Finding the best budget leather for practice

[Alan]

This is for newbies. Buying a whole side of high end veg tan is scary when you are just starting out and prone to mistakes. I personally look for scrap bags or lower grade belly cuts to practice my cutting and dyeing techniques. I know a friend who goes to thrift shops and look for good leather finds. These pieces often have scars or bugs bites but they are perfect for learning how the leather reacts to tools. Saves you a lot of money while you build your muscle memory. But right now, where do you find your cheapest practice leather and is the quality good enough for small gifts or to practice?

 

[don thugz]

I bought a huge bag of factory remnants last month and it was the best $10 I ever spent!!! There were enough strips to practice a hundred different edge finishes without feeling like I was wasting money. I wasn't worried at all if I made a mess or mistake. Takes a lot of pressure off when you know the piece of leather only cost a few cents. I even found some weird textures that gave me ideas for new wallet designs.

 

[don thugz]

You think that practice scraps are better for testing new stamps than a fresh hide? Have you tried it @don thugz