a few years back.

I can't remember what it is? It's nice on the skin side, but the flesh side is kinda ugly. If you fold it over you can see brown as the dye(?) kinda cracks.

It seems to wet mold pretty well, holds its shape nicely. Again, the skin side appears nice after molding.

It is lighter weight than my 8/9 veg tanned, but is firmer, less supple.

Can you give me some idea of how it was tanned, and what this is typically used for? Currently I'm using it for welts only, but if there is some other application, I'm all ears. The flesh side coating (dye?) seems too abrasive to be used for the inside of a decent knife sheath.

Thanks!

 

[leatherman]

If it wet molds it is most likely veggie tanned, which is good.

Now, some leather has been coming on the market the last few years that has a coating on the rough side, not sure why, but its claimed to be there for a reason. If you grind the coating off the back with your belt sander does it smell a little plastic?

I got talked into getting a naturally colored chunk of similar stuff to test with and ended up either grinding or splitting the coating off the back as it was not conducive to what I do. Other wise its decent stuff. Not real sure about your piece though, the grain is rather pronounced, and that is odd.

 

[Horsewright]

Guessing some of that bonded stuff for making dress belts??. Is this the same stuff you showed me earlier? Looks stiffer. I'd say veg tan too seeing the inside there in this pic.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

If it wet molds it is most likely veggie tanned, which is good.

Now, some leather has been coming on the market the last few years that has a coating on the rough side, not sure why, but its claimed to be there for a reason. If you grind the coating off the back with your belt sander does it smell a little plastic?

I got talked into getting a naturally colored chunk of similar stuff to test with and ended up either grinding or splitting the coating off the back as it was not conducive to what I do. Other wise its decent stuff. Not real sure about your piece though, the grain is rather pronounced, and that is odd.

I think the grain is kinda odd too. My hunch was veg tanned with some sort of coatings. I thought veg because of the natural color in the center, and the molding, but didn't consider the grain.

I'll have to get back to you about the smell. I tried skiving the black off either side at one point, but the stuff, at least on the flesh side, is very tough. They really don't seem like dye. More like a coating of some sort.

Guessing some of that bonded stuff for making dress belts??. Is this the same stuff you showed me earlier? Looks stiffer. I'd say veg tan too seeing the inside there in this pic.

No, the stuff I showed you before is this-

This stuff is very light weight, soft and supple. Very different.

I wonder, could the top pic be stuff made for chaps? I actually tried making a belt out of it once, and it thoroughly sucked at that. Kinda stretched and got thin (and I'm skinny), and just, well, basically sucked. I could see it being useful in an app where it didn't see a lot of wear, or where it covered large areas... Yeah, it pretty much blows. Just wish I knew what it was made for. Maybe it was much nicer when I bought it 5ish years ago... Dunno. A lot has happened since then.

 

[Horsewright]

Kinda looks thick and stiff for chaps and or leggings of any type. Usually chrome tan or oil tan used for those. A good pair needs leather that is "drapey" Even a lot of oil tans can be too stiff. I've seen a lot of pairs of shotguns made out of too stiff a leather, the maker thinking man these will sure be tough and weather proof. Then they get worn one time because the customer finds out he can't even get on Ol Paint with out a crane cause he can't bend his legs. Even the stuff in the second pic there would probably be too stiff and not drapey enough. Drapey even a word?

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Drapey? Probably not, but I "craft" new words daily.

The bottom leather is soft, but doesn't have the weight to be what I'd consider drapey. The leather my first pair of motorcycle race gloves had drapey leather I think, even though it was fairly light weight. Wait... Actually, now that I think about it, those were roo leather.

Never mind.