The Leather Element: Choosing the Right Cut of Leather 

Nothing better than watching Chuck talk leather while I'm waiting on the FedEx truck with 19.5 ft2 of 6-7oz veg tan and 1/4" and 5/16" solid brass double cap rivets. (From Weaver's of course.) Feels like Christmas!

I'm just getting into leatherworking and this video perfectly answered my questions. I really needed to SEE in scale how big each of these cuts were

Not only are you a invaluable help to leather crafters everywhere but your videos genuinely brighten my day! I hope to be able to meet you someday.

Whenever i am reading the descriptions on the website, i hear then in your voice lol.

Hello chuck and thank you weaver. I learned a lot from you and your tutorials are the first and last stop for me. Literally I learned leather craft from you and I don’t know how to thank you. Your energetic voice and enthusiastic speaking, pushing me forward each and every time😉. In the old days, probably I had to go work in a shop for 5-6 years as a beginner to gather this knowledge, but you are giving them easy, fast and generously. Every time I’m going to do something wrong in my shop i almost feel you there with me and you are whispering in my ears the correct way to do it. I hope someday i would be able to shake your hand in person.

Great video you answered a lot of the questions I had thank you

Fantastic information for someone really new but wanting to learn more. Thanks a ton Chuck!

Thx for all your videos. They are very educational and informative. Into leather for a year now. Wanting to know as much as possible. Thx Chuck

i LOVE the sales pitch because this side is GORGEOUS.

Well that's one more mystery cleared up by Chuck. I always thought there was a quality or weight difference, inn different cuts and so was hesitant to buy thinking I'd make a mistake. Problem solved - just buy the piece that fits my workspace and projects.

Chuck your “Element” videos are always worth watching. I can always take worthwhile quality information away from watching your videos. Any extra quality leather you want to get rid of, you know you can always send to me. Ha ha. Best regards, Richard

This video says it plainly and gives crafters the best ideas of what’s available. Space is a huge factor for me so using the smaller hides is the right choice for me. Thanks Chuck.

Great information, as always! I love that Weaver gives 3" samples of many of the leathers offered. I'm new to leathercrafting, the sample gives me an idea of the dye and flexibility of the leather. Thanks!

love your tutorials. have learned alot. I have a suggestion for a Leather Element. putting the bottom in a cylindrical object, and allowing for enough leather on the bottom to sew it to the cylinder.

Thanks Chuck! You and your team always put out great videos! You all are why I started leatherworking and really appreciate the knowledge you are passing on!!

Your videos are what cemented my interest into getting into leather working. With years worth of videos made, nearly all questions a new person like myself could have have been answered on this channel.

Love your upbeat attitude and I always learn something new from your videos, thanks so much!

This was also an extremely helpful video, thank you so much!

Thank you Chuck for your comprehensive overview. As a new crafter, looking at cuts for sale online has been tough to understand and visualize. This video, like all of your others, hit the spot!

Thanks for this video. It helped me tremendously.

I started with bellies and still love them

You mentioned that belt makers prefer one direction across the hide instead of the length of the hide because it stretches less? that's a new thought for me, in leather is that similar to wood grain in strength length v.cross grain? Could you elaborate in a short video, Thanks great info!

This was super helpful and easy to follow. Thank you!

It always brightens my day seeing a new Leather Element video! Thanks Chuck

Excellent video again Chuck, looking forward to Wednesday already 👍 Could you do an Leather Element on chrome tan project ideas, add it to the growing list maybe?...

Chuck, great video!! Now it makes more sense to me. When you first start out it’s a guessing game. What leather should I purchase? What do I need?

Thank you for showing us the different sizes. I would like one of each lol

Always helpful info Chuck! Wish I’d known this earlier in my leatherworking life.

You are a great guy! I am just getting started and have been watching a lot of these videos. Thank you so much. You are such a great guy and do so well with instructions and your energy gets me ready to get working.

Hello Chuck. Love the videos, and the obvious passion you have for leather working as well as the energy you put into all your videos! I have a suggestion for a leather element... I am new to leather working and cannot find much in the way of protecting my projects from the outdoor elements, especially rain. I would like to see an in depth look at how I can protect my projects, inside and out. Maybe even talk about the design of things like pouches that are going to be used outdoors, like should there be drain holes in the bottom? How can I protect the inside and outside from water? Is it the same for both sides? Can you cover items I can buy as well as budget friendly ways to do it?

You are the best teacher who has ever teach me something Chuck!!, everything you explain is all i want and need to know with a crystal clear info and instructions, im in the notification squad cos i dont ever want to miss anything you post. Please post frequently, im very blessed that i could learn from you in this free platform.. Cheers!! (pardon my english, not my mother tongue)

Thanks Chuck! Just uploaded the video of my first leather project thanks to you!

Hi, Love your videos and enthusiasm. One thing I still don't quite have a handle on is when to use what for an edge treatment. Sometimes it seems water is okay, and other times Gumtrag is used. I've also seen videos (on other channels) of people using what looks like saddle wax (or something along those lines). I think a leather element all about edge treatments would be super helpful. Thanks, and keep the videos coming!

I recently made a knife sheath from leather, really fun, planning on getting some more

Thanks Chuck, was really confused about this. Great videos.

I was just wondering the difference. Thanks for the video.

Thank you Chuck!

Could you guys do a video on making a watch strap? All the videos on RU-vid all have no voice over and just music. Thanks for the great content!

Great video as always! I'm new to leather crafting and I have decided on gaining experience with leather accessories but I lack the knowledge and have found several issues in my few projects that I have completed. If there isn't already a video for it, could you possibly do one as a general overview of the do's and don'ts of leather accessory making? For context, edging & burnishing, adding things like a metal "decoration", such as a round military service branch "pin" (for a lack of a better word for it), to smaller leather accessory such as a keychain, and making functional loops for keychains specifically, are what I have had trouble with.

Thanks chuck I love you

Thanks for the info Chuck! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

Thank you , thatfinnaaly cleared us up on cuts , much appreciated, from an apprentice bladesmith

Always learn from your videos!!! Thanks Chuck :)

Wow, great information to make better decisions when buying leather. Thank for explaining this. -zone34

Fantastic information! Thanks, Chuck!

Very positive and generous

What about covering oxbows with leather? Love your site. Many thanks.

I subbed, what an excellent video w examples, this is great, thank u, I had no idea about belly.. thank you.

I m waiting for this video from a long time!!

DANG!! I worked for Tandy Leather for 3 years and I must say the size of the hides you are showing are frickin huge!!!! Do you ship to the UK?

Thanks Chuck!

Hi Chuck, congratulations 👍for all the videos which make our life easier . I’m a fervent subscriber from Uk. I have a question . Are there any way ( directions) we have to follow on for reproducing the pattern onto leather according a grain line like we would use on fabric with naps. In another word can we cut 2 identical pieces of leather in 2 different directions. Thank you . Long longevity to your show.

Great info . Happy trails

Thank you do much for enlightenment. 👏👏👏👏

Thanks that makes more sense now.

I love watching these videos as I always learn something. Can anyone tell me what the veg is in veg tan? Tree bark, roots, corn stalks? Inquiring minds want to know! Ha ha.

There are more cuts than I thought.

Is there anywhere that I can buy a stack of leather samples? One piece in every thickness. That would be great to see and choose what thickness of leather I want to buy for a project.

Great video, thanks for posting it!

Awesome info as always. Whats the best way to store your leather?

Thank you!😊

whats is the difference and better for us crafters: Cow (buffalo/Bizon??) , pigskin? Are these equally suitable for wallets, belys, holsters? etc?

What about Butts and double Butts, being the opposite end to the shoulder....

What would be the best grade for a straight razor strop? would I use full or top grain? I'm planning on making a 3" wide paddle strop and a 2" or 2 - 2.1/2" hanging strop.

You're videos are great and I'm actually looking to get started in leather work. I bought a remnant bag but all of the leather is wrinkled and creased. What would you recommend to relax the leather?

I am wanting to make a cell phone holster that will hang off of my two wheeled walker. What do you recommend for leather weight? I was told to use a 3 to 4 oz leather.

can i make a holster and bullet belt out of chrome leather ?

Hey Chuck great video. I was wondering what type of leather would I choose to make a nice supple pouch? Like a coin pouch?

Is it unwise to buy the side and cut down to the sizes you want?

I'm leaning good info.. Malaysian crafter...

What direction do I cut leather?

I was looking for a veg tan to make a jacket and what to line it with.

Do you have a video in how to break down a side of veg tanned i can only buy sides in my area and want to know how to break them down into the most useful cuts

Great video! A question though: how do you feel about using beeswax in your leatherworking?

Bible cover. Dark Olive green

Hi were can I get one of your t/shirts Hi from England

What type of leather will be good for pocket organizer

How do I cut my leather for projects?

How do you square a hide I have trouble with squaring

Have You ever worked with natural brain tanned leather ( buffalo , elk , deer ) ?

Do you ship to Latin America?

I AM FROM NIGERIA , HOW DO I GET THESE TOOLS DELIVERED TO MY COUNTRY . I NEED TO KNOW THE VARIOUS PRICE. CAN YOU DESING MY SHOP NAME LOGO FOR ME TO USE ON MY VARIOUS PRODUCTS ?

I'm a side buyer

You talk about belly skin, and you suggest beginners look at it because it's cheap, yes! it is cheap, but instead the worst skin, for beginners I have one piece of advice !!! do not buy poor quality leather, the product will come out bad and you end up blaming your skill not on the quality of materials and leather, you may be discouraged from working in leather, and working with leather really has charm, than throwing money on products cheap of any quality better not buy, especially until you learn what each skin is suitable for ... do you want a quality product? buy quality products, you can't make quality with a poor quality raw material

How does stiffness vary between cuts of the same hide? Granted it was all the same weight?