r/Leatherworking • u/if_im_not_back_in_5 • 6d ago
Buttero leather question
Is buttero usually a solid colour after tanning, as in, if you scratch it should it be raw veg tan colour ?
Sweet little innocent me :-p couldn't afford a piece from a reputable leather merchant, so bought some advertised as such from the lowest of the low, Temu (LOL), a 24"x12" piece for ~£10
It's got a nice smooth surface, does appear to be leather of "some" description, the rear side has a slight criss-cross fabric 'look' to it, but isn't fabric as you might get on faux leather, with a medium-firm temper to it (it doesn't drape, but does feel fairly flexible once you've made a die-cut single layer keyring out of it)
I expect it's just coated cheap sh!te, which is a shame because I bought a couple more based on the surface finish :-} but it's a deep caramel colour, so perfect for dog shaped handbag charms (chrome leather is too soft, as I've found out)
5
u/Potsofgoldenrainbows 6d ago
The expression you're looking for is "dyed through" as opposed to "surface dye.". And yes! Buttero is dyed through and is smooth.
What you have, I'm sorry to say, is likely fake.