Newsletter
OCT 2022
Phoenix Leather Hides Newsletter
News, Education and Latest Updates.
OCT 2022
It is hard to believe that October is already coming to an end and November is almost here. What a busy fall it’s been! We have more inventory enroute that will be added to the website in the next few weeks. Be on the lookout!
What We’re Up To
Carlos had a great trip to Portugal as you can see in the photos below. It was a life-long dream to experience the mainland and was everything he hoped it would be and more. Again, we appreciate everyone’s patience and support during the two-week shutdown and are happy to announce we are moving full steam ahead!
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Although the end of the year is growing closer, we know for many of you this is the start of filling holiday orders and work is just going to get busier for the next few months! Your shipping queue is likely starting to fill up with each passing day. Things seem to get real during this time. It’s like breaking through the wall of a marathon where each additional mile you need to put in a little more work and effort but the reward at the end is so worth it. Being a maker is not easy work, so much to balance, but you’re almost there! We hope as the end of the year progresses you enjoy your leathercraft during the busy season while also spending that much needed time with family and friends along the way.
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Tips/Education/Terms
This section is lengthy this month but includes a lot of good information!
As mentioned in our last newsletter, each one we produce is going to focus on some good-to-know advice or education for the everyday maker. Last month we talked about crocking- the color transfer between leather and another object. This month we would like to talk about grain characteristics on a leather side.
As makers nearly all of us have had to remind customers that leather is a natural product coming from a living creature. Unless leather has been highly sanded and highly finished with multiple layers of finish and color, leather is not perfect. It does not come on rolls, there is often color variation, pattern variation, surface variation and even thickness variation. The same leather tanned together in the exact same coloring wheel does not come out identical to the one next to it. Each side and even each part of each side from butt to head and backbone to belly is likely to have the mentioned variations. That is what makes leather so great, no manmade product could ever give you the beauty and varying characteristics of real leather.
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The following photos will help you to identify certain characteristics seen on the grain side of leather.
Veins- These sometimes look like an aerial photo of a river, snaking and twisting through a landscape and forking into smaller water features. These are visually unique characteristics that do not impact the strength of the leather.
Insect Bites- Seen as small slightly sunken circles. In full grain leather these are more noticeable as they are often deeper than the grain surface. These are reduced or less noticeable in leather that is buffed (sanded down). These have very little impact on the strength of the leather.
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Healed Range Marks- Scratches and scars that are healed over, generally darker in color and although can be seen, often are unnoticeable to touch. Generally, these have very little impact on the strength of the leather and can be used as features on your products.
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Open Range Marks- Scratches and scars that are visibly open with rougher cracked like structure. Oftentimes you can see the layers under the grain, and these are generally noticeable to touch. In deep open range marks, the structure of the leather may be comprised so be thoughtful of were these can be used or if used at all.
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Fat Wrinkles- These are just like the beautiful grain on wood and are enhanced with the addition of color, waxes, and oils. Fat wrinkles are often found around the neck portion or front half of the hide. Almost anyone around cattle have seen the skin rolls around the neck of a cow. These features are likely to vary from animal to animal and I am sure breed to breed. These have no impact of the strength of the leather.
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Sores/Warts/Growths- As with all living creatures, abnormalities do happen. These are unique grain characteristics for sure. As a maker and having worked in leather sales for years seeing hundreds of thousand of sides of leather, I have always found these interesting. They can occur individually or in groups or clusters, sometimes slightly raised, sometimes simply blending into the leather grain. Since they are so unique, I oddly find myself making products for myself with these characteristics. A conversation piece for sure. They generally do not impact leather strength.
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Brands- Given by the rancher to identify the owner of the animal. Just like range marks these can be healed or open. Healed brands generally do not impact the strength of the leather and can be used creatively to enhance a product of make a truly one-of-a-kind product. Open brands may reduce the strength of the leather in that area and can oftentimes cause effected areas of the hide to flake around the brand. Be sure to inspect these thoroughly before using in a product.
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Suck-outs- These are machine made generally during the splitting process of leathermaking. Prior to going into the color wheels, leather is shaved down (split) to whatever specific weight or thickness that is requested. These occur when too much of a certain part of a side is shaved and result in a considerable loss in strength. Although generally small and sometimes visible from the grain side, always ensure you flip over a side and inspect it as well. Sometimes suck-outs hide on the flesh side and can leave a negative impact on your final product.
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Now that we have talked about different characteristics of leather grain, as a maker it is up to you to incorporate or not incorporate these varying characteristics into your products. We believe you should always use as much as the hide as possible to not only reduce waste but to help put some extra $$$ into your pocket. Taking advantage of the entire side is always optimal.
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For those who love a rustic and unique look these features can easily be incorporated into your products easily. For those looking for very clean pieces, consider using blemished areas of your leather in pieces of your product that are unseen or less noticeable. Maybe the veins or range marks can be placed at the bottom of a tote, reverse side of a pocket you will never see, or hidden under an external pocket or strap handle. Maybe you can create an altogether new product design based on these features. The options are limitless, and your creativity will guide you along the way.
Just as every leather side is different, each maker is as well. We continue to look forward to seeing your product posts on social media. Remember, if you make a product using Phoenix Leather Hides, please share those with us via email (phoenixleatherhides@gmail.com) or via our social media networks as we love to repost customer photos. Maybe you can show us how you incorporate these leather variations into your products.
As always, a big thank you to our customers. We wish you a fun and safe Halloween and the best of luck with the holiday season!
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Have a great weekend and until next time.
V/R
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Travis
Phoenix Leather Hides
Communications/Sales
Owner: Hashtag Leatherworks











