How and Where I Buy Vegetable Tannned Leather

Where and how you buy your leather can depend on many different factors. The type of projects you are making and the type of leather you need for those specific projects is important information to know before hand.

Are you making bags or purses? Are you making wallets or belts? Do you need a soft and supple leather, or something firm and sturdy? How heavy or thick of pieces do you need?

These are just some of the questions you need to answer before making a purchase and then finding out what you thought you needed won’t work. Unfortunately, this video doesn’t answer all of those questions and it can take some experimenting to get the answers you need.

With the projects I primarily make, I almost always am working with full grain vegetable tanned leather, Hermann Oak to be exact. Hermann Oak refers to the company that tans the hides. I do a lot of hand tooling and stamping which requires veg tan to do so. I often buy different types of veg tan (English Bridle for example) to compliment my projects. I also keep some chrome tan hides laying around, but they aren’t used very often. For those reasons, I have started on the route I mentioned in the video. I remember when I first started buying leather and had no idea where to go and what to buy. Finding a local store can be challenging and ordering online can sometimes be confusing or misleading on what you’re getting.

This is where I find Springfield Leather Company very helpful with making decisions. They are just one of few companies that offer a great selection process online. They even offer making purchases on leather by the square foot. This is huge if you don’t need a full hide or if you are just wanting to experiment with something new. They are always willing to answer any questions and they have an awesome YouTube channel with a ton of information! I highly recommend them and thoroughly enjoy supporting them.

Below are links to Springfield Leather, the other companies I mentioned, plus a few more!

#vegtanleather #leathercraft #leather #buyingleather #leatherwork

[steveb]

This is very helpful to a newcomer like myself. Thank you for taking the time to put these videos out.

[timtraxartisan]

Apriciate your content and knowledge. I'm 100 miles NW of you as a fellow craftstmen. Not a retailer as you are but yet a craftman for a known reatiler and let me tell you and your costumers that your using all the best materials and your work is top notch.

[larrycumba]

Makers Leather Supply just put out a video on four types of veg they sell and the difference between the four. Worth checking out. For tooling Hermann Oak is my choice. I’ll sometimes buy import for experiments on design because of cost.

[michaelgillespie]

I'm glad you made this video, I don't do any leather crafting, but I am considering making the investment and getting started.

[johna]

I agree if possible you should go to the supplier so you can look at and select the hides you want. Ordering sight unseen you may not get the uniformity or blemish free pieces you desire then you are burdened with the cost to return it.
For carving and stamping herman oak is my choice. Since I'm in California
The Hyde house up north in Napa and Goligers down south in Ventura are my suppliers.

[jacobbreithaupt]

I'm right outside kck so buying local would be phenomal. So I'll definitely be giving Springfield leather a look

[jayplays]

Great video. You have a small shop. I was curious, how many belt irders do you take per year?

[mikeelder]

I'm just getting started working with leather. Bought a leather craft kit from Hobby Lobby. Haven't done any projects yet because I'm still acquiring tools.
I'm also about 4 hours away from Springfield, I live in north central Arkansas.

[kboleather]

I'm up in Canada. Sadly there isn't much competition up here. Canada only has one designated Hermann Oak distributor and they have an antiquated website. Meaning you can't order online. You have to call in the order. 😂
Their one store in British Columbia is on Vancouver Island in a small community. That store no longer stocks Weaver tools because of a lack of demand so those orders have to be shipped from Alberta. In total there are only three leather suppliers in British Columbia. Out of the three BC stores, only one store has experienced staff and that is Tandy.
Pardon the pun, but Canada's leather retail community needs some drastic retooling.

[krazmokramer]

Great information! By your logo, I'm guessing you drive right by my house (just N of Wichita) on your way home from Springfield Leather. You can just drop off some leather on your way home!! What weight of veg tan leather would you recommend for a knife sheath for myself (not to sell)? Also, what weight for a knife strop surface? THANK YOU!!

[joelcotton]

Tooling is not my thing. I can't draw a stick figure. I wan't a veg tan for bags and backpacks that can take the bumps without getting dinged. What am I looking for?

[maddawgnoll]

I won't shop at slc anymore. They held up an order for 3 weeks over a snap package of snaps which screwed up my end of orders. Didn't even respond to be when i tried to find out what the hold up was. Damn 5 dollar item held up $1000 worth of supplies. Stupid. Weaver and Montana leather are all I'll deal with

[dustinscroggins]

Ive got a wierd question for you, typically how deep are your cuts when cutting in your belts??

[sergiomeza]

Quick question, if I get the 8-9 once what should I get for the back of the belt? To get a good belt?

[civetricamoto]

What would you recommend to darken a backpack with Horween Veg Tan Essex Leather! without ruining the leather, I was looking at the description of the bag and it mentioned that the leather was slightly bleached so I was hoping I could tan the leather a bit more if possible.

[dazplex]

What machine do you use and where can I find one?

[justinrhodes]

When you buy it like this, do you order the half or the full?

[hightide]

Tandy Leather is a few miles away from me

[b.b.]

I love that most leather workers respect and honor the animal ❤

[byronbert]

When you buy the bend leather on Springfield, does is it come in every ounce? I tried buying 8-9oz with 3-4 oz but the website wouldn’t let me.