novapelle question

Post by **Holt** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:27 pm

Hi guys.

I have a question for those who know much about the novapelle..

what happens to the hide when it meets the powers of mother nature?

sun
rain
snow
storms

will it shrink/stretch?

is the novapelle a weak hide?

will it tear easy?

thanx in advance
Holt

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:33 pm

I don't think the leather has been out long enough for owners to give an accurate assessment to its long term wearability and durability. Mine is only 3 months old. The workmanship is fantastic and no doubt it will last a long time. Being that it's cowhide, it'll probably wear similar to other cowhides. Besides my TN, this is my favorite Indy jacket.

Zombie Jones · Post by **Zombie Jones** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:00 pm

I'd have to agree with PSBIndy; too soon to tell. You'll probably be able to get better feedback some time next year after people have worn theirs through the winter months.

I can say the Novapelle makes a beautiful jacket. I've yet to see a photo that does it justice. I'm really looking forward to being able to wear mine once the temperature drops, and I hope PSBIndy's right about the durability; I've read some not-so-kind comments about the quality of Wested's products, and I'm hoping to still be wearing mine when I'm old and gray....well, older and grayer.

SpeedRcrX · Post by **SpeedRcrX** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:42 am

I wear my nova just a few time, since it's still hot around here...
So for now I can't tell much about the leather. But I have to put Pecard on it because it's a real sponge in the rain.

About the others weathers I can't tell about it.

Perhaps this winter...

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:40 am

I wore my np only for a couple of months before summer. Anyway is NOT easy to tear IMO.

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:19 pm

Any leather, if it gets wet, has to dry at room temperature in order for
it to keep its basic shape, feel, and other characteristics.

If you dry wet leather in the clothes dryer, or with a hair dryer, or put
it on any type of heating source, it WILL shrink some, get hard, and lose
alot of its natural oils.

You NEVER want to dry leather by any other means than just letting it
sit overnight and dry at room temperature unless you want to shrink it
on purpose.

So, Novapelle, which is cowhide, will react basically the same as any
other product made from cowhide. It will shrink some if you dry it by any mechanical
means, and don't let it air dry naturally.

If you want to "stretch" a leather jacket, or make it fit you better, you can
get it wet, and then you can wear it as it drys, and it will conform more to
your body, and it will stretch some by doing this. Not much, but some.

You can also get it wet, and either put it over some type of form, or
you can pull it, tug it, or even tie weights to it to stretch it, which is what
some of the Vintage Leather Jacket Forum guys do to make their sleeves longer
by about a half inch to an inch.

By the same token, they also will get the jackets wet, and then put them
in a clothes dryer to shrink them up to a whole size if they are too big.
But they always follow this up with some type of leather conditioner in order
to put the oils back in the leather because it shrank some, and stiffened up.

Flathead

Post by **Holt** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:38 pm

thanks for the help guys..

I appreciate it..

I just love the look of the novapella so much..and I am afraid it will not last as long as I hoped for or maby tear or maby gets a cut when it meets a branch or something..

funny part is....( what I just came to think about)...is that I NEVER thought about leather jackets the same way as I do today many many years back...

back then I thought a leather jacket could last forever...

all this talk about hides and quality has really made me paranoid about wearing a leather jacket

scot2525 · Post by **scot2525** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:42 pm

Indiana Holt wrote: I just love the look of the novapelle so much..and I am afraid it will not last as long as I hoped for or maybe tear or maybe gets a cut when it meets a branch or something.

The novapelle hide is not going to cut or tear when it "meets a branch or something." This predistressed cowhide will last for a long time even if it gets some "hard" wear along the way.

Post by **Holt** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:55 pm

anybody know how much thicker and stiffer undistressed cowhide is compared to the Novapelle cowhide?

thanx
Holt

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:58 am

Indiana Holt wrote:anybody know how much thicker and stiffer undistressed cowhide is compared to the Novapelle cowhide?

thanx
Holt

Novapelle is thick (compared to lamb), but very soft. I don't know about the undistressed cowhide.