I'm not a leather craftsman but i do have or have had jackets and goods pretty much of all types of leather available in my country. Here in Mexico you can get lambskins which are mostly chrome tanned, some of better consistency than others but overall rather thin (Around 2oz) and very sensitive to damage and breaking at stitching, so they cannot be restitched in the same spot. There is also motorcycle grade leather which is cowhide / steerhide around 3 - 3.5oz thick, dubbed "anca de potro" with an embossed pebble pattern to differenciate it from other leathers. There is also calfskin, relating to the video, around the same thickness as the lambskins but of a much firmer texture. Usually utilized for stiff jackets and bags. More expensive garments will have a softer calfskin whilst "lower grade" is usually very stiff and dry in consistency, and it is sold and used as the cheapest leather for a jacket in my city, going for around 50 / 60USD one made from it. Interestingly enough, it is more resistant to wear than cowhide far thicker than it, indeed has a much firmer grain section, and patinas better, but i assume that has to do more with the tanning process used, since the hides usually have an uniform, non pebbled grain, and when used, they very quickly start to develop the natural greasy sheen typical of patina, in around a couple of weeks of frequent wear, which would on the other side appear on cowhide or lambskin in months of use, if not almost a year. For footwear, pretty much all cattle leather, no matter the origin (Steer, Cow, Calf) is used alike and has a much stiffer consistency in relationship to jacket - use leather, and even more so is the one used for belts, straps and saddlework, but that is veg - tanned and around 8 - 10oz. The stiffest and thickest is used for the making of shoe soles. Bottom line: Calf is a very unique thing indeed. I will probably need to get my jacket fixed a couple of things but with that i hope is enough to get it up and running once again. A beautiful calfskin cafe racer. The sleeves are still stiff when it is cold, but with body heat starts getting supple. Hope that gets to better break in in a couple of months so it's ready for fall. Greetings, great video
Very informative! Thank you! I've reached out to several groups describing this type of Leather and asked what it is. I got very mixed results, none of which pointed to calf. I have been looking for the thinner, firmer type, for use in wallet making. Veg tan calf is EXACTLY what I need! 🤯🤩😃. I can not express enough, my many thanks 👏🤝👍
@@LeathercraftMasterclass Im new to the hobby and not used calf skin before but needed veg tan in 1mm for some new projects. This has helped me understand more about it too
Thanks for the response Philip, as soon as my budget allows I will be taking your leather craft course pal. I watch most of your videos and they are well explained and I learned alot from, thank you again.
I had a computer chair made of calf skin leather. I didn't treat it more then 2x a year and it cracked right across the seat. I used the proper leather conditioner and uv for it. Though I guess you have to do it more then 2x a year. I guess I should have treated it 3x in winter and 1x in spring? I didn't have it near a heater at all. It was in the center of huge room away from the heat that was never above 72F in winter.
You can't really condition low quality leather, calf or otherwise I'm afraid. If your chair was full grain high quality calfskin, you would be handing it to your grandchildren one day. Many office chairs are made from split skins with a synthetic coating and a leather print, these are next to impossible to condition.
@@LeathercraftMasterclass Thanks, I no longer have it. I only paid $325.00 in 2005 for it. I gave it away. It was a cheap costco. I'm eyeballing Aeron fully loaded task chair now.
I need help. I have Dansko's and the calfskin (as they told me) under the cuff across the top of the shoes cracks and falls apart. What do you recommend to keep the calf leather from falling apart?
Nothing. Any treatments or conditioners will only temporarily delay the inevitable. Unless they made the rest of the shoe from a decent piece of calf, it too will perish.
I'm not a leather craftsman but i do have or have had jackets and goods pretty much of all types of leather available in my country. Here in Mexico you can get lambskins which are mostly chrome tanned, some of better consistency than others but overall rather thin (Around 2oz) and very sensitive to damage and breaking at stitching, so they cannot be restitched in the same spot. There is also motorcycle grade leather which is cowhide / steerhide around 3 - 3.5oz thick, dubbed "anca de potro" with an embossed pebble pattern to differenciate it from other leathers.
There is also calfskin, relating to the video, around the same thickness as the lambskins but of a much firmer texture. Usually utilized for stiff jackets and bags. More expensive garments will have a softer calfskin whilst "lower grade" is usually very stiff and dry in consistency, and it is sold and used as the cheapest leather for a jacket in my city, going for around 50 / 60USD one made from it. Interestingly enough, it is more resistant to wear than cowhide far thicker than it, indeed has a much firmer grain section, and patinas better, but i assume that has to do more with the tanning process used, since the hides usually have an uniform, non pebbled grain, and when used, they very quickly start to develop the natural greasy sheen typical of patina, in around a couple of weeks of frequent wear, which would on the other side appear on cowhide or lambskin in months of use, if not almost a year.
For footwear, pretty much all cattle leather, no matter the origin (Steer, Cow, Calf) is used alike and has a much stiffer consistency in relationship to jacket - use leather, and even more so is the one used for belts, straps and saddlework, but that is veg - tanned and around 8 - 10oz. The stiffest and thickest is used for the making of shoe soles.
Bottom line: Calf is a very unique thing indeed. I will probably need to get my jacket fixed a couple of things but with that i hope is enough to get it up and running once again. A beautiful calfskin cafe racer. The sleeves are still stiff when it is cold, but with body heat starts getting supple. Hope that gets to better break in in a couple of months so it's ready for fall. Greetings, great video
Thank you for your insight Javier. Much appreciated!
Very informative! Thank you! I've reached out to several groups describing this type of Leather and asked what it is. I got very mixed results, none of which pointed to calf.
I have been looking for the thinner, firmer type, for use in wallet making. Veg tan calf is EXACTLY what I need! 🤯🤩😃. I can not express enough, my many thanks 👏🤝👍
So glad it was helpful Westley! 👍
@@LeathercraftMasterclass Im new to the hobby and not used calf skin before but needed veg tan in 1mm for some new projects. This has helped me understand more about it too
Saffiano is my favorite due to its uniformity and scratch resistance. Great for handbags 🙂.
Great points! Thanks for sharing Judit. 👍
As cowcalf leather is very rare here in India, I love to work with Buff Calf Veg tanned Natural, and hand dyed for wallets and card holders.
Thank you, precise and straight to the point
Glad you found it useful!
Thanks for making these videos Philip, they are very informative.
You're welcome Andre. Glad they help 👍
Thanks for the response Philip, as soon as my budget allows I will be taking your leather craft course pal. I watch most of your videos and they are well explained and I learned alot from, thank you again.
Wonderful to to hear! I look forward to welcoming you to the Masterclass 👍
Hey sir your channel is way informative
I'd like to know your suggestion which kind of calf lather be moat suitable for formal shoes
Shoes are outside my area of expertise I'm afraid.
I had a computer chair made of calf skin leather. I didn't treat it more then 2x a year and it cracked right across the seat. I used the proper leather conditioner and uv for it. Though I guess you have to do it more then 2x a year. I guess I should have treated it 3x in winter and 1x in spring? I didn't have it near a heater at all. It was in the center of huge room away from the heat that was never above 72F in winter.
You can't really condition low quality leather, calf or otherwise I'm afraid. If your chair was full grain high quality calfskin, you would be handing it to your grandchildren one day. Many office chairs are made from split skins with a synthetic coating and a leather print, these are next to impossible to condition.
@@LeathercraftMasterclass Thanks, I no longer have it. I only paid $325.00 in 2005 for it. I gave it away. It was a cheap costco. I'm eyeballing Aeron fully loaded task chair now.
Thanks
Can that leather be used to make high heel shoes ? or women shoes in general?
Absolutely, calf is commonly used in premium women's footwear
Hi there. Where exactly is the black veg tanned calf from ? Thanks.
Tannerie Masure I believe. It's in Belgium.
I need help. I have Dansko's and the calfskin (as they told me) under the cuff across the top of the shoes cracks and falls apart. What do you recommend to keep the calf leather from falling apart?
Nothing. Any treatments or conditioners will only temporarily delay the inevitable. Unless they made the rest of the shoe from a decent piece of calf, it too will perish.
Is the kind of leather realy effect the the looke of staiching ?
It makes a huge difference, yes.
What’s cordovan calf ?
Can you burnish veg tanned calf leather?
Oh absolutely! Probably the best.
how to maintenance calfskin leather watch Band ?
A clean every so often if needed. The oils from your skin will feed it plenty over the years if worn regularly.
hello.i vant calfskin leather