This does a good job at explaining the tactile differences, but the explanation of the internals is missing a little bit. The missing word in your explanation is "Collagen". A simplified explanation is that it is a protein 'glue' that holds the fibers/cells together. In veg-tan (VT)leather, the basic collagen is preserved which results in hardenability and shapability of VT leathers. In chrome-tanned (CT) leather, the collagen is effectively replaced [as you described "..it eats it's way in"]. The collagen is what allows VT leather to take a burnish, through heat and pressure (and allows VT leather to take and hold tooling impressions). The leather should be moistened to 'activate' the collagen, then slicked down. Once softened, or activated, the fibers of the leather can be repositioned, formed, and set into place. That's what the slicking does. Burnishing the edge is really nothing more than heat setting, through friction, the slicked edge once all the fibers are laid down. Once the leather dries out, the collagen is then 'set' in that position. The application of any edge dressing, such as wax, does more to seal the edge against additional moisture intrusion than actual burnishing. However, it IS easy to get a high gloss finish on wax, so many of us use a wax blend to finish our edges. There is more information available at Leatherworker.net, or if you REALLY want to get into the fine details of what's going on inside the leather ....Leatherchemists.org. I hope that this is taken as intended, which is only to be informative and explanatory. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
This explanation of the differences , quickly turns me away from chrome finished. It sounds rather like a no brainer on choosing veg tan. Thanks for this explanation.
you dont cover leather furniture in chrometan because it is cheaper. You cover it in chrometan because it is water proof, resistant to discoloration, softer, lighter, easier to handle and because it is cheaper.
I work in a tannery. We do Lamb, Sheep, Goat and Cows. Mostly we use chrome and veg only for cows. BUT from my personal experience Chrome cows can look as nice as veg. It's not entirely true that you cannot get nice feel with chrome. And also veg tanning is more expensive and cannot withstand the temperatures that chrome tanning can. As well as resistance of the leather to certain things is better with chrome. Although all together I prefer free white xD No metals at all
UA-cam is on autoplay or i wouldn't have bothered with this video, but I did listen to it and man you are big-time biased toward veg tan. I love veg tan too and I especially like that it's not anywhere near as polluting a chrome tanneries are which are just toxic waste dumps in non Western countries. But the fact is neither leather is better than the other. It would be like saying a handsaw is more useful than a hammer, or a frying pan is better than an outdoor grill. You can't compare the two because they are used for different things. As you pointed out, saddles are made with veg tan. Chrome tan is not an option. Driving gloves are made with chrome tan because it's soft and supple whereas veg tan is stiff. You made it sound like the only reason Chrome is used instead of veg tan is cost. That is absolutely not true. In fact some of the most expensive leather made is Chrome Tan, Horween being one such chrome tannery. Chrome comes in every freakin' color and finish you can imagine. Other than dying yourself, veg tan is available in limited earth tone colors with pretty much just the one standard finish (there are embossed veg tans). Quality is independent of the type of leather it is. You can produce crappy leather with veg tanning and chromium tanning. The leathers I've had over the years that make my mouth water just thinking of how gorgeous they were are both Veg Tan and Chrome. You can get an edge on crappy veg tan, so that's doesn't indicate anything and with the paint technology nowadays you can get just as good or better edge on chrome. To me , and really anyone I know who is a leatherworker, I would say that it depends on the application as to which leather is preferred. Heck, right now I'm making a padfolio briefcase that is principally veg tan but I'm also incorporating chrome for color accents. However, if I were stranded on a deserted island and two shipping containers filled with good washed ashore and one of them had everything you need for a nice comfy life and the other one contained every imaginable leatheworking tool and supplies and A zillion hides, BUT they were all just one type of hide, I would prefer it to be Veg Tan only because there's more creative artistic things I can do with it over chrome tan, namely molding, carving, stamping.
The leather you use depends on what you are making. He prefers veg tanned leather. There are chrome tanned leathers that are amazing. Horween Leathers use both veg and chrome tanned processes to make some of the best leather you can buy. Although he is somewhat technically accurate about the process for making leather, not all chrome tanned leathers are the same. Many tanneries use different combinations of processes for tanning leather. I go back to Horween because they use a process where they veg tan and chrome tan the same piece of leather. And at $100 per square foot, I wish Shell Cordovan leather was cheaper than regular veg tanned leather. I always encourage people to do their homework when it comes to buying leather.
What are the vegetable tanned pieces in the video? I can see the chrome tanned include Saddleback, but I can't tell what the veg examples are. They're beautiful.
Just out of curiosity, did you purposely pick the worst looking chrome tanned leathers you could find? I work exclusively with full grain chemically tanned leather (non-Chromium) and the finishes are amazing. I have chosen to use the chemically tanned leather because of the available colors and the fact that it is much softer and more supple then vegetable tanned leather.
Matthew Attenborough I choose popular chrome tanned leathers that people think are great for some reason, Saddleback Leather Co., Marlondo Leather, and Copper River Leather Co. There are a few higher quality Chrome tanned leathers such as Horween Chromexcel, but they are few and far between and are not representative of the most commercially available chromed tanned leathers. So I choose chrome tanned leathers that are representative of what the majority of makers are using. Thanks for the question.
brilliant video! explains why i have been having trouble burnishing my offcuts from ebay as they must be chrome tanned not veg tanned! will have to look into getting some veg tanned leather to play with.
chrome leathers can get a burnished feeling edge on them. Giardini edge paint is incredible stuff. it can be painted, melted and sanded to a very smooth finish on veg tanned and chrome tanned leather. if you research it and give it a try I am sure that you will be impressed.
So, all U said here is you can t burnish chrome tanned leather edges? There is a way. A crome leather is more secure in a pocket, bag stiffeners can also be used etc... I am a pro-customer so I give unbiased options for them. Not that you are wrong. But there is much more than the edge.
Thanks for the extremely informative video. How would you compare the quality of vegetable tanned leather from various parts of the world? Many people think that Italian vegetable tanned leather is generally better. Do you agree?
I have owned vegetable tanned leather from all over Europe and many parts of the world. I do like the leathers from Italian tanneries as well as the leathers from England and Spain. Many of them are still made using the time honored methods of naturally sourced tree bark in the tanning liquor. I do however, have an affinity for Horween and Wickett and Craig's vegetable tanned leathers. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wow very informative! I was going to purchase 1000 dollars worth of Saddleback products but now that I've learned how different chrome team is from vegetable tan. I'm looking for another company that makes notebook holders and specifically something similar to SBL thin front pocket briefcase. I was wondering if you can recommend me a company that does a bag in that sort of style but is vegetable tanned.
Gotta love how the prime example of cheap chrome tanned leather are a bunch of wallets by saddleback leather. One of the most expensive producers of leather goods I've found 🤣 though I’ll agree. I bought a wallet for a lot more than I should have paid about 6 years ago because of the whole "they'll fight over it when you're dead" slogan they have. Today I find myself looking for a new one and have been for a few years because it went to shit so quickly. Was a nice wallet for about 3 years or so. After that it kind of just went limp.
Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
This is so informative! Thank you so much for this. Can I ask two questions? 1. is what is called oiltanned the same as chrometanned? I have a few oiltanned leather notebook covers that resist burnishing too. 2. what would be dip-dyes leather? The covers I have in that leather are beautifully burnished but the leather marcs and scuffs very very easily.
Yes oil tanned leather is chrome tanned first then further processed to produce oil tanned leather. The oil tanning process replaces some of the fats that were lost during the chrome tanning process making the finished leather more supple with a softer feel as well. Oil tanned leather is great for shoes or where the piece will be exposed to moisture. Usually but not always, veg. tanned leather is used in dip-dying. The dye will usually penetrate all the way through the hide. Scuffing can happen on the surface of dyed leathers, and can show marks where the dye is disturbed. Sealing the leather with Mink oil can help alleviate the scuff marks from being so noticeable.
Setting aside the cost differences, if one wanted a bag to eventually become "floppy" like an old postal carrier bag, they should go with chrome tanned?
Both Chrome tanned and veg tanned will soften up with use. The difference is that when chrome tanned leather goes limp and floppy it also looses it's integrity and strength, whereas when a veg tanned bag gets soft it still retains it's strength. A floppy chrome tanned bag is nearing the end of it's useful life before it begins to stretch out and come apart. Despite popular belief, a chrome tanned bag is not going to last 100 years, at best 15-20 years of daily use before the painted on surface is worn away and the bag just looks tired and the bag is worn out. All old postal carrier bags are veg tanned! They are nice and floppy but still strong and useful, just find a veg tanned bag made with at least 6-8 oz veg leather and it will age beautifully and last you a lifetime!
Silly question- my baby loves to chew on my leather wallet, and I'm afraid about him getting toxins from the leather. I want to get him a replacement. Would you say that an unfinished vegetable tanned leather is the least toxic?
Yikes! Nobody, babies or pets should chew on chrome tanned leather, it is toxic. Natural, un-dyed vegetable tanned leather is non toxic, yet I still would not buy one for a baby to chew on, thanks for your question.
What kind of leather are Michael Kors and Coach handbags made of? If I want to make handbags and evening bags out of leather , what can I use: chrome, veg. tan, Chromexcel? How about high end products?
Good explanation. I am new to leatherworking but I really like softer leathers and found those moreso in 'crazy horse pull up oil tan' type of leathers online. Are there equally soft veg tan leathers?(For bags and such)
I just think it depends on the leather quality and how it was treated. I got some leather wallets, from both types of high quality finished leather and it is not the difference you told in your video.
That's great! As mentioned in the video, there are some chrome tanned leathers that have been fattened with oils, waxes and grease's that makes a pretty nice leather, however those leathers make up a very small percentage over all of Chrome tanned leather production and are closer in price to veg. Tanned leathers.
Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
I heard cordovan the most expensive leather? Horween also use the same method to tan cowhide for the their essex and dublin line, do you know if that's chrome or veg tanned?
Also, pull up leather is very popular nowadays, do you know if the method is chrome or veg tanned or the combination of both (like chromexcel)? Thanks!
The big issue is that word you keep using - chemicals. Chrome tanned leather is 'toxic' in many situations. For example can't use it for sheaths or holsters and not negatively impact your gun or knife.
Thanks for this informative video. One question I have is about the squeekyness of veg tanned leather. My Saddleback Leather shoulder pads squeek *a lot*. Does that mean they're veg tanned? Or that some chrome tanned leather also squeeks?
No the Saddleback shoulder pads are chrome tanned leather, but there is a piece of saddle pad sewn inside which is a synthetic closed cell foam which can squeak as it rubs against the leather.
In fact, chrome tanned leather still can have very pretty finishing smooth edge by using sharp cutting tools. But the products from Saddleback which is using machines to press the leather out instead of sharp cutting. you can see their manufacturing video. simple experiment of using sharp cutter blade to cut chrome leather can show the result.
Great video! But I must admit that you moving your handing up and down and all around during the video is incredibly distracting. Just my humble opinion :)
Crazy Horse is chrome tanned leather, you are correct. Veg. tanned leather can be stiff at any thickness, but it can also be soft and pliable too, it all depends on how it processed after the tanning. Thank you for watching!
+James Crane im really new to leather...if the leather surface same like veg tann,but edge can't be burnish..im not sure what it call,but it name sound like burnish cowhide if im not mistaken..does it belong to chrome tann group..
+shorty kodo I'm not sure what kind of leather you are referring to. You can make a clean edge on chrome tanned leather and apply a dressing to it and make the edge look really nice, but it is nearly impossible to burnish it to a glossy smooth finish as you can on vegetable tanned leather. As well, there some vegetable tanned leathers that are tumbled or dry-milled after the tanning, which breaks down the fibers and internal bonds, making it nearly impossible to burnish it. In general, if you can get a glossy burnished edge, it's vegetable tanned leather, if you can't get a smooth burnished edge, it's most likely chrome tanned leather.
Jaco, I'm not sure what you mean by semi-chrome tanned leather. If you are referring to Chromexcel which goes thru steps from both tanning processes, but is mostly chrome tanned leather, I think it's a very nice leather. It's supple like chrome tanned leather but has several of the attributes of vegetable tanned leather, like being able to take a burnishing to the edges. I love it!
I personally wouldn't do it. Chrome tanned leather is animal hides that are tanned in baths of highly toxic chromium salts, and like the BPA's from plastic, I don't think I could be convinced that some of those heavily toxic chemicals would not leach out into my beverage. Back in the days before plastic, leather drinking vessels and canteens were done by coating the interior with beeswax, pine or spruce resins etc. There are also food safe coatings available today that might be the best approach. Hope that helps.
+Mr.C Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
Some of my favorite makers of veg. leather products are, The Leather Shop, Mascon Leather, Eternal Leather, Norman Cahn Leather Works and Clintonville Leather.
This does a good job at explaining the tactile differences, but the explanation of the internals is missing a little bit. The missing word in your explanation is "Collagen". A simplified explanation is that it is a protein 'glue' that holds the fibers/cells together. In veg-tan (VT)leather, the basic collagen is preserved which results in hardenability and shapability of VT leathers. In chrome-tanned (CT) leather, the collagen is effectively replaced [as you described "..it eats it's way in"]. The collagen is what allows VT leather to take a burnish, through heat and pressure (and allows VT leather to take and hold tooling impressions). The leather should be moistened to 'activate' the collagen, then slicked down. Once softened, or activated, the fibers of the leather can be repositioned, formed, and set into place. That's what the slicking does. Burnishing the edge is really nothing more than heat setting, through friction, the slicked edge once all the fibers are laid down. Once the leather dries out, the collagen is then 'set' in that position. The application of any edge dressing, such as wax, does more to seal the edge against additional moisture intrusion than actual burnishing. However, it IS easy to get a high gloss finish on wax, so many of us use a wax blend to finish our edges. There is more information available at Leatherworker.net, or if you REALLY want to get into the fine details of what's going on inside the leather ....Leatherchemists.org. I hope that this is taken as intended, which is only to be informative and explanatory. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
Mike DeLoach of
Mike DeLoach - what is step by step production of vt leather, can ypu help me and explain because i dont know. Tnx
Thank you..I'll be going to that site for more information...
That was great as some good meal and touch of garnish was giving those website link's.
This explanation of the differences , quickly turns me away from chrome finished. It sounds rather like a no brainer on choosing veg tan. Thanks for this explanation.
I'm an enthusiastic bag maker and didn't know the real difference, you have a leather lovers way of putting it across, thanks
you dont cover leather furniture in chrometan because it is cheaper. You cover it in chrometan because it is water proof, resistant to discoloration, softer, lighter, easier to handle and because it is cheaper.
Thank you for explaining what Saddleback never would.
I work in a tannery. We do Lamb, Sheep, Goat and Cows. Mostly we use chrome and veg only for cows. BUT from my personal experience Chrome cows can look as nice as veg. It's not entirely true that you cannot get nice feel with chrome. And also veg tanning is more expensive and cannot withstand the temperatures that chrome tanning can. As well as resistance of the leather to certain things is better with chrome. Although all together I prefer free white xD No metals at all
UA-cam is on autoplay or i wouldn't have bothered with this video, but I did listen to it and man you are big-time biased toward veg tan. I love veg tan too and I especially like that it's not anywhere near as polluting a chrome tanneries are which are just toxic waste dumps in non Western countries.
But the fact is neither leather is better than the other. It would be like saying a handsaw is more useful than a hammer, or a frying pan is better than an outdoor grill. You can't compare the two because they are used for different things. As you pointed out, saddles are made with veg tan. Chrome tan is not an option. Driving gloves are made with chrome tan because it's soft and supple whereas veg tan is stiff.
You made it sound like the only reason Chrome is used instead of veg tan is cost. That is absolutely not true. In fact some of the most expensive leather made is Chrome Tan, Horween being one such chrome tannery. Chrome comes in every freakin' color and finish you can imagine. Other than dying yourself, veg tan is available in limited earth tone colors with pretty much just the one standard finish (there are embossed veg tans).
Quality is independent of the type of leather it is. You can produce crappy leather with veg tanning and chromium tanning. The leathers I've had over the years that make my mouth water just thinking of how gorgeous they were are both Veg Tan and Chrome. You can get an edge on crappy veg tan, so that's doesn't indicate anything and with the paint technology nowadays you can get just as good or better edge on chrome.
To me , and really anyone I know who is a leatherworker, I would say that it depends on the application as to which leather is preferred. Heck, right now I'm making a padfolio briefcase that is principally veg tan but I'm also incorporating chrome for color accents.
However, if I were stranded on a deserted island and two shipping containers filled with good washed ashore and one of them had everything you need for a nice comfy life and the other one contained every imaginable leatheworking tool and supplies and A zillion hides, BUT they were all just one type of hide, I would prefer it to be Veg Tan only because there's more creative artistic things I can do with it over chrome tan, namely molding, carving, stamping.
I've seen sun tanned people whose skin looks like leather. Not sure if they squeak or not.
The leather you use depends on what you are making. He prefers veg tanned leather. There are chrome tanned leathers that are amazing. Horween Leathers use both veg and chrome tanned processes to make some of the best leather you can buy. Although he is somewhat technically accurate about the process for making leather, not all chrome tanned leathers are the same. Many tanneries use different combinations of processes for tanning leather. I go back to Horween because they use a process where they veg tan and chrome tan the same piece of leather. And at $100 per square foot, I wish Shell Cordovan leather was cheaper than regular veg tanned leather. I always encourage people to do their homework when it comes to buying leather.
Thank you for the very detailed and informative video on chrome tanned and vegtan leather!
Hi Colin! I could just as easily used the beautiful veg. tanned pieces I've purchased from you! Thank you for the nice words!
What are the vegetable tanned pieces in the video? I can see the chrome tanned include Saddleback, but I can't tell what the veg examples are. They're beautiful.
That saddle squeak sound! Eargasm.
omg this video was so helpful, thanks
Just out of curiosity, did you purposely pick the worst looking chrome tanned leathers you could find? I work exclusively with full grain chemically tanned leather (non-Chromium) and the finishes are amazing. I have chosen to use the chemically tanned leather because of the available colors and the fact that it is much softer and more supple then vegetable tanned leather.
Matthew Attenborough I choose popular chrome tanned leathers that people think are great for some reason, Saddleback Leather Co., Marlondo Leather, and Copper River Leather Co. There are a few higher quality Chrome tanned leathers such as Horween Chromexcel, but they are few and far between and are not representative of the most commercially available chromed tanned leathers. So I choose chrome tanned leathers that are representative of what the majority of makers are using. Thanks for the question.
brilliant video! explains why i have been having trouble burnishing my offcuts from ebay as they must be chrome tanned not veg tanned!
will have to look into getting some veg tanned leather to play with.
Thanks Jim, you're giving me an education!
appreciate explaining the differences and benefits of this video
chrome leathers can get a burnished feeling edge on them. Giardini edge paint is incredible stuff. it can be painted, melted and sanded to a very smooth finish on veg tanned and chrome tanned leather. if you research it and give it a try I am sure that you will be impressed.
So, all U said here is you can t burnish chrome tanned leather edges?
There is a way. A crome leather is more secure in a pocket, bag stiffeners can also be used etc...
I am a pro-customer so I give unbiased options for them. Not that you are wrong. But there is much more than the edge.
Can't you use Edge Painting to get the same finnish?
What about shoes? are they typically chrome tanned or veg tanned?
Try not to repeat your self. Good information I learned something.
Would be nice to see comparison in same color but other than that, this was interesting. I had no clue.
Thanks for the extremely informative video. How would you compare the quality of vegetable tanned leather from various parts of the world? Many people think that Italian vegetable tanned leather is generally better. Do you agree?
I have owned vegetable tanned leather from all over Europe and many parts of the world. I do like the leathers from Italian tanneries as well as the leathers from England and Spain. Many of them are still made using the time honored methods of naturally sourced tree bark in the tanning liquor. I do however, have an affinity for Horween and Wickett and Craig's vegetable tanned leathers. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wow very informative! I was going to purchase 1000 dollars worth of Saddleback products but now that I've learned how different chrome team is from vegetable tan. I'm looking for another company that makes notebook holders and specifically something similar to SBL thin front pocket briefcase. I was wondering if you can recommend me a company that does a bag in that sort of style but is vegetable tanned.
Jafar, you might want to look at Kendal & Hyde briefcases and accessories, all made from veg. tanned leather and similar style.
Thank you very much, I'll see what they have and get back to you. Right now I'm looking at White Buffalo Republic's messenger bag.
Just wow, it just took me 2 minutes to decide on the Classic Attaché. Thanks again!!
Good remarkable information, Thanks
Gotta love how the prime example of cheap chrome tanned leather are a bunch of wallets by saddleback leather. One of the most expensive producers of leather goods I've found 🤣 though I’ll agree. I bought a wallet for a lot more than I should have paid about 6 years ago because of the whole "they'll fight over it when you're dead" slogan they have. Today I find myself looking for a new one and have been for a few years because it went to shit so quickly. Was a nice wallet for about 3 years or so. After that it kind of just went limp.
Lots of great info here!
Thank you. Please show which leather is efficient for which product make also about thickness.
Howdy Jim! Which leather manufacturer or brand is the maker of the veg tan leather you are sporting in this video? Thanks, jedidiah
Chromexcel is chrome tanned by Horween and I have no problem burnishing it.
Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
James Crane r
This is so informative! Thank you so much for this. Can I ask two questions? 1. is what is called oiltanned the same as chrometanned? I have a few oiltanned leather notebook covers that resist burnishing too. 2. what would be dip-dyes leather? The covers I have in that leather are beautifully burnished but the leather marcs and scuffs very very easily.
Yes oil tanned leather is chrome tanned first then further processed to produce oil tanned leather. The oil tanning process replaces some of the fats that were lost during the chrome tanning process making the finished leather more supple with a softer feel as well. Oil tanned leather is great for shoes or where the piece will be exposed to moisture. Usually but not always, veg. tanned leather is used in dip-dying. The dye will usually penetrate all the way through the hide. Scuffing can happen on the surface of dyed leathers, and can show marks where the dye is disturbed. Sealing the leather with Mink oil can help alleviate the scuff marks from being so noticeable.
+James Crane thank you for takeing the time for a detailed and helpfull answer.
Setting aside the cost differences, if one wanted a bag to eventually become "floppy" like an old postal carrier bag, they should go with chrome tanned?
Both Chrome tanned and veg tanned will soften up with use. The difference is that when chrome tanned leather goes limp and floppy it also looses it's integrity and strength, whereas when a veg tanned bag gets soft it still retains it's strength. A floppy chrome tanned bag is nearing the end of it's useful life before it begins to stretch out and come apart. Despite popular belief, a chrome tanned bag is not going to last 100 years, at best 15-20 years of daily use before the painted on surface is worn away and the bag just looks tired and the bag is worn out. All old postal carrier bags are veg tanned! They are nice and floppy but still strong and useful, just find a veg tanned bag made with at least 6-8 oz veg leather and it will age beautifully and last you a lifetime!
Silly question- my baby loves to chew on my leather wallet, and I'm afraid about him getting toxins from the leather. I want to get him a replacement. Would you say that an unfinished vegetable tanned leather is the least toxic?
Yikes! Nobody, babies or pets should chew on chrome tanned leather, it is toxic. Natural, un-dyed vegetable tanned leather is non toxic, yet I still would not buy one for a baby to chew on, thanks for your question.
Ashley, you stupid idiot! What kind of mother allows her baby to chew on leather of any kind? SHAME on you!!
What kind of leather are Michael Kors and Coach handbags made of? If I want to make handbags and evening bags out of leather , what can I use: chrome, veg. tan, Chromexcel? How about high end products?
Good explanation. I am new to leatherworking but I really like softer leathers and found those moreso in 'crazy horse pull up oil tan' type of leathers online. Are there equally soft veg tan leathers?(For bags and such)
Most informative video on leather thank you
Thank you, nice video. What is that cool double loop in the background? Is is a sculpture, a chair? Is it wood?
Thank you, its just a wooden sculpture. Thanks for watching.
I just think it depends on the leather quality and how it was treated. I got some leather wallets, from both types of high quality finished leather and it is not the difference you told in your video.
That's great! As mentioned in the video, there are some chrome tanned leathers that have been fattened with oils, waxes and grease's that makes a pretty nice leather, however those leathers make up a very small percentage over all of Chrome tanned leather production and are closer in price to veg. Tanned leathers.
The natural vegetable tanned wallet you had in your hand when you were mentioning leather squeak. Who makes that? The exterior design looks amazing.
That wallet was made by a maker on Etsy called CraggedEarth, I don't know if they are still selling on Etsy though.
Which one of cream, lotion, Mink oil, Dubbin that you suggest for Vegetable tanned leather bag.? Thankyou
ever notice a police officer squeaks when he walks or moves?
what about chromexcel from horween? Is it veg tanned or chrome tanned?
Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
I heard cordovan the most expensive leather? Horween also use the same method to tan cowhide for the their essex and dublin line, do you know if that's chrome or veg tanned?
Also, pull up leather is very popular nowadays, do you know if the method is chrome or veg tanned or the combination of both (like chromexcel)? Thanks!
Those are all veg-tanned leathers, exceptional ones!
Pull up leather can be either Chrome tanned or veg tanned leather, they make it both ways.
The big issue is that word you keep using - chemicals. Chrome tanned leather is 'toxic' in many situations. For example can't use it for sheaths or holsters and not negatively impact your gun or knife.
what finish do you use on your undyed veg tan?
Thanks for this informative video. One question I have is about the squeekyness of veg tanned leather. My Saddleback Leather shoulder pads squeek *a lot*. Does that mean they're veg tanned? Or that some chrome tanned leather also squeeks?
No the Saddleback shoulder pads are chrome tanned leather, but there is a piece of saddle pad sewn inside which is a synthetic closed cell foam which can squeak as it rubs against the leather.
+James Crane Indeed, there is neoprene placed inside the shoulder pad. I guess that's it. Thanks!
In fact, chrome tanned leather still can have very pretty finishing smooth edge by using sharp cutting tools. But the products from Saddleback which is using machines to press the leather out instead of sharp cutting. you can see their manufacturing video. simple experiment of using sharp cutter blade to cut chrome leather can show the result.
Great video! But I must admit that you moving your handing up and down and all around during the video is incredibly distracting. Just my humble opinion :)
Good info to know.tks
What company makes the product on the right? (vegtable tanned)
James, those items are made by Mascon Leather of Williamsburg Virgina. You can find their products at Masconleather.com
hello,nice info...
1.that mean crazy horse/oil tann leather is chrome tann?
2.it is normal for veg tann leather if it a bit stiff even for 2mm thick
Crazy Horse is chrome tanned leather, you are correct. Veg. tanned leather can be stiff at any thickness, but it can also be soft and pliable too, it all depends on how it processed after the tanning. Thank you for watching!
+James Crane im really new to leather...if the leather surface same like veg tann,but edge can't be burnish..im not sure what it call,but it name sound like burnish cowhide if im not mistaken..does it belong to chrome tann group..
+shorty kodo I'm not sure what kind of leather you are referring to. You can make a clean edge on chrome tanned leather and apply a dressing to it and make the edge look really nice, but it is nearly impossible to burnish it to a glossy smooth finish as you can on vegetable tanned leather. As well, there some vegetable tanned leathers that are tumbled or dry-milled after the tanning, which breaks down the fibers and internal bonds, making it nearly impossible to burnish it. In general, if you can get a glossy burnished edge, it's vegetable tanned leather, if you can't get a smooth burnished edge, it's most likely chrome tanned leather.
+James Crane now i understand..btw thank for sharing very good info
What company is the one on the right?
The vegetable tanned pieces are from Mascon Leather., the chrome tanned pieces are from three different makers.
Where can we get some of that beautiful brown veggy tanned leather?
That leather is from Horween and is called Vegetable tanned Dublin. It is available from Maverick Leather Company.
James Crane many thanks. It looks beautiful
James Crane Also, what are your views on latigo for projects like journals?
77wolfpack you can't pick a better leather than Latigo for small leather goods!
James Crane what about the brand Bosca
Are those saddleback wallets
Hi James, great video. Can you comment on semi-chrome tanned leather?
Jaco, I'm not sure what you mean by semi-chrome tanned leather. If you are referring to Chromexcel which goes thru steps from both tanning processes, but is mostly chrome tanned leather, I think it's a very nice leather. It's supple like chrome tanned leather but has several of the attributes of vegetable tanned leather, like being able to take a burnishing to the edges. I love it!
Thanks!
Cant anyone tell me whether chrome tan leather is ok to make a leather canteen.(prolonged contact).food safe!???
I personally wouldn't do it. Chrome tanned leather is animal hides that are tanned in baths of highly toxic chromium salts, and like the BPA's from plastic, I don't think I could be convinced that some of those heavily toxic chemicals would not leach out into my beverage. Back in the days before plastic, leather drinking vessels and canteens were done by coating the interior with beeswax, pine or spruce resins etc. There are also food safe coatings available today that might be the best approach. Hope that helps.
i was thinking about coating with pine pitch and beeswax, i think that would be enough.
chromexcel can be burnished?
Yeah, because vegetable tanning is part of the replenishing process.
+Mr.C Chromexcel is the king of chrome tanned leathers, but it also undergoes some vegetable tanning processes that typical chrome tanned leathers do not get. Those extra processes of replacing some of the lost oils and greases gives the product some of the qualities of vegetable tanned leathers. Chromexcel is really the exception when it comes to chrome tanned leathers, thanks for bringing it up!
thank you
Thanks buddy
Hello! I really love your video. Can i ask you how to keep veg tanned leather from cracked? Thank you
To keep veg tanned leather from drying out and cracking, use Neatsfoot Oil or Mink Oil to condition the leather.
James Crane Thank you so much!
What are some of your favorite places to buy vegetable tanned leather?
Some of my favorite makers of veg. leather products are, The Leather Shop, Mascon Leather, Eternal Leather, Norman Cahn Leather Works and Clintonville Leather.
You better hope erin brokovitch dont see this video she hates chromium
Nice...
Wow is good
You sound like Gabe from the office !!
you have some knowledge but bad delivery
Not a fan of the vegetable tan look..
No wonder saddleback don't finish the edge's on their wallets 🤔
great information, but your hand is really annoying.