There are many different  leather types available, each with its own unique look and feel. This simple guide will teach you how to identify different  leather types you might come upon.

Let’s get you started!

So you’re excited about getting into leather work and you want a simple Animal Leather Source Guide!  Leather work is certainly a satisfying and fun hobby and you can pretty much make anything you can think of. A small wallet, a phone cover, a bag or maybe if you’re more adventurous a jacket or a work apron and so on.  The question is how to choose the best leather for the work you want to do.

Cow hides are sometimes sub-divided into different leather hide parts. Hence each cut has different uses, qualities and characteristics. It is useful to know this in order to buy the right type leather for your project. Belly Elongated and narrow, bellies are typically less consistent then the rest of the hide. They can be used for the production of belts, sandals, wallets and other accessories. Shoulder The shoulder cut of a leather hide comes from the shoulder area of the animals. This area generally has a firm, yet malleable and flexible feel to it. Usually used for belts and straps Bend Can be either a single bend (one half) or a double bend (both sides) Usually used for belts, footwear + accessories. Side Includes the belly, bend, shoulder...

Leather thickness is normally measured in ounces, with one ounce equal to 0.4 mm. We use what is called a leather gauge to measure our leather when listing it, but we use millimetres as here in Australia most people are more familiar with the metric system. You'll notice some leathers may have a range of mm listed (eg 1.2-1.4 mm). Because leather is a natural material, it can vary across the full width of a hide by small amounts. In reality this slight variation of the leather thickness should not affect the outcome of your leathercraft projects.

Mineral Tannages Most leather is tanned using salts of chromium. Chrome tanning is a relatively recent method of tanning, but easily the most dominant. It uses a mix of minerals, salts and chemicals to treat the hide.  Consequently chrome tanned hides can come in a wider variety of colours, including very bright colours   Aldehyde and oil tannages Tanning with aldehydes and oils produce very soft leathers and this system can be used to produce dry-cleanable and washable fashion leathers and also chamois leather.  Additionally oil tanned leather typically has a “pull up effect” Therefore the leather’s surface, when creased or stretched lightens leaving it with a distressed look. Vegetable Tannages   Organic materials obtained from different parts of plants including woods, barks, fruits, fruit...

When beginning leather work  very quickly we need to find out how to lace leather. Leather lacing can be used to add to the overall look of leather products by using a variety of lacing techniques to tie pieces together or for purely decorative purposes. The basic techniques to lace leather are the same techniques used to sew other fabrics together. However, due to the tougher nature of leather, lace holes need to be punched through it. It is essential that the lacing is done with the finished side of the item facing towards you. Holes are usually made by using a leather punch or lace chisel. Ideally, the holes need to be sufficiently wide enough to allow the leather...

Leather finishing can be done in a variety of ways including applying oil, waxing, acrylics and synthetic waterproofing. Here is a quick guide to finishing with different types of finishes.

The exact process will depend upon what type of leather you have. You need to determine the type of leather you have, before you begin the leather cleaning and conditioning. If you do not know which type of leather you have, you are in a bit of spot. Each leather type requires a different method for cleaning. Guessing is not an option in this case because you could ruin your treasured investments. Let’s learn how to identify types of leather you may own. 1) Main types of Leather - Determine the type of leather you have Aniline Leather – This is the most natural form of leather. Nothing is done to this material; basically what you see is what you get. It...