Choosing the right type, weight and quality of leather for your projects

If you have found the collection of leatherwork videos helpful and would like to send me a small donation there are details on how you can do so as well as info on the videos here:

http://ianatkinson.net/leather/videos.htm

In this video we look at what exactly leather is and how it's made, and also how to go about buying and using the right types of leather for different projects.

As always there aren't really any hard and fast rules, this video is just general and background information to help you along! If you have questions please join one of the forums and ask there rather than sending me emails.

There are links on my website to UK leather suppliers, I have no idea for other countries so there's no point asking me! :)

This video gives a good overview of the tanning process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyCaonpEd70

The video is broken down as follows:

00:00 update on donations
03:30 what is leather
05:15 how is leather made (tanning)
07:20 chrome tanning
09:20 vegetable tanning
12:10 quality of leather
14:40 full grain leather
20:10 choosing leather
22:40 choose the right animal
25:40 cuts of leather
28:40 cut diagrams
29:05 choosing the right thickness

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• leodis
• leather
• leathercraft
• leatherwork
• sheath
• making
• knife
• bushcraft
• how-to
• tandy
• tanning
• tannery
• chrome
• veg
• vegetable
• quality
• grade
• type
• shoulder
• back
• belly
• bend
• side
• thickness
• weight
• ounce

[MitchTheKnifeMan]

Thank you Ian this was exactly what i was wanting and thanks for the fast response to the request, I'm going to look in to send you a donation right now mate

chopper66

MitchTheKnifeMan

[satansbarber]

@MitchTheKnifeMan It was just co-incidence to be honest I've been writing this video for a while!

[irritablearchitect]

Ian,

We have the same saying about "not a pot to piss in," in the US, and it carried over from England, no doubt.

[satansbarber]

@irritablearchitect Brilliant! I sometimes worry that nobody outside Yorkshire will understand what I'm talking about, I do try to tone myself down a bit for these videos though :)

[simezra]

what is the best leather for a leather strop for sharpening knifes?

[satansbarber]

@simezra have you googled this and done some research yourself or just posted a comment hoping I'll give you the answer .. ? :)

The point I'm trying to make here is that I don't have time to answer all these individual questions about people's projects, go and join one of the forums to ask general questions where there are thousands of people who can help you!

[JustLikeANurse]

Brilliant video - answered all the newbie questions I had. Very interesting to hear about the tanning process too.

[jmrober]

I'm in for a donation as well! Your videos are great and very helpful.

[wigglos]

excellent video. I also appreciate you giving the "index" of the video. Makes it very easy to find particular info. thank you!

[mrb0mbay]

@KrispeKreme Latigo is used for horse and tack gear like reins and straps, it is very oily. A mid-weight Veg tanned leather is what is commercially used for strops. 

[TheCrathes]

Damn! Sorry! I was going to give you a donation some time ago, but i didnt have the money to do it. And then I completely forgot about it... Donation being made right now!

[agentcurry]

Perfect video, just what I needed... thanks Ian. After ordering cheap leather (splits and such) because I didnt know any better, I've gotten a much better grade and created a few wallets, notebook case and iphone case. After experimenting with the leathers, the quality of the leather made a HUGE difference in the finished product.

[KrispeKreme]

@simezra Latigo leather