Leather Processing

[RhadamYgg]

I wasn't actually going in the sexual angle with that comment.... But there were legends about that too as well as the suits.

RhadamYgg

[TorontoBoy]

...I suppose someone out there must have access to motorcycle grade leather to do work on.

I had been thinking of making my own jacket and stuff, but I could never find the raw materials.

Leather for motorcycle clothing is usually in the 1mm-1.6mm thickness. Anything thinner, often called "fashion leather", and it's not tear resistant enough. Anything thicker and it'll be heavy and hot, but offer better abrasion protection.

I have seen lime green as well as hot pink leather sides, but these were fashion leather and very thin. They make purses, maybe the odd reupholstered chair, but there is a very small market for a motorcycle jacket in lime green, much less perforated and armoured.

No matter. You are looking for a 3-4 oz leather side of vegetable tanned leather. The veggie tan leather will take stain very well, though I've not seen lime green stain. Here is a green. I don't know how much cow you should purchase, in square feet.



Sides of cows are not sold perforated, and I have not seen a machine that perforates leather outside of a leather factory. Tandy Leather or eBay sell veggie tan leather. Note you will need a commercial grade sewing machine to sew up a jacket. A couple layers of leather will kill a home machine. Sew with upholstery thread, available at any sewing store.

[BuzZz]

All you need to do is buy your jacket choice in Kawasaki colors and then figure out a way to remove the big 'K' it will have...... if that sorta thing bothers you.

I rode mostly Yamahas wearing a Honda leather jacket for years. Never bothered me, and if you want, you can really mess with people when they ask why the names don't match.

[Grey Thumper]

Gimoto's got custom color/design options

http://www.gimotocanada.com/acatalog/Custom_Design.html

And yup, retina-searing lime green, orange, yellow, and red are some of their available colors.

Try playing with their customising software. You can come up with all sorts of stuff to offend the eyeballs.

PS, this is good-natured ribbing; you should see my riding gear. Loud clothes save lives and all that.

[RockBottom]

Gimoto's got custom color/design options

http://www.gimotocanada.com/acatalog/Custom_Design.html

And yup, retina-searing lime green, orange, yellow, and red are some of their available colors.

Try playing with their customising software. You can come up with all sorts of stuff to offend the eyeballs.

PS, this is good-natured ribbing; you should see my riding gear. Loud clothes save lives and all that.

Holy cow (or, kangaroo as an option) those are expensive! I'd just buy green contact lenses and pretend my jacket is colored. Or have a jacket made from this:

[jaskc78]

no luck on the emails, all my old drinkin buddies are either retired or stationed out east now (Maryland, Virginia, etc). sorry man.

[RhadamYgg]

no luck on the emails, all my old drinkin buddies are either retired or stationed out east now (Maryland, Virginia, etc). sorry man.

No problem. I appreciate all your efforts and considered it a bit of a low probability that you would be able to cook something up. Would have been great - no doubt.

I've been considering other possibilities. Who knows what I'll end up with, but it should, I hope be highly visible on the road.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

...I suppose someone out there must have access to motorcycle grade leather to do work on.

I had been thinking of making my own jacket and stuff, but I could never find the raw materials.

Leather for motorcycle clothing is usually in the 1mm-1.6mm thickness. Anything thinner, often called "fashion leather", and it's not tear resistant enough. Anything thicker and it'll be heavy and hot, but offer better abrasion protection.

I have seen lime green as well as hot pink leather sides, but these were fashion leather and very thin. They make purses, maybe the odd reupholstered chair, but there is a very small market for a motorcycle jacket in lime green, much less perforated and armoured.

No matter. You are looking for a 3-4 oz leather side of vegetable tanned leather. The veggie tan leather will take stain very well, though I've not seen lime green stain. Here is a green. I don't know how much cow you should purchase, in square feet.



Sides of cows are not sold perforated, and I have not seen a machine that perforates leather outside of a leather factory. Tandy Leather or eBay sell veggie tan leather. Note you will need a commercial grade sewing machine to sew up a jacket. A couple layers of leather will kill a home machine. Sew with upholstery thread, available at any sewing store.

Thanks! Lots of good information to search for things. I appreciate it.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

Ahh Found Some leather... But it may be too thick:
leather

But it might have some uses incorporated in an existing jacket given the thickness.

RhadamYgg

[TorontoBoy]

Ahh Found Some leather... But it may be too thick:
leather...

Uhhh, no. Way too thick and excessive for a jacket, but if you wanted to sew up some pannier bags or tool bags, then go for it. Or if you're into medieval battle scenes where a suit of armour was required to ward off blows from enemy swords, this leather would be great. Wearing it would also be super hot. And hard to sew, hard to bend.