Need bag leather

[Travis Gregory]

Iv been looking at Tandy leather and was wanting to know what kind of leather to buy for making a possibles bag. Any suggestions?

 

[rabjr]

If it were me, I'd check the leather guy or Moscow hide and fur for some nice Elk leather, at least 4 oz weight or better.
http://www.theleatherguy.org/Catalog.aspx?categoryid=15405
http://www.hideandfur.com/inventory/Buckskin.html

 

[BrownBear]

It kind of depends on what you want. For soft bags I've had great luck with their Deertand. It's also available in gold. Either dyes well. It's soft enough that lining helps, for which I use pillow ticking. I usually double the flap and the shoulder strap for a little more substance.

For unlined bags I really like their Stoned Oil Cowhide.

Others use their vegetable tanned tooling leather in 4-5 oz weight, but the results are a little stiff for my tastes. I've tried their chap leather, but it's so flawless that it looks almost like naugahide, however you spell it and whatever a nauga is.

There are a bunch of other leather sources in quite a variety of textures and colors. Based on results I've seen here I'm ready to try them. Tandy is a little limited in the "right" leathers, but I keep ordering from them for convenience.

 

[Travis Gregory]

Im sorry I havent learned leather lingo yet so can you simplify some of the terms for me? I went to both sites one didnt have any elk hide and the other had plenty but I dont know what to look for to get a 4 oz piece. I just want a simple one pocket bag with a shoulder strap to carry a few possibles when I go hunting for the day.

 

[rabjr]

It's all explained right here how they grade.
http://www.hideandfur.com/inventory/Buckskin/Info.html

 

[Travis Gregory]

Holy cow!! I had no idea leather was so expensive. $140.00 for the smallest piece of deertand that they have. Im gonna have to rethink making my own.

 

[rabjr]

I usually use the regular 3-5 weight Elk for a lined bag. Use "Moccasin" weight (5-8) Elk for unlined bags and making straps but I have used this weight in lined bags as well.

 

[rabjr]

Na look around you usually can get cheaper pieces than that.

 

[BrownBear]

Holy cow!! I had no idea leather was so expensive. $140.00 for the smallest piece of deertand that they have. Im gonna have to rethink making my own.

Yeah, that's a pretty big chunk of leather for a single bag. No sense ordering it if you don't need that much.

Here's another alternative, and a good one for a bag or two: Hit the garage sales and thrift shops for used leather coats. I won't pay more than $5 for one, so some I get are pretty scruffy. But that makes the bags look even better.

 

[plinker]

I can usually find deer and elk at the rendezvous quite a bit cheaper than Tandy. The last elk hide I got was less than $3.00/sqft. I do get my cowhide from the local Tandy/Leather Factory. Get on Tandy's mailing list. They send out a monthly flyer with sale items. Right now they have 3-4 oz (3/64-1/16 inch thick) vegetable tanned tooling sides for $50 which is half price. From Dec 26-31 they will have their economy deerskin for $2.50/sqft which again is half price and single shoulders of 4-5 oz for $20. Those shoulders are 6-8 sqft so you should be able to get 2 or maybe 3 bags out of one.

 

[blacksmithman64]

first off listen to Swamp Rat! I just got one of his shootin' bags and its sweet! But if yer like me and just hafta make it yerself, check on ebay- I have downright STOLE leather hides on there! Well...maybe "drastically underpaid" is a better term? :thumbsup:

 

[JamesG]

Have you looked at crazy crow? i noticed they are selling them now.

 

[hotsparks]

Try going to one of your local "thrift" stores (Goodwill, America's Thrift, Salvation Army) and slink around the ladies' section....look for donated leather skirts and slacks, good source of soft, chrome tanned leather. If you can't work up the guts to try the ladies' section, look for leather jackets in the mens' section. I've found these places to be a good, cheap source for this kind of leather and any of these items will yield enough leather for a small/medium possibles bag. I once found and salvaged a leather couch that had blown or fell off somebody's truck laying in a ditch. Got enough out of it to re-cover four motorcycle seats and make a couple of bags, and still have a bit left.

 

[Freedom]

If it were me, I'd check the leather guy or Moscow hide and fur for some nice Elk leather, at least 4 oz weight or better.
http://www.theleatherguy.org/Catalog.aspx?categoryid=15405=]

A real strong second for The Leather Guy. The best part about buying from him is that He posts Good, quality pictures and you get the hide you see....this is sure nice...I buy a LOT of leather and so many times the color and pieces you get from some people are not even close to what they have pictured.

Depending on the Temper(flexability) of the leather I really prefur a heavier leather around, 5 to 7oz.

If you just want enough for a bag, PM me and I'll show what I have...

 

[mazo kid]

Leather Unlimited is another source; they not only have leather, but tools and supplies for finishing your project. You can order online or have their catalog sent to you. http://leatherunltd.com/
Emery

 

[wayne1967]

Don't know how far down in Ark. you are but if you are ever in the area there is a huge leather warehouse in St. Louis that has all kinds. For the life of me i can't remember the name. It's downtown in a pretty rough looking part of the city by the Arch. I got some from them to do a motorcycle seat a while back.

 

[wayne1967]

If it were me, I'd check the leather guy or Moscow hide and fur for some nice Elk leather, at least 4 oz weight or better.
http://www.theleatherguy.org/Catalog.aspx?categoryid=15405

Thanks for the link. I just ordered a hide from them.