Southwest Leather Trade Show - Review Of Items Purchased

Today I will review many of the items that I purchased while attending the Southwest Leather Workers Trade Show in Prescott Arizona. A big part of the show this year was attending the classes in which Don Gonzales was the instructor. I will have a video that I will talk about the experience.
I purchased leather most of my leather from ‪@montanaleathercompany‬ They had a large booth at the show with a mix of veg-tan leather and chrome tan leather.
I purchased some hardware and a tool from ‪@makersleathersupply1220‬ Makers Leather Supply had the largest selection of leather working supplies at the show.
I purchased a nice side of red leather from Cloys leather from El Paso. Loy is a very nice person to deal with and I look forward to visiting with him each year.
I purchased a template from Pikes Peak Saddlery. I normally find something of interest at each show to purchase from them.
I also expanded my leather tooling supplies at the ‪@barrykingtools2906‬ . Barry was so busy that it really was hard to take your time and look. Luckily, I had a list of what I was looking for and didn’t need to really dig through his full selection. That probably saved me money as I’m sure that I would have found more items that I couldn’t live without.
I purchased a Patent Leather Compass also known as a scratch compass or groover from Jeremiah Watt ‪@jeremiahwatt5133‬ I also own one of his hammers that is shown in many of my videos. The tools that they sell are top quality. While you can find cheaper tool it is enjoyable to use quality tools.
I purchased a nice selection of supplies from The Leather Machine Company. The company always has a large selection of machines on hand for you to sew on. They had over 2 dozen machines already pre-sold just waiting to be picked up. I purchased five one pound spools of thread and some needles from them. It’s always a busy booth and I wish that they had more help in their booth as you to feel rushed to be able to ask questions. ‪@leathermachinecoinc9078‬
I did visit the Steel Stamps Inc booth and discuss a new stamp with Tim Purdy. While there are other stamp manufacturers in the market the stamps that Tim produce are top quality. The stamp is made from tool steel and I believe will last the lifetime of my business. ‪@steelstampsinc.1799‬
The number and quality of booths at the show this year was unbelievable. The convention space is a little crowded but I did run into any rude people. Everyone was patient and allowed time to look.
If you like my video I would appreciate a comment or for you to share my video with others.
Please Like, Share, Comment, and of course Subscribe to my channel.
‪@InMyBusyLittleShop‬
#leathercraft #leather #leatherproject #tandyleather #barryking #fiebing #DonGonzales

[@1littleSher]

Nice range of new goodies.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I agree.

[@landonbuck253]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you showing the template from Pikes Peak Saddlery. It looks like there is a great bit of detail to them. I will have to try some of them. Thanks

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

You bet! I just finished recording a belt build video using that template to make a Ranger Belt. I will have it out in the next week. Just now working to edit it.

[@jackiemitchell4418]

Like you, I go to these shows and end up going home with a full gamut of materials. At home, I realize that I bought stuff that is both "need" and "neato"! One of my all time fave purchases is a plaid saddle blanket type Don Gonzales baseball cap,... so much so that I won't wear it for fear that I'll get dirty - LOL (thus negating the reason the purchase it in the first place). Oh well, such is life. Glad you enjoyed your show.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for the note. Yeah I have to try and control the impulse purchases. I do have another purchase to share in its own video. Something I have been thinking on for over two years

[@JohnLittle-ie4ok]

Nice hat!

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks. I purchased it at the show.

[@braddobson2060]

I like your t-shirt iam from Manitoba, nice new tools. This was much better than live.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for the feedback. It’s appreciated!

[@donettaclaytonkinard4870]

Isn’t it fun to come home with new goodies…can’t wait to see what you make next 😊

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Yes it is!

[@JohnLittle-ie4ok]

Nice explanation of the tools and use of them

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I hope it helps

[@toddsoutsideagain]

Dang Robert. I bet you were like a kid in a candy store! You sure picked up a lot of good stuff! Take care👊🏻

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Yeah. Self control there is an issue. Got everything on my list and then a couple ides. Had to run for the hills or I would have been over the budget. LOL

[@jaguarjim5456]

The template that is in with the pliers is for making leather grips for the pliers.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I will have to check that out.

[@ceder001tree3]

Hi Robert, I purchased a Vaqueta Blue Veg Tan Leather from Montana Leather, I really like it and have learned a bit about it, not sure it is what you purchased but it looks similar. When stitching with light thread, ( I hand stitch only) it stains the thread, I would encourage using a darker thread. I have made a belt, and dog collar and a couple card pockets with it. Belt and Collar are lined. Thanks for the video and looks like you are going to busy with some awesome projects!

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for the info. I’ll test the color before jumping in. Glad to get the tip.

[@williammrdeza9445]

Thanks for the review, Robert! Sounds like a great show. I'll be interested to see how you like the Horseshoe brand groover. I have had that on my list to purchase (along with maybe one of their hammers) and your review will be helpful in making my decision. Looking forward to your future projects showcasing some of your new skills and tools.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

It was a great time. While the leather was priced higher than I had hoped, it was good to get my hands on other tools and hardware. It’s hard for me to purchase without having it in my hands. Another subscriber said that the groover made pretty large grooves. It does. It was suggested that the Barry King replacement cutter fits this tool and might be a better size to go with my Cobra 26. Time will tell.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Thanks for sharing

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for watching

[@33RanchSaddlery]

Thanks for sharing all your treasures! It looked like your classes went good also. In our shop we strictly use HO tooling and skirting. There's never a question if the leather will match when combining weights or using scrap. While learning to tool it's also helpful to pick a leather and really get to know how it behaves in regards to casing, cutting, dying, finishing, etc.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes the class was great. Don is a great instructor. It makes sense to stay with one to figure it out.

[@larrycumba2741]

If someone is starting out and looking for edge bevelers try the Horseshoe Brand set. Comes with five interchangeable sizes and one handle. Sharp and has the ends pointed up to keep the grain side clean. Before I use them I hit the cutting side with a quick buffing on the buffing wheel on a grinder. About $60.00 and well worth it. This on vegtan.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

That’s a great point. My first set of edgers had one common handle.

[@JoFrostleatherwork]

Hey Robert! Glad you enjoyed your trip! Thanks for the reviews of tools and leather- always difficult to get great leather for a good price- in Canada due to exchange on our dollar vs US Funds we pay about 35 percent more - ouch! Shout out on the t-shirt- lots of good fishing in Canada!

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I appreciate the comment. I’m sure that it is expensive with the exchange rate. I guess that there are not any good tanneries in Canada? I have been to that fishing lodge a few times. It’s well ran. Check out my video this morning for a dingle tool review. Was purchased in at the Prescott Leather Trade Show as well.

[@JoFrostleatherwork]

@@InMyBusyLittleShop we have suppliers to but from but no tanneries that I have heard of-

[@jamesw.3491]

Leather material is the tough part for us. I can't buy at a local place or a show. None are anywhere me. I try to buy when there is a sale. I would like to try wicket and craig or herman oak, but the prices for those hides are WAY higher than the hides I buy. Direct from wicket and craig for "carving" sides that are grade c-d are 200 plus another 20-30 for shipping. I just bought 4 SB Foot sides for 50 each. I buy veg tanned sides for 100 or less per side. How can I justify spending more than double for other leather? I'm trying to sell products for a profit, and if I double material costs, I can't double the selling price and expect people to pay it. So I either have to give my labor away or buy cheaper, more affordable materials. Not everyone can get 500 for a carved belt like some people can. Aside from equipment debates, I mean material costs are the crafter's biggest problem. None of us want junk hides, but we don't want to pay 10+ a square foot for leather either. If you are just giving stuff away, I guess it does not matter as much. But if you are doing this to make a buck, then input costs are a very real concern.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Thanks for the detailed response. I totally agree. Two years ago the price at the show was $100 per side. That would be about $4.00 a foot. This year the import was $7 and HO “C” was $8. W&C for “B” is $9.35. I’m sure it’s another buck for shipping. The local chain store is in this range for a decent hide. Yes it’s hard to pass that along to the customer. I’ll have to see where this all goes. I do a lot of gifts so that get expensive. With what I had to pay I’m now over my materials budget.

[@jamesw.3491]

@@InMyBusyLittleShop Yeah, it's too bad all these suppliers (not just in the leather industry) have doubled prices. I own a service business and do leather work in my "free" time. Costs for everything have pretty much doubled. It's not sustainable and I really feel like it's more "greedflation" then it is actual inflation. One of my suppliers last year doubled their price on a product I use in my service business. I switched to anther supplier for the same product that was half the old supplier's cost. I was their biggest buyer of that product in 2022. I'm sure at some point this will also be the case in the leather industry. People will not just keep paying inflated costs and will seek less expensive alternatives. This is leaving the door open for foreign hides to take over American tanned hides, especially if they would open a few businesses in the US to distribute the hide themselves. The whole reason W&C sell direct is because they make more money on the hides as opposed to wholesaling to distributors. Someone at some point will realize there is a big, untapped market for cheaper hides that crafters need. Those high dollar leather project sales are in the extreme minority, and few can afford them. There will always be a market for goods made with Horween, H.O., W&C leathers. But that is a very small slice of what most people will pay for. 50-60 dollar belts outsell 500 dollar belts every day of the week and twice on Sunday. We'll see what the future brings. But IMO, these KZbin influences peddling their favorite tannery, don't win any points with me. Not saying the hides are bad, but I think they are getting perks for promoting certain tanneries. It's not selling me on those hides, the prices are way too high in comparison to others. For example, maybe HO is nicer to tool. Is it twice as nice as import? Is the end product more valuable or better? It's all in the eye of the beholder. I honestly think that a lot of the hub-bub is just hype, not actual value. I think many people just use it because their favorite "influencer" uses it, so it must be good or the only "right" leather to use. Sorry you are over budget for materials. Hopefully you can find some way to recoup costs. Shop for deals. I know you want to see the hide, but sometimes you have to buy where costs are lower. I would prefer to buy in person, but I need the deals more than I need to be laying hands on the hide. There isn't a way I know of other than to be on the lookout for deals. After hearing what you said about the show, I don't think I will ever go to one, as no deals seem to be there. I can pay those prices now, without traveling across the country to get the same prices.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I agree. I do purchase imported leather as well. The $7 leather was an import. It works nice for me. I will be tooling some and will be sharing that on my channel. I guess that by producing videos by default I too become an “influencer”. That is not my intention. I hope to inspire people to try the hobby or even a different hobby or business. Thanks for your comment

[@kboleather]

​@@jamesw.3491 I used to work in the RV Industry at the wholesale parts end. I still follow what is going on in the industry. Thor is a major manufacturer of RV units. Which are very expensive now. Thor's revenue for 2023 was ZERO. I suspect that is case with a lot of businesses - they didn't make much or made nothing during the lockdown period and post lockdown. My gut is telling me they are all making up for those losses. You're absolutely right, it is Greedflation. And I'm sick and tired of it. But then you have vultures (capital investors) in the wings ready to snap up wholesalers. Weaver Leather did just that. Blue Point Capital Partners bought out Weaver. BPCP is now quietly buying up other leather suppliers. This is another reason why product is becoming increasingly expensive.

[@kboleather]

There is no reason why you can't use both, Hermann Oak and Wickett and Craig. W & C also produces great leather.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

They do both make great leather. I have used some Hermann Oak. I don’t think I have used any W&C.

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

Great that you enjoyed the show. I see you have a Manitoba, Canada shirt on. 👍🏻 Just wondering about, when you say thickness of leather in ounces, what dies it mean in fraction of an inch. Example, 10 oz equals 1/8” ??? Is there a scale for that. I just curious. Thanks. Have a great day. 👍🏻👍🏻👋👋

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

That’s a great question. 16 oz leather is 1/4” thick. So 8oz would be 1/8” or 3.2 mm.

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

@@InMyBusyLittleShop Ahhhh, thanks. I have an idea now as to what you’re working with. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@OpenAirAdventure]

More tools for the master. I was just thinking about the leather and its designs, I was wondering if tattooing is possible with leather and if it would even work on leather like it does on skin?

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

That’s an interesting question. I have caught a glance of someone doing that. I didn’t tune in enough to get an idea of how it works or looks. Maybe down the road. It’s one more thing on the list.

[@carverdw]

Did you pick up some skills in the tooling class? I am hoping to attend the show, and classes next year.

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

Yes. I’m working on a video that covers my experience. I’m excited on how it came out.

[@JohnLittle-ie4ok]

Dress making ??? More to come?? What. lol

[@InMyBusyLittleShop]

I guess you need to listen again.