Storing leather hides
  • Dean McConnell
    2
    I'm planning some workshop improvements and one thing I want to look at is how the hides are stored. At the moment they're draped over beams that act as "horses", but these take up a lot of room and often the hide I want is at the bottom! On the plus side it keeps the hides nice and crease free.
    If I had the space I'd have more horses and not worry about it, but thing are never that easy.
    I'm looking at the possibility of hanging the hides from hooks high up, but I'm not sure if that would lead to creases in the leather. Storing them rolled is another option but it seems difficult to tell at a glance what the hide is and how much there is left of it without unrolling the whole thing... So how do you store your hides in your trim shop?
    Dean McConnell Options
  • Nadeem Muaddi
    86
    Hi @Dean McConnell. This is an awesome question. We're going to pose it to Aaron Laithwaite, founder and CEO of Hydes Leather for a new Q&A article series on leather. We'll have an expert answer for you soon.
    Nadeem Muaddi Options
  • Cody Lunning
    39
    @Nadeem Muaddi I haven’t gotten the magazine in close to a year now. But are you still doing upholstery interviews for “the shop” I started getting it one day and that was the only reason I read them honestly. But after awhile just stopped coming?
    Cody Lunning Options
  • Dean McConnell
    2
    That's great @Nadeem Muaddi! Looking forward to what he recommends.
    Dean McConnell Options
  • Jens Jesberg
    50
    @Dean McConnell

    We store our leather all rolled. In addition I have my own sample fan where also is noted which quantity is still available. Only the leather which I need for our series productions and black Nappa I store on a horse. From these hides I always buy 5 hides at once (discount). On the one hand, five hides are difficult to wrap on a roll and because I need them very often it is easier to handle them with a horse.
    I never wanted to hang it up because I was always worried that the leather would fold and stretch unusually. Winding up the leather also has the advantage that it is protected from UV radiation. Depending on the storage location you should consider this - if it happens that the leather is in stock for several years.
    Jens Jesberg Options
  • Steve Ingram
    36
    I contacted our leather processor/supplier (Bridge of Weir) and they store all of their hides on wooden horses. No more than 150 hides per horse. For long term storage they throw a piece of plastic over them.
    Steve Ingram Options
  • Dean McConnell
    2
    @Jens Jesberg rolling the hides certainly has the advantage of being space-efficient, and like you say, the hides are protected from UV damage. This may be the way I go with storing them in future.
    Dean McConnell Options
  • Bryan Owens
    2
    The horse is definitely the very best but they do take up a lot of space. I have about 60 on one horse that has casters so at least I’m able to move it around. The one I need is always the 40levenvith one on the rack and I have to unload to get to it then put them all back.
    Bryan Owens Options
  • Steve Ingram
    36
    ↪Bryan Owens
    That's the way it always works. It can never be the one on top.
    Steve Ingram Options
  • Nadeem Muaddi
    86
    The one I need is always the 40levenvith one on the rack and I have to unload to get to it then put them all back. — Bryan Owens

    :lol: :rofl: :lol:
    Nadeem Muaddi Options
  • Melvin Acosta
    1
    I do the broomstick trick when the hide I want is towards the bottom. Grab a wide bottom broomstick and slide it on top of the hide you want, then with the broomstick lift and take the weight off that hide so that you or a work friend can slide the hide that you want out. Usually works well and saves time unloading then loading hides back on the horse.
    Melvin Acosta Options
  • Nadeem Muaddi
    86
    @Dean McConnell, as promised we used your question in our first installment of "Ask Aaron," a new article series about leather. You can read his reply here: http://www.thehogring.com/2019/03/28/store-leather-hides-small-shop/

    We'll be publishing a similar article every month, so feel free to send us more!
    Nadeem Muaddi Options
  • Dean McConnell
    2
    That's really informative, given me plenty of ideas for the new workshop! The pulley idea is interesting... will explore that some more. Thank you Aaron and Nadeem.
    Dean McConnell Options
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