Springfield Leather Supply Guide (updated 5/2023)

So, if buying by the square foot is cheaper than a pre-cut, why do people sell pre-cuts? That’s because pre cuts give you a piece of leather in a specific shape and set of dimensions. Buying by the square foot gives you the same amount of leather, but there is no guarantee about the shape or dimensions. Pre-cuts will also have little to no flaws, while buying by the square foot gives you a more organic experience. Generally speaking, if there is a flawed piece of the leather, we’ll avoid it when cutting. Now that you know what a square foot is, you can easily calculate how much material you’ll need for your project. Simply adjust the “quantity” to match the number of square feet you need and you’re set! If you are buying by the square foot, we won’t cut it in a circle or a square (most likely). Instead, we start at one end of the side and cut the amount you request. So, if you ask for 8 sq. ft., you might get a piece that looks like the diagram on the left.

LEATHER TERMS

Altered Leather: Leather with its original surface of the skin or hide removed to get rid of imperfections in the original grain surface. A new grain can be embossed into the leather. Aniline: Leather that is colored all the way through with a transparent dye. The effect is applied by immersing the leather in a dye bath. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, so only the best quality hides can be used. Aniline Finish: Drum-dyed leather finished to have a soft feel, usually coated with protein, resin, lacquer or waxes. Antiqued: Leather that is dyed with one color over another (usually darker over lighter) so as to create rich highlights and an artificial aged appearance. Also called distressed leather. Brush Colored: The application of dyestuff to leather being laid on a table, with a brush. Some also call this ‘hand tipping’. Buffed Leather: Leather from which the top surface has been removed by abrasion. Also referred to as snuffed, grain sueded, suede or nubuck. Calf Hide: Leather taken from an immature bovine. Calf hides are broken down further based on size of the hide: Cordovan: Leather made from the tight, firm shell portion of horse butts that has fine pores and a characteristic finish. Learn more about shell cordovan on our website: bit.ly/shellcordovan Corrected Grain: Leather that has been buffed to remove blemishes, then covered with a new, artificial grain created using pigments and other finishes.

Cowhide: OK, this may seem obvious, but cowhide is the hide of a cow. Rocket science. Crocking: The coloring matter that rubs off of poorly dyed leather. If it peels off the surface or you find it on your hands after handling, your leather is “crocking”. Crust: Leather that has been tanned but not finished. Crust leathers are often colored/dyed, but no finishing oils or treatments have been added. Distressed: Leather that has been artifically treated to create signs of aging, sometimes achieved by buffing the surface of the leather for a weathered or worn look. Common leather markings include: shading variations, healed scratches, neck wrinkles, insect bites, barbed wire marks, stretch marks, vein marks and brands. Another term for Antiqued Leather. Drum Dying: The process of coloring leather by tumbling it in a rotating drum immersed in dye. A very effective method allowing maximum dye penetration. Embossed Leather: Leather that has been stamped, plated or heat pressed with a design or artificial texture under very high pressure, most times involving heat. Fat Wrinkle: Wrinkles in the grain of leather caused by fat deposits in the animal. Yet another reason to get your cows into a gym. Drawn Grain: Shrunken, shriveled or wrinkled grain surface of leather.

All pricing is subject to change without notice! Not responsible for pictorial or typographical errors.

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