Choosing the right leather
Do you want to start a new DIY project with real leather and are unsure which leather is best for what? We have three tips for you to help you choose the right leather!
Not all leather is the same
Choosing the right leather for a project is just super difficult. There are so many different options in terms of thickness, hardness and surface treatment that it's easy to get a little confused.
All factors ultimately affect the result, and that's why choosing the right leather for your project is important. But where do you start?
1. LEATHER THICKNESS
Leather comes in many different thicknesses, often from 1 mm to 3.5 mm.
We can give you one piece of information straight away: anything over 2 mm thick will not work for small projects such as a leather case. If you choose leather that is too thick, it will be so bulky at the corners that the leather case will either not fit together or at least will no longer look nice. But the leather should definitely not be too thin either. We recommend that you do not go under 1 mm thick.
2. HARDNESS LEVEL
The hardness of your leather also has a big influence on your project. You can test the hardness of your leather by holding a piece of leather at one end and seeing how much the other end of the leather bends downwards. Does the leather have some stability or does it bend straight away?
The softer the leather, the more it will bend. We recommend a medium hardness, like the one in the picture above. The softer hardness, like the one in the picture below, will also work, but your project will not be as stable.
3. FINISHING
This aspect not only influences the appearance and durability, but also the hardness of your leather. If the surface of your leather has been heavily treated, for example if it has a pattern embossed on it or an extra seal, this can lead to a higher hardness than untreated leather. An example of this is the Saffiano embossing , which is often used by Prada.
But there are exceptions! Leather with a dollaro pattern or a similar grain structure has a lower degree of hardness. The pattern is created by spinning the leather for a long time in the tanning drums. This also makes the leather softer and more flexible. Another example of very soft leather is rough leather or suede, which does not have an embossed surface.
And off we go!
If you are unsure, you can of course just try out two or three different leathers! You will often even receive pieces of leather in DIN A5 format as a sample or as a gift. If you have any questions or are undecided between two leathers, please send us an email and we will be happy to help you.
