Where can I buy thick leather to put on my vise?

[Bill Bukovec]

Where can I buy thick leather to put on my vise? I stopped at a shoe repair place (those places are hard to find) and all he had were precut soles. I'd like pieces about 5 inches wide, 3/16 " thick. Thanks, Bill

[Roy Harding]

Try these guys (http://www.tandyleatherfactory.ca/en-cad/home/home.aspx). I've purchased various pieces of leather from them - deerskin for a headboard, leather for chair cushions, etcetera. I think I linked the Canadian site, they have a USA one as well.

[johnny means]

Search your local thrift stores for old boots, bags, chaps, etc. The sides of some old engineer boots would do the trick. Old saddle bags, that fellow at the farmers market selling real leather belts, anything that might yield a large enough piece. If all this fails, craft stores often sell beginner leather working kits that will include a big enough piece to make a little purse or something.

[Jeff Erbele]

The challenge is two, inexpensive, rather thick, small pieces. Scrap pieces would be ideal. Consider the equestrian market, harness and saddle makers in your quest.

[Adam Diethrich]

Where can I buy thick leather to put on my vise? I stopped at a shoe repair place (those places are hard to find) and all he had were precut soles. I'd like pieces about 5 inches wide, 3/16 " thick. Thanks, Bill

That may be tough, but possibly better (easier) yet would be cork.
A good cork/neoprene blend: http://www.mcmaster.com/#cork-gasket-sheets/=owrwum

A.W.D.

[Keith Pitman]

If you can find a Tandy Leather store, they will probably have a wide selection. Last time there, I only needed a small piece and the guy gave it to me.

[Dave Cav]

If you can find a Tandy Leather store, they will probably have a wide selection. Last time there, I only needed a small piece and the guy gave it to me.

That's where I got mine, but sadly, not free. However, I did need a relatively large piece and I think for $20 or so I got enough for at least two vises.

[John Lifer]

A cheap alternative is to search eBay. A bunch of cutoffs from many vendors out there.
And pretty cheap too.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Auto upholstery shops are another potential source.

[John Coloccia]

Tandy leather, definitely. They usually have a scrap bin that is dirt cheap.

BTW, 3/16" thick is pretty thick and not necessary, IMHO.

[glenn bradley]

If you can find a Tandy Leather store, they will probably have a wide selection. Last time there, I only needed a small piece and the guy gave it to me.

I also use Tandy: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/locations/storesearch.aspx

[Frank Drew]

BTW, 3/16" thick is pretty thick and not necessary, IMHO. I agree with John that thinner than that would work perfectly well for vise facing. I think I got my leather scraps from a local tack shop; FWIW, I found that having the rough face of the leather on the outside helps grip the work better than smooth side out. I used spray-on glue, 3M 77, I think.

[Todd Burch]

Cork will work too, some of the time.

If you go leather, you probably want tooling leather. This is the thick, heavy stuff.

[ray hampton]

why not glue thin pieces together to make one heavy piece

[Brian Ross]

I second the harness shops it you have any in your area. Stopped at a harness shop in Ohio where a lot of the Amish live. 2 pieces 1/4 inch thick 8 x 16 for $10.
Brian

[Mike Wilkins]

I have an old leather briefcase that is ideal for a project like this. Search the local Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat Resale stores, or other thrift stores for leather goods, boots, etc.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

+1 for eBay. Search for veg tan leather. That's what you want. I bought a bulk flat-rate box of it a while back and use it for all sorts of projects.

[Peter Froh]

LV sells them.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=67755&cat=1,41659

[Michael Menz]

Try American Science & Surplus
sciplus.com
They have leather leftovers from $8.50 to $10.75 depending on your needs.

[Loren Woirhaye]

http://www.amazon.com/Approx-thick-Leather-Scraps-Projects/dp/B000NJGHVY

Vegetable tanned is best. Belly is a cheap cut because it's not useful
for a lot of applications due to stretch marks and being thinner than
the back and shoulders, which are used for saddles and stuff like that.

Leather is sold by weight per sq. foot. You want 4-6 oz which indicates
the thickness range.

[Kenneth Moar]

Try Brettuns Village Leather Craft Supplies , Lewiston Maine or online