Leather Quality and Properties

[tallyho]

The problem with that...esp. for your application...is that (1) even if you let the leather dry, the flexing of the wallet will cause the leather to 'plump' back up again. Close to, if not in fact, the original thickness. And (2) the leather becomes very hard when hammer jacked--that's one of the main reason it is done.

Thing about shell is that it is not skin. It is a membrane/sheath that lies under the skin. So it has no grain layer and it doesn't really respond all that well to skiving much less splitting simply because all the tensile strength of a hide is in that top layer. I suspect that includes splitting before tanning--there has to be a balance between strength and usability.

I see, thank you. Honestly, I only thought about water spots at first when it come to tempering. Splitting before tanning just, seem impossible to small customer like me. A new lesson for me, buying a thin piece of shell or skiving it. In the end, this let shell become less desirable.

Better to make wallets out of kangaroo, any way you look at it..

Could you say more specifically, which type of kangaroo should I use? I saw roo leather in a local shop leather few times. However, it just too soft, more like a lining leather.

 

[DWFII]

Well, C Loy's Leather has some decent kangaroo that is glazed and relatively firm--you might tell him what you are going to use it for. 'Roo is .the strongest leather, in terms of tensile strength, known to man.

 

[ntempleman]

Use a different leather for the interior if you’re hell bent on a cordovan wallet, goatskin is commonly used

 

[Gertoshav]

Well, C Loy's Leather has some decent kangaroo that is glazed and relatively firm--you might tell him what you are going to use it for. 'Roo is .the strongest leather, in terms of tensile strength, known to man.

With regards to glazing leather and shell, I've read that it gives a shiny appearance to the material, but aside from aesthetic is there any other reason why leather is glazed?

 

[tallyho]

Well, C Loy's Leather has some decent kangaroo that is glazed and relatively firm--you might tell him what you are going to use it for. 'Roo is .the strongest leather, in terms of tensile strength, known to man.

Thanks again, @DFWII. By the way, do you know any good source of roo leather in Australia? My brother is living there and will back here next month. He said that RM William bought all top quality roo leather in Australia, I though I have always been doubt about it.

 

[tallyho]

Use a different leather for the interior if you’re hell bent on a cordovan wallet, goatskin is commonly used

You right, and that can save me quite a bit of money.

 

[Sartorium]

Well, C Loy's Leather has some decent kangaroo that is glazed and relatively firm--you might tell him what you are going to use it for. 'Roo is .the strongest leather, in terms of tensile strength, known to man.

A bit off topic, but it always surprises me how difficult it is to find decent bags made from kangaroo given how often I've heard this about its strength. It seems like a no-brainer. I know you're mostly shoemakers in here, but does anyone know why there don't seem to be many rugged bags (not purses, thinking more duffels weekenders etc.) made from kangaroo? Is there some other property of it that makes it a losing proposition? Or does anyone know of a bag-maker that uses kangaroo regularly?

 

[DWFII]

Roo is thin--the leather linked to above is probably less than 1mm thick.

 

[DWFII]

With regards to glazing leather and shell, I've read that it gives a shiny appearance to the material, but aside from aesthetic is there any other reason why leather is glazed?

Not really and I probably have misspoken about C Loy's leather--it might just be aniline with a good acrylic finish.

 

[DWFII]

Thanks again, @DFWII. By the way, do you know any good source of roo leather in Australia? My brother is living there and will back here next month. He said that RM William bought all top quality roo leather in Australia, I though I have always been doubt about it.

Well, it all comes from Australia but I don't order it from there so I cana't really help you.

 

[ntempleman]

A bit off topic, but it always surprises me how difficult it is to find decent bags made from kangaroo given how often I've heard this about its strength. It seems like a no-brainer. I know you're mostly shoemakers in here, but does anyone know why there don't seem to be many rugged bags (not purses, thinking more duffels weekenders etc.) made from kangaroo? Is there some other property of it that makes it a losing proposition? Or does anyone know of a bag-maker that uses kangaroo regularly?

My friend Theo Hassett in Melbourne makes wallets out of Kangaroo, also makes bags out of cow. He might have an answer if you get in touch

 

[Munky]

I am sure this topic has been discussed in great detail here, already, but I can't find the pages.

I recently took delivery of some beautiful MTO desert boots. They are rust and made of "Veg re-tanned leather, made with American hides and finished in England. Dyed-through rich colour with a slight pull-up effect".

It looks and feels slightly like CXL but it isn't It has a fairly mottled rust colour that like CXL changes colour slightly as it warms up. I suspect that it will scratch quite easily but that the scratches will be easy to rub out. It also slightly similar to crazy horse leather but has a more polished surface.

The leather is very thick and also very supple. It tends to roll rather than crease. I am finding it difficult to find very much about veg re-tanned leather and would love to know more about it. Also, I would appreciate any comments on how to care for it. Here is a photo of similar boots, made in the same leather. With thanks and very best wishes, Munky.

 

[ntempleman]

Looks like Horweens Cavalier leather

 

[Munky]

Looks like Horweens Cavalier leather

But is itsn't...I have boots in Cavalier and they are very different.

 

[ntempleman]

Ok