Best leather sides for leatherworking

Start with a veg-tan side you can tool. The Craftsman Veg-Tan Side from Tandy is the safest all-rounder: a full side (roughly 18–24 sq ft) in natural veg-tan, so it takes carving, stamping, dyeing and molding, and there's enough hide to plan several projects around.

Who the others suit:

• Hermann Oak A/B side — the upgrade for serious bag and belt work: top-grade, clean, consistent temper.
• Hermann Oak strap sides — long, straight runs for belts and straps with little waste.
• ELW charcoal side — a big black side if you'd rather not dye.
• Oiled cowhide side — soft, pull-up feel for totes and pouches.
• Pre-cut squares and splits — cheap way to practice tooling or line a project before committing to a whole side.

Buy the weight for the job: 2–3 oz for linings and small goods, 4–6 oz for wallets and bags, 8–9 oz and up for belts.