Veg-Tan Leather
Overview
Vegetable-tanned leather. The safe choice for laser work - no chromium compounds to vaporize. Burns with warm brown color contrast. Cuts cleanly with minimal charring.
Properties
Difficulty
beginner
Flexibility
semi-flex
Enclosure
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Natural leather engraves beautifully
- Deep rich dark marks
- Ages and patinas naturally
- Food safe when unfinished
- Natural material
- Great for tooling-style work
- Accepts dyes and finishes after engraving
Cons
- Natural variation in color and density
- Can shrink or warp from heat
- Ventilation required
- Lighter areas engrave darker
- More expensive than chrome-tan
Best For
- Wallets
- belts
- watch straps
- keychains
- personalized leather goods
- custom patches
Avoid For
- Chrome-tanned leather (toxic fumes)
- synthetic leather (melts)
- suede (burns unevenly)
Storage
Store flat and dry. Condition periodically with leather balm.
Laser Compatibility
Excellent laser leather — engraves dark brown, cuts cleanly. CO2: engrave 400mm/s 25-40W, cut 2mm at 200mm/s 60W. Diode: engrave 500mm/s 80%, cut 300mm/s 100% 2 passes. Chrome-tan leather produces toxic chromium fumes — use veg-tan only.
Brands
Tandy LeatherRocky Mountain Leather