Anyone do any leatherworking?

[Gone Fishing]

I got a few Tandy tools one year for Christmas when I was in high school and have dabbled in leatherworking ever since, usually just making little repairs and a few sheaths here and there.  The biggest problem was always finding leather at a decent price.  Just found a good source at Hobby Lobby.  They sell a 3 lb remnant pack of heavy leather for $10 which is further reduced to $6 after the ever present 40% coupon.  Each pack has enough for several sheaths, a belt or two, or maybe a couple holsters.  I'm looking forward to rekindling this interest a bit in ER.  My first project is going to be a holster for my wife's revolver.     

[lthenderson]

I don't work with leather in the sense that you are referring too but when I need leather for a project, usually as a liner for a box made from wood or specialty piece of furniture, I have bought quite a bit off of Ebay.

If you aren't into a particular color of leather, I also have gotten skins from a local locker and tanned them myself for use.

[Gone Fishing]

I don't work with leather in the sense that you are referring too but when I need leather for a project, usually as a liner for a box made from wood or specialty piece of furniture, I have bought quite a bit off of Ebay.

If you aren't into a particular color of leather, I also have gotten skins from a local locker and tanned them myself for use.

How'd the tanning go?  I've always wanted to give it a try but it looked very time consuming and labor intensive.  I looked into sending off the hides I get from our stock we butcher and game I hunt, but the cost to tan is about the same as buying an already tanned hide and comes with less risk.   I've actually ended up composting way more hides from stock and game than I care to admit.  I tried selling a few on craigslist but never got much interest. 

[lthenderson]

How'd the tanning go?  I've always wanted to give it a try but it looked very time consuming and labor intensive.  I looked into sending off the hides I get from our stock we butcher and game I hunt, but the cost to tan is about the same as buying an already tanned hide and comes with less risk.   I've actually ended up composting way more hides from stock and game than I care to admit.  I tried selling a few on craigslist but never got much interest.

It is time consuming for sure and because I don't do it for a living, it definitely doesn't look professional. I go the chemical tanning route since I don't have access to brains and I waste a lot by accidentally scraping holes into the hide that I have to use around later on. But at the end of the day, I can look at it and know that I did everything. If I had to do a lot, I would just buy bulk leather online.

[Gone Fishing]

Cool.  I did get my holster pattern made last night and my leather cut out.  Just need to rivet, stitch, add a snap, and treat the leather somehow and I'll be done.

[Lulee]

If there is anyone nearby that does reupholstering, they may have scraps to sell cheaply or at least have some suggestions for sources.  I read a magazine called The Backwoodsman (think a slightly scruffier version of the 70’s era Mother Earth News if you're old enough to be familiar with that) which has lots of bladesmiths who write in about their sheath projects which might interest you two.  I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the back articles also covered tanning hides as a lot of the articles are for hunters.

[dess1313]

sign up for emails from tandy and watch for their sales.  they have some pretty good ones a few times a year.  i got a 1/4 hide beautiful thick black leather for about $40 worth almost $90 at their black friday sale.  they often have odds and ends on decent prices as well. 

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks for the tips.  I got the holster finished.  I am pretty pleased.  It fits the revolver like a glove.  Had a uh-oh moment when I first tried it as it was pretty tight, but a little gentle stretching and everything came together.

[Fishindude]

I've made some knife sheaths, etc.
Bought real nice big piece of industrial leather from McMaster Carr (on line order) a couple years ago and still using it.  Price was pretty reasonable.