I am planning to learn leather work for the first time to make leather belt pouches for a star wars build I am making. Though since I am new to leather, it is a head ache trying to find which kind to use because there are so many types. I have narrowed down it needs to be shoulder leather 4-5oz. But what type? Also does anyone know where to get leather the cheapest way possible? I have been looking at Tandy Leather and I know leather is not a cheap material, but it would look as if I would have to spend at least $70. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
You're gonna pay a bit in tools and materials to make those two pouches. It might be worth it to just buy them already made if possible.
Otherwise...
You are probably looking for "veg-tan" leather. A single shoulder should be about $30-40 at Tandy's.
When you say leather that forms well, is it to make a molded pouch kind of like this?
This is called "wet-molding" and as you can see, that requires making a couple wood forms. So you need all the tools and skills to do that first.
The leather part is relatively simple.
Soak the leather in hot water.
Gently form it over the wood by hand.
Place the cut-out board over the top and let it dry.
You can work the edges in various ways after you trim it to size leaving them raw or burnish them.
The stitching will require tools to puncture the leather, string, and needles.
Any hardware like buttons or snaps will take their own setting tools.
And you will need to dye them and seal them unless you want natural colored leather.
Also, wetting leather and letting it dry will remove all the oil from it. So you'll need to condition it. Stay away from pure neatsfoot oil.
