Working with gator

Andrew Breault

I’m not exactly a beginner but, I have never worked with exotic leather before. I have been trimming about 4 years and was taught by two uncles; the two of them have 70+ years experience but didn’t seem to know much about gator. I am doing a seat for myself in a pickup I am building. It is a Chevy bench seat. First, where is the best place to buy a hide? Also, do I need heavier thread or will 69 work? Any other advice or tips would be much appreciated. I will try and post a pic of something I found online I like. Anyone know who did it?

Mike Goldring

You can get vinyl that is made to look like alligator, and other exotic textures and also cow leather that is embossed with gator and other grains.
Real alligator hides would be hard to work with IMO and expensive and not consistent in thickness etc....

Most suppliers like Albrights carry the embossed vinyls.
A quick web search found this place with embossed leather hides, and I'm sure there are a lot of other places to get it
https://www.leatherhidestore.com/embossed-leather-croc-embossed.html

Cody Lunning

I haven’t worked with it, but my brother in law has a true alligator Hyde for a motorcycle seat he’s planning. Idk where he got it, or if it was professionally tanned as he does a lot of that stuff himself. It’s tough though. Not flexiable and doesn’t seem like it would have an stretch or give really.

Andrew Breault

I was afraid of it not stretching much. I will probably just do embossed leather. Anything special about working with it?

christie owen

I have a huge alligator hide and it doesn't stretch. American Tanning from Georgia has smaller hides and in all colors.

Lee Welk

We just recently added some gator to a F150 seat kit as a tribute to the customers late husband. It was very stiff and tough to work with, the spine is solid bone and would be uncomfortable in the seating area. Also watch out for it hitting the foot or needle of your sewing machine. We only used it as accent pieces, and any other time we’ve done gator print on seats or doors it has been embossed vinyl, or cow leather. Good luck!

Nick Lupien

Roje leathers sells aligator and other exotic materials.
I also have not worked with aligator but have worked with lizard and that is dificult because it's thin and does not stretch.

Naseem Muaddi

I hate working with genuine alligator leather. I'd say stick with the embossed vinyl or cow leather. Real alligator is hard to work with and doesn't have much usable material. I don't think it'll work for a bench seat.

Working with gator

Welcome to The Hog Ring!

Categories