Leather Panels for models or light belts

I took two old leather settees (sledgehammered into smaller bits) down the tip today. They had been outside and were in a bad way because of the rain.

But... I have salvaged the backs of them, which are comprised of nine leather panels a foot wide and two foot five long (some may be smaller as I had to cut them off the furniture). They are about 1/16" thick, real leather witha suedelike finish on what was the inside and typical (but horrible reddy colour) on the outside.

These bits were not affected by the rain because of the way I stacked the settees, also they are in pretty good condition, having been out of the way of wear. The leather is soft and pliable.

They would be suitable for making miniature leather belts, seats, harnesses, or even covering your workshop stool! they might even be up to providing a light drive belt for a small tool.

If you are interested in one of these bits of leather, I'm happy to exchange one for a stamped addressed envelope and any small, random model engineering item of your choice (an example might be a small bag of case hardening powder taken from a larger tin, some fixings or a length of silver solder).

Max one piece of leather per person, pm me if you are interested!

Neil

Hi Neil,don't want any but I love the exchange/barter system.

Regards Mark P.

I don't need any, but like the system also. Leather may be good for pistons , seals etc.

Neil, don't forget you'll need a padded seat on your driving car for the shunter, a bit of leather would do well there, with some padding under it. Ian S C

PM sent.

AES

Good point Ian, although these days I carry some built-in padding.

Neil

When I had my restoration antique business, now very happily retired (sold it) and now building my loco's I had a client come in and got us to collect 12 late victorian chairs that he wanted re-upholstered in cowhide paid upfront and never came back so I have a few sheets of prime cowhide which I am going to use for my 5"g sit on Sorry Neil but I need some padding. Prob have some offcuts if anyone wants them.

Bob

I'm a bit far away, so I'll pass on any samples, I'v still got leather in a large suit case from my grandfathers leather factory, (he retired at the end of WW2), got pig skin, a bit of cow hide, and some Kangaroo skin, plus a whole lot of bits and pieces. Ian S C

Kangaroo skin Ian cannot even imagine what that would be like.

Bob

Bob, the kangaroo skin is a light brown colour, 1 to 1.5 mm thick, and very soft, and stretchy, not exactly sure what grandpa used it for. The only leather I'v used lately is a bit of the odds and ends for cup washers, and a bit of the pig skin to make a pouch/ holster, for my ancient cell phone, its that old, that it is almost as big as some of these new ones, except all it does is text and phone calls(well its a phone). Quite like stitching up a bit of leather, but the Kangaroo is not that easy because its so soft. Ian S C

Is it true that motorcycle racing leathers are made from kangaroo skin ? If it is it must be tough stuff.

Gordon, motorcycle leathers are made of cow hide, in particular Pakistani Water Buffalo. Kangaroo is used for stock whips, bags, purses, wallets, jackets, and shoes by Nike, Adidas, and Puma, there will be a few running around in London these days. Ian S C