Tandy Leather Factory

I’ve been coming here for many years. They have everything I need to make costumes and accessories. I’ve made everything from Renaissance faires to Star Wars. I knew little about leather crafting, but have learned over the years just by asking the staff questions and jumping in and doing it. They are super helpful and help you find what you need. They are patient and answer all my questions. Donny is super nice and helpful and that’s why I love this place. Great customer service.

Every time I go here, I can’t leave without having purchased something. That’s bad news for my credit card, but so much fun for me. Having graduated from fashion school and a love and respect for leather, this place is a candy store for me. I told myself that I would just stop in while running errands. But I’m always here for at least an hour! It’s not that I’m browsing their entire selection, which is vast and caters to any leather project one would have, but I’m trying to figure out which hides I want.
Some day, I’m going to be an elite member and I’ll be able to pay those amazing discounted prices on all of their products. But until that day comes, I’m more than happy shopping during their sales. Actually, I feel that they always have something on sale that I want. It’s jut a matter of if I’ll really be able to use it anytime soon. One of my biggest regrets was not buying a stingray hide. I don’t know what I would turn it into, but their hides are like a flat, flexible jewel. And until I purchase an industrial or leather sewing machine, I’ll be sticking to the lower count ounces of leathers. Not that that is even a problem, as that includes goatskin, deerskin, and pigskin to name a few.
I left the store today with two designer goatskin whole hides. The embossed patterns are so unique, I know they’ll look great regardless of what I turn them into. I’ll be spending the next few days dreaming about the rest of the designer goatskins that are only $ 14.99 a piece right now. And no, it’s not a typo. And yes, there is a huge assortment or gorgeous patent goatskins. I hope I don’t end up going back this week. Someone else buy them all and give them a good home so that I don’t have to!
I never catch the names of the guys who help me, but they’re always helpful without ever being too pushy about assistance or product. Very knowledgable too, if you have any questions about leather usage. I’ll be back. Hopefully not soon. Maybe. … !

I am disappointed with my experience at Tandy Leather Factory and it’s mainly because of the manager Joel G. Here’s why.
I asked if he could recommend a conditioner for my vintage sofa. His recommendation was Fiebings Aussie Saddle Soap which on the label says it’s perfect for a number of uses but doesn’t list furniture as one of them. Since «furniture» wasn’t listed, I asked if he recommended the product for leather sofas, Joel says yes. I then ask him if it is safe for use in the house and he says, yes. Lo and behold the Material Safety Data Sheet available online indicates that this product is flammable which is probably why it doesn’t list «furniture» as an article best used for. Since I have no experience working with leather I ended up buying the product based on this guys recommendation and the previous Unilocal testaments about the professionalism practiced at this establishment.
Unfortunately for me the person I dealt with lacked this «professionalism» that everyone spoke of and I ended up buying the wrong product. Since there are no returns I’m stuck with a jar of saddle soap.
If you don’t know the answer to a customers question please find out for your customer and simply for future reference. Don’t just shoot from the hip and guess.
I give this place 2 stars for having what I believe is a fully stocked inventory needed for leathersmithing. I would have given this place 1 star but I don’t think that one bad experience with a hired employee should result in anything below a 2 star rating.

Classes are back on. Our Cub Scout Pack 815 just had our annual leather class here last week. It was great, this time we did dyes and worked on tree different projects. All our boys had a great time and half the parents did some leather work too. I believe we will have some parents buying the starter kit for themselves and their boys.

I went in yesterday looking to make my own leather belt. The person working there, Brian, was super helpful in making sure I had all the materials I needed to make it. He also showed me a few tricks on how to cut the belt, make the holes, and bevel the inside. I have never worked with leather before, so this was a really great experience for me.

I’ve been to this location several times, and as another reviewer said, it’s like a fabric store, but for Leather.
To be totally honest, the very first time I went in, there was a class going on, and there were so many things in there that I literally had no idea what I wanted to make. My mind was bursting with possibilities, but I just spent some time wandering around and trying to soak in all the potentials that were there, then let that percolate in my brain for a bit. (The hardtack leather for creating saddles, stirrups and such was what really opened my mind to the possibilities. I suddenly realized just how much stuff is crafted out of leather, and realized that the place was bursting with creative potential.)
When I went back, I had better ideas and questions for the (very helpful) staff, who were able to point me to exactly the materials and tools that I needed, recommend oils and conditioners, punch kits & tools, etc. They also have a really great collection of books, magazines, and pattern kits in case you want to dig deeper and get reference material on more in-​depth projects.
I’ve done a lot of sewing and costuming over the years, but leather is still a relatively new material to me. But going into the Tandy Leather Factory fills me with the same kind of excitement as going into a fabric store and seeing all sorts of materials there, patiently waiting for the right person with the right idea to bring it to life.
Highly recommended! :-)

My bestie loves to sow and she was making a leather jacket. She was told by a friend to check out Tandy Leather Factory to buy lambskin on sale.
If you need any leather fabric… this place is the place to be. If you want to learn how to make leather materials they also sell patterns and teach classes.

I needed a quarter hide of red leather for a piece of furniture Inhave been building. Thanks to the very helpful assistance from the young sales guy at Tandy, I was able to get a great textured hide at a great price, a long leathers trip for trim, beveling tools, smoothing tools, dye and spray sheen, all for less than $ 100, the guy who helped us was very patient explaining how to safety and assuredly use the beveling and smoothing tools and talking us through the custom dying techniques. Since I have spent a significant amount on the sideboard I’ve been working on, it was crucial that the top and edging turn out perfect. With thanks to Tandy, it did. It’s nice that they have such an amazing selection of leathers, hobby kits, tools, dyes and accessories. I may just need to check out one of their classes!

Tandy rocks!
They’ve got tons of stuff for the professional leather crafters as well as the Über beginner. They have free classes on Saturdays that are open to anyone. So, skip TV for an afternoon and learn how to make something. Belts, bags, wallets, bracelets, cases, clothing, furniture… anything!
Very friendly staff and they go out of their way to help you with whatever projects you’re working on or want to start. And you never know, you can even make some money with your new found skills. Who doesn’t want a custom made leather something? Nobody!
You can do it!

Your one stop shop for all things leather. You want to make something that involves leather? Can’t really think of any better place than here.
Wonderful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff. I showed up to one of their weekly workshops where you can come up and work on projects as well as get help from other people there. Lots of peer helping peers. and it’s so wonderful that they offer that.
With only a slight idea in mind, it doesn’t take much money to get the materials you need, and who knows… the very same night, you can end up with something awesome in your possession that you made yourself. A belt? wallet? bag? random other misc things you can play with? sure!
Just ask for help. and wow, I certainly got plenty of that from the guys that were there the other night. Came in with only a small idea. and ended up getting enough tips, advice, and help to create what I wanted. I was very happy!

Vegans, read no further. Others who covet the hides of defenseless creatures in a spotless, business-​park location, you are my people.
I have become possessed by an idea that I can make a leather ottoman from an old kitchen cabinet part. However, I didn’t a) want to spend too much money, nor b) abuse the legacy left behind by the poor defenseless creature since odds are good that I’ll mess up the project.
The Husband told me about Tandy Leather Factory, which apparently is a national chain. So, I drove to Union City to the surprisingly antiseptic settings — surprising because I was a) taking the name Factory literally (but then again, Boston Market is Denver-​based) and b) expected a place devoted to leather would be, I don’t know, like a taxidermy place? (Not that I’ve ever been.) Anyhow, I drove past the deli, restaurant, and the mixed martial arts place across the way and entered a pristine environment, with neatly shelved tools and rolled up hides, and offerings of classes that teach you everything from leather embossing to saddle making. Come to think of it, this is like the Jo Ann Fabric’s of flesh.
Brian, manning the shop, immediately came out to help me. I explained my project and my parsimonious tendencies, and he helped me find the perfect huuuuge piece of espresso brown cowhide. On clearance. For $ 30.
Did I mention $ 30? Sheesh, it makes you want to get a bunch of hides and re-​enact «The Silence of the Lambs» in your basement. Without the kidnapping-​the-​girls part. Brian not only helped score the hide, but he gave me tips on my project — he’s a craftsman himself, and sweetly impeccable in his customer service.
With my liberal-​therefore-​suspicious-​of-​chains background, giving 5 stars to a corporate entity is against my nature (and as much as I josh, I do feel creeped out by the concept of a chain store specializing in defenseless creatures’ hides — although did I mention the sheepskin rugs on sale for $ 29.99?). But, thanks to great service by a craftsman and finding exactly what I wanted at a great price, can’t get better than that.