There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding that saddle leather is a specific type of leather that is used solely for making horse saddles. After doing some research I discovered that this is not entirely true. Saddle leather is a generic term for full grain vegetable tanned leather that is used to make a variety of items not just saddles.
Saddle leather, also known as belting or strapping leather. Is hide from a cow or bull. Is naturally tanned vegetable full grain leather of the highest quality. It is used for making items such as belts, bags, furniture and horse saddles. It is often thicker but softer than other leathers.
Is Saddle leather real leather.
Yes, it is real full grain leather. It is the best quality full grain leather taken from the top most layer of the hide after the fur has been removed. These hides will have the pattern, texture and skin blemishes on them. The hide is not sanded or buffed to remove these imperfections. Saddle leather will get a rich patina with time as it ages.
Is Saddle Leather durable.
As saddle leather is the top grade of leather it’s also the most durable. It’s better than top grain, genuine leather and bonded leather as these have been altered in some way to obtain a more aesthetically pleasing product. As nothing has been removed from its surface the hide remains intact and this gives it strength and durability. This is one of the main reasons why Saddle leather is used for saddles. If cared for and conditioned these hides can last for decades.
Uses for Saddle leather.
As mentioned before saddle leather is not sued solely for making saddles. Saddles are made up of a variety of different types of leather as some parts need to be soft and supple whereas other parts need to be stiff and hard wearing.
It can be used for upholstery, furniture, strapping, bags, belts, wallets and of course saddles and many other items. Saddle leather is usually slightly thicker and more pliable and is ideal for use as strapping in chairs due to its strength.
What colour is Saddle Leather
Saddle leather can be a variety of different colours depending on how it is finished or where you buy it from. Virgin saddle leather is a hide which hasn’t been dyed at all and therefore has its own natural pigment or colourafter tanning. If you would like to dye your hide there are a variety of different dyes that you can use.
Dyes can be Alcohol based, or oil based. Alcohol and oil based dyes will penetrate the surface of the hide sinking deep into it. If you are dyeing your hide for the first time you will need to apply a few coats before you get the desired finish. Usually it takes about 3 coats. Allow adequate time for the dye to dry after each coat is applied.
You also get acrylic based dye which is really more of a paint on application that covers the leather surface. Acrylic doesn’t soak into the surface of the leather like oil and alcohol dyes do. This technique is used by a lot of manufacturers.
There is also a water based dye as an eco-friendly option which contains no harmful chemicals.
Depending on what colour you want your hide, there are a wide variety of choices you can use to get the exact look you want. An important note: You can only dye an object darker. For example, if you have a black leather bag you will not be able to make it yellow as you will end up with a combination of the 2 colours and at best you will end up with mud brown.
One more thing to remember is that dyes will rub off on your clothing unless you apply a sealant to prevent them rubbing off.
Is Saddle leather expensive and where can i buy it.
Yes, Saddle leather is expensive as it is top quality and which contains the full grain. It is both durable and tough and will age beautifully by developing patina over time. Another factor that will influence the price of a hide is where it’s cut from. For instance does the leather come from the shoulder, bend, butt or belly of the cow. The best quality hide normally comes from the butt and bend as they have an even thickness and are prone to less blemishes.
Check out the prices of hides at Montana Leather This will give you a basic understanding of the prices of various hides as there are various thicknesses and size available.
Conclusion
Thats all the facts relating to saddle leather and its uses. Just remember Saddle leather is a generic term that describes vegetable tanned full grain leather but is also used to make bags and sofas as well as saddles. I hope you found this post useful. Please check out my post of how long does leather last and others if you would like to learn a bit more about leathercraft.