Cowhide Tooling Leather

Tooling leathers are vegetable tanned because this method creates the exact grain surface conditions needed to receive carving and stamping tool impressions. Vegetable tanned leather absorbs water readily and dries out quickly because the fiber structure is less compact than that of chrome tanned leather. Tooling leather is “full grain”, meaning the hair has been removed and the original grain remains. Only full grain, vegetable tanned leather will absorb water and tool correctly.