Leather is one of the most durable and noble materials. The Amish work with it daily.
Tanning
Hide → soak in lime (remove hair) → rinse → tan in oak bark (6-12 months). Vegetable tanning is slow, but results incomparably better than chrome (store-bought). Vegetable-tanned leather develops patina — gets more beautiful with age.
Products
Belts (simplest: cut a strip, punch holes, attach buckle). Wallets and bags. Knife sheaths. Tool cases. Book covers. Blacksmith aprons. Saddles (pinnacle — 40-80 hours of work).
Tools
Knife (round knife or swivel knife). Stamps for tooling. Awl. Needles. Mallet. Slicker. Sandpaper. Finishing oil (neatsfoot oil).
Income
Belt: $30-80. Bag: $100-300. Saddle: $1,000-5,000. Average leatherworker: $25,000-50,000/year.