How to Choose Leather
Before you begin any leatherworking project, you'll need to know a little about the types of leather available.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Purchase leather by the square foot. The measurements of a piece of leather are commonly written on its underside.
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Choose vegetable-tanned leather for projects requiring the surface to be stamped or tooled. This leather is a natural tan color, and its rigid structure makes it perfect for projects such as belts and book covers.
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Choose oil-tanned leather for projects that require durability and flexibility. Saddles and tack are often made from an oil-tanned leather called latigo. Oil-tanned leather can be distinguished from other leathers by its waxy surface.
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Choose chrome-tanned leather for relatively inexpensive leather that comes in a variety of colors. This type of leather is tanned with chemicals and does not breathe very well. It is frequently white on one side and can be any color on the other.
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Use suede for projects that require soft, pliable leather. Suede is wonderful for garments of any kind and comes in a wide range of colors.
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Choose garment leather for projects requiring a soft, supple leather. Garment leather has a smooth rather than sueded finish and comes in rich colors.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid using oil-tanned leather when stretch or flexibility in the leather might be undesirable. For example, you will not want a dog collar that an animal would be able to stretch enough to allow its escape from the collar.
Whereas vegetable-tanned leather can be tooled or stamped, leather that has been treated with oil or chemicals will not take impressions..
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Comments
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ggemarie
Jul 23, 2010
hi what kind of leather would be appropriate for making a seamless bodice.. ie using a torso shaped mould and wet leather?? also I would really preffer white leather.. will this be possible? -
kendrag
May 27, 2009
Latigo is used to make saddle strings and straps but not to make a whole saddle, it's too soft. To make a saddle you'll need various types of leather but the majority of it is vegetable tanned.
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Lakota99
Feb 13, 2009
Good article
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Lakota99
Feb 13, 2009
Good article
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dimitris87
Jan 30, 2009
jforars hope you see my coment.I'm a book binder and we use 99% of the times goat leather.sheep is too soft but goat leather is thin yet firm and strong.There is though some bookbinding techniques that require other kinds of leather but i dont know which way you name these leathers in english.Calf skin is also used for particular types of bookbinding but its not very often.good luck!
