Choosing the right leather
Would you like 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 hard. There are so many different options in terms of thickness, hardness and surface treatment that it's easy to get a bit indecisive.
All factors have an impact on the end result, so it's important to choose the right leather for your project. But where to start?
1. LEATHER THICKNESS
Leather is available 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 no longer look nice. But the leather should never be too thin either. We recommend that you do not go below 1 mm thickness.
2. CURRENT GRADE
The hardness of your leather also has a major 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 buckle directly?
The softer the leather is, the more the leather will buckle. We recommend a medium degree of hardness, similar to the picture above. The softer degree of hardness as shown 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 degree of hardness of your leather. If the surface of your leather is heavily treated, for example if it has an embossed pattern or extra sealing, this can lead to a higher degree of hardness than untreated leather. One example of this is the Saffiano embossing that is often used by Prada.
But: there are also exceptions! Leather with a Dollaro pattern or similar grain structure has a lower degree of hardness. The pattern is created by the leather being spun for a long time in the tanning drums. However, this also makes the leather softer and more flexible. Another example of very soft leather is suede leather, which does not have an embossed surface.
And off we go!
If you are unsure, you can of course simply try out two or three different leathers! You can often even get leather pieces in DIN A5 as a sample or as a gift. If you still have questions or are hesitating between two leathers, please send us an e-mail and we will be happy to help you.
