How to choose leather for your next project: Intro to Leather Craft

[@heshymorozow5358]

This was the best and most in depth leather video I saw so thanks for that

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theladybaltimore]

I agree!

[@jsquaredkc7996]

I got into leathercraft only a couple of months ago and have watched countless "leather 101" videos, but nothing's come close to this video in terms of the amount of relevant, usable information presented in such an accessible way. Examples of the types (tanneries), tempers and weights of the leather you work with yourself was also extremely helpful. Thank you for doing this!

[@Opensealeather]

Amazing! So glad it was useful

[@tap42al]

Just ordered a wallet from you. Look forward to getting it. Thanks for the info

[@Opensealeather]

Awesome, thank you!

[@MarcOsofsky]

Glad I discovered your video. Excellent lesson for the hobbyist in me, I have worked at leather production professionally .Thank you for an excellent tutorial.

[@MarcOsofsky]

Look forward to my next project, and I will be checking out your videos! Thanks again. I will recommend your website to a few friends of mine who also do their own leather projects

[@D.J.M.47]

As a 30+ year leatherworker I have been through classes and have allot of books and scientific publications. You just summed up in what I would be learning in a classroom. Thank you for helping our community grow.

[@Opensealeather]

Appreciate you!

[@benjammin1212]

Great info, thanks.. I only use A grade natural veg tan, part of the reason for this is i make falconry hoods, wallets and bags and i find it easier or more cost effective to do all the dye work myself rather than buying lots of different hides in many different colours.

[@Opensealeather]

Good point!

[@LeosLeatherGoods]

Great Video bro! Love the transparency you gave by showing all the types of leather in your products!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you liked it!

[@brillonleather]

I enjoyed the leather breakdown explanation and how you determined which to use in your products.

[@Opensealeather]

Thanks for watching!

[@icedcoffeegg]

Solid video my friend!

[@Opensealeather]

Thank you!

[@kerouacf0069]

Excellent video, very very informative, and well made.

[@Opensealeather]

Thank you!

[@heshymorozow5358]

Love your stuff

[@Opensealeather]

Thank you!

[@dylanflon4304]

Awesome video, learned a lot!

[@Opensealeather]

I’m glad it was helpful!

[@eldoriath1]

Excellent video! Very useful and infromative and easy to get a grasp of things (even including thickness once I realized 1 ounce = 0,4mm thickness). But it also sounds like you should make a go of starting converting to metric system when it comes to thickness? It's gonna happen sooner or later, so might as well get a head start =)

[@TaylorTheOtter]

When I was studying piano tech, we had a few lessons on leather. Our school had all sorts of crafts like upholstery, fine woodworking and leatherwork (bags and/or shoes). We got to make a little excursion to the leatherworking section and they showed us all sorts of leather but I wished they'd given a little more info outside of what was relevant for pianos. This video filled in all the missing info I was looking for so thank you!

[@Opensealeather]

Im so glad!

[@joshuaricks7882]

Awesome video brother, absolutely love your wallets I have several, and want all of them eventually ✌️

[@Opensealeather]

Thank you!

[@anastasiosvra9024]

Such a gem! Thanks for educating us all. You're a pro man and its obvious that you love your stuff! I find you career trajectory really inspiring and so its very cool that your biz and brand has a heritage and character behind it. Quality and craftmanship combined with smart and innovative designs! I'll be certainly buying from Open Sea, whether that's a wallet, bag, belt or combo. I am going to start with a wallet and I know that kangaroo is one of the many premium leathers you use lately so let me ask, how did the prototype Topsider Bifold LT Kangaroo leather work out?

[@Opensealeather]

It works as long as it doesn’t have the QuickDraw slot:) and thank you!

[@anastasiosvra9024]

@@Opensealeather Oh I see...why is that? I m thinking of doing a custom topsider bifold lt to fit Euros as well.

[@whogavehimafork]

I'm a fan of the imperfections on full grain leather especially if you get the skin from a wild animal. Like you said it shows character, it was an animal that lived and you see it in the scars

[@Opensealeather]

Absolutely

[@DecoyJayc]

Oh that logo! It's YOU guys whose items I've been seeing on reddit. Very clean work!

[@Opensealeather]

Yes! Thank you!

[@drewwhitaker315]

Well done and your a great presenter!

[@Opensealeather]

Thank you!

[@elisabethvismans]

Wonderful. I’m one of those people who thought genuine leather meant real. 😊 thank you for the clarification. I’ll definitely order something from your website. I value craftsmanship and quality. Love the imperfections in leather. Makes it authentic.

[@Opensealeather]

You are so welcome!

[@AdamBucalo]

Thank you very much for the information. I truly appreciate it and you are the real deal. Thanks again.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad to help

[@6creeder688]

i use peublo on almost every wallet i make but with bags i do use chrome tan, there are some really nice and crazy pretty chrome tans, you the man on videos btw

[@Opensealeather]

Totally agree! Thank you for the kind words:)

[@ameliaolson7580]

Super helpful, thank you!

[@Opensealeather]

You're welcome!

[@thornielsen9441]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@phoenixinc.3354]

I wish I would’ve watched this before buying a roll of leather for a mag pouch a friend commissioned for me. I got the color right but it’s waaaay to floppy for what I need

[@shankmatic]

Love this no-nonsense, simple approach to leather crafting. You really do have a great selection of good quality products!

[@Opensealeather]

Wow, thank you!

[@quickbreaks5865]

I really needed this information! Thank you so much!!

[@Opensealeather]

You are so welcome!

[@SuperdutyExplorer]

Doing research, nicely done video! Im just ordered my first pelts. Planning to make some fur slippers, if that goes well some fur camping boots

[@Opensealeather]

Fur slippers sound great!

[@paulsimonetti1608]

I've been at this a little over a year. 99% of my education has come from KZbin so I'm amazed this is the first video of yours that I've seen. I am impressed, have subscribed, and will be visiting your website as soon as I finish this comment. I have a question - you discussed vegtan and chrometan but where does oiltan fall into this?

[@Opensealeather]

Oil tanned is rare and can be done sustainably. I didn't mention it because it isn't very common

[@earlelzy9975]

I just asked the question about what leather to use for what projects in a previous video and this video answered it. Thanks.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AllStarWeldingSC]

Super informative video. Answered all my questions, and some. Except for one.. what are baseball gloves made from?

[@Opensealeather]

The nice ones are usually top grain chrome tanned steer hide

[@MarronGrosbek]

Very happy I chose this video intro to leather. It's way more complex than I imagined and I've already aligned my opinions with yours on full grain for prettiest finish, veg tanning b/c for kitchen knife sheaths (my plan) it is non-toxic, dyed struck through so no edge fussing, and I'm educated about weights and firmness. Your wallets are georgous and I immediately looked at them on your website. Smaller wallets, like yours, are for really cool people & stuff, but I'm nerdy and use a tri-fold wallet stuffed to the gills with a dozen credit, medical, etc. cards. I tend to keep a wad of about 20 $2 bills for tips, plus $300 in $20's, my laminated virus vaccine cards, photos of my wife, ... You get the picture. I have a beautiful "miro" design tri-fold, 3 color, leather wallet I found in Spain 5 yr ago and its the best wallet of my life. I'm trying to cut back on my wallet contents, but I'll never get down to the content limits of your wallets. Green is my color, and the olive green leather you make is calling my name. I carry no bag as my trendy fashionable bro in law does, so I have a huge bulge in my front pocket at all times. That's not gonna change, b/c I would lose a shoulder bag before the check I used to pay for it passed at the bank. So thanks for a great education in 13 minutes at 1.5x. If you have any tips for me, besides learning some self-control, I'd be glad to hear them.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you enjoyed the video:)

[@andylucas9062]

I've just started crafting leather you have answered the question about size and cuts that was so educational thank you

[@Opensealeather]

So glad it was helpful!

[@livinthedublife]

If you take suggestions can you copy but put your own twist on the Bellroy card sleeve.

[@Opensealeather]

I have a vertical pull tab wallet coming out later this year called the MK-2. The horizontal version is the MK-1

[@dangeo9613]

Good explanation matching the types of leather with the leather projects. Thank you!

[@Opensealeather]

You're very welcome!

[@robertduguay689]

Great video thanks for sharing. One of my favorite leathers is Horween Derby. Do you use it?

[@Opensealeather]

I prefer Dublin which is very very close! Love derby tho

[@nadrojenyaw]

This was a great video. Saving this one for future reference. All the answers I was looking for in one location!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobchronister3429]

Great informational video. Thank you.

[@Opensealeather]

Our pleasure!

[@patrickbrown551]

What a great video. Very educational thank you for sharing.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danieldalton1757]

Great explanations and practical examples, thanks.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@milom.2057]

An excellent and very informative video. Thanks!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheLuckyavi]

Simply awesome information

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you liked it

[@RX56785]

I love how informative this video is. Being new to leather craft I agree it's overwhelming the amount of information out there. I was wondering if you could quickly breakdown the difference (or provide a reliable respurce) on what is 1. Vachetta leather 2. Saffiano leather 3. English bridle leather 4. Harness leather 5. Skirting leather

[@Opensealeather]

1. Untreated veg tan. Basically just veg tan without waxes or oils. 2. Saffiano is a hatch grain embossed leather usually painted and highly finished. 3. Bridle is veg tan with lots of waxes and oils to be softer. 4. Harness has less was and oils than bridle to maintain strength. 5. Skirting doesn’t have wax or oil so it’s good for tooling and heavy duty applications

[@23luckers2365]

Hey man, thank you for the detailed explanation. May be you do have a reliable leather seller within the Europe? because most of the leather crafters are speaking only about the stores in US. Appreciate it. thanks

[@Opensealeather]

Buyleatheronline.com is a great resource

[@ninad.a]

Do you think Horween leather feels a bit less dense compared to other tanneries especially Walpier or Badalassi leather? Makes it difficult to work with 😅

[@Opensealeather]

Definitely not as tight as some of the Italian stuff no doubt

[@bluwasabi7635]

Cool video! May I ask what part of leather parchment/vellum would be from?

[@Opensealeather]

Parchment and vellum are typically goat or calfskin. Having used both of these leathers, I’d say they most often cut from most of the hide. Really high end leathers yield a lot of cutting area because the grain is tight throughout the hide.

[@robertcarrillo8848]

Very informative video. Would all these apply to leather that is machine sewn for bags? I’d love to start working with leather but not sure where to start. Also idk if anyone’s said but you remind me of a buff John Krasinski lol

[@Opensealeather]

Haha I’ve gotten that before. Yes everything stated here would apply to machine sewn bags too

[@QnA22]

My leather supplier only does millimeters, but this was great nonetheless. Loved the easy going atmosphere and easy to comprehend content. Subscribed!

[@Opensealeather]

Great to hear!

[@ellisanlodge]

Really informative video that clearly guides a novice leathercrafter through the mysteries of the different types of leather and how that effects the products made. Great video and super useful. Thanks and all the best to you, from England.

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TonyNicholls-gi9le]

Very cool video. I am now subscribed

[@Opensealeather]

Thanks for the sub!

[@bogdanpopa268]

Awesome video! What can you tell us about different kinds of animals that the leather came from? For example, I heard sheep skin is a lot softer. Also, does the age of the animal matter?

[@Opensealeather]

Sheep is very soft and supple. Age doesn’t matter but the younger it is the fewer imperfections the hide will have. That’s why calf is so expensive

[@jesscardona2335]

Thank you for such an informative video. Because I have been looking for a purple leather to make a wallet. On the District Leather website it mentioned it’s medium soft and I wasn’t sure if I should purchase it.

[@Opensealeather]

Yeah I wouldn’t use medium soft for a wallet

[@TatianaMiaPhotography]

Excellent video! So helpful. Thank you for creating great content.

[@Opensealeather]

You are so welcome!

[@newapologist]

Thanks for the good explanantion of leather. I like your St. Crispin poster, found one online. I’ll print one for my shop.

[@Opensealeather]

Love that

[@erinchurch2522]

Love this video! The sunglasses case was the only item you didnt mention the weight. What weight do you like for those? Thanks so much! Great video and info!

[@Opensealeather]

You can use any weight really but I like a thicker leather that’s stiff so it’ll keep it’s shape. 7oz

[@josephfowler8854]

Could you explain the different animals and what they are good for such as water buffalo.

[@Opensealeather]

Different animals will have different properties in their hides. Kangaroo has an incredibly tight grain and is very strong, pig skin won’t stretch and is great to line bags, water buffalo has beautiful creasing and texture and is known to be a strong yet supple leather for boots.

[@maade]

Awesome walk through, thanks!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ron3038]

great video! Thanks and do you have any suggestions for suppliers?

[@Opensealeather]

Rocky Mountain leather, district leather supply, maverick leather

[@ron3038]

@@Opensealeather thanks

[@mickeyhatfield2332]

Thank you

[@DJones-tb8nn]

great video

[@Opensealeather]

Thanks!

[@bl1969]

I’m wanting to make a leather Sap any suggestions on tools and leather to use

[@Opensealeather]

Any vegetable tanned leather will work

[@merce414]

Great tutorial, thank you!

[@Opensealeather]

Thanks!

[@robertlavedas4964]

But humans want hard rules, and to forecast that their choices are correct before a action.... Being right/correct, is for herd animals, who are later turned into products..... Warrior's just choose, and move on the the next choice's.... Thank you, terrific info...

[@fdort3971]

@Opensealeather I just found you today and I'm glad I did! Thanks for the lesson. By any chance do you ever make things from skyrim or assassins creed? I'd love to learn. I play skyrim and there's loads of stuff in there. My youngest son and his friends play...those things would sell well. How do you decide on what to charge? Obviously the price of goods used factors in. But say you make the multi buckle saddle bag...you said it's different sizes.

[@Opensealeather]

I charge whatever I feel like is worth my time and effort. Typically don’t work for less than $100/hr. No i haven’t done any cosplay stuff

[@fdort3971]

@Opensealeather that thud you heard was my jaw hitting the floor in Nova Scotia...lol. I mean I see the quality but damn...I'm jealous. That's awesome. Do you know of any leather channels that do make armor, etc?

[@connieanderson4734]

Do you sale any templete patterns for the bags purses wristlets

[@Opensealeather]

Yeah! Osleathercraft.com

[@KhanMp-b1e]

What thickness and hide parts of a leather be used for bifold wallets? Could the belly part be used?

[@Opensealeather]

2-3oz and not the belly. Preferably bend or shoulder

[@KhanMp-b1e]

@@Opensealeather thank you very much

[@KB-fk3jj]

I've been wondering about how to handle when the supplier removes the kind of leather you've been using. Finding a replacement leather could mean higher production costs or customers upset about the change. Have you felt that before, and how would you move forward?

[@Opensealeather]

Lots of quality leather manufacturers out there. Just find something similar and be honest with your customers about the change

[@oromis16]

How difficult or costly would it be to tan hides at home?

[@Opensealeather]

It’s quite involved and will take at least 30 days. But, it’s doable.

[@oromis16]

@Opensealeather, okay so say I had a sheep farm with a butchery and leatherworks, would it be cost effective to take care of the hides and tan them on site for the leatherworks or outsource the tanning, regardless of whether it gets veg. tanned or chrome tanned?

[@madthinker6465]

Thanks a lot for the explanation!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jw4620]

Educational! Thanks!

[@Opensealeather]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fritzgutten1]

Lots of great information, but rm leather doesn't allow you to sort or search by some of these. They don't even allow you to search by thickness. This seems to be the case with smaller amounts anyhow. They don't even say anything about it being full grain, which I assume means it all is. Just frustrating if I don't need a $200 cut.

[@Opensealeather]

Check out the “panels”. They’ll split them down to any thickness no charge

[@nadrojenyaw]

I'm making a guitar strap. 9oz bend???

[@Opensealeather]

For a single layer strap, definitely! But if you’re going to buy just the bend make sure it isn’t a sole bend as that’ll be way too stiff

[@danielbrinnemancom]

Good video.

[@Opensealeather]

Thanks!

[@gayankamal7309]

Tnx for the video❤️👌

[@Opensealeather]

My pleasure 😊

[@tyler2891]

Representing High St. Deli, Hell yea!

[@Opensealeather]

World famous sandos

[@abdulhalimalmaghribialkarkari]

Joel kinnamman voice!

[@48grizzly]

👍👍👍

[@rulopbo]

Saw the video, went into the site and ended buying a buttero black Topsider wallet😅

[@Opensealeather]

Love that!

[@Jawsjawsjawsrg]

Well, this explains a lot of why my leather belts suck over time.

[@Opensealeather]

Yup!

[@argentorangeok6224]

I'd rate firmness from Grace Park to Sarah Jessica Parker. Medium-firm would probably be about a Rachel Weisz.