 Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Leather was a very important clothing material, and its other uses were legion. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Together with wood, leather formed the basis of much ancient technology. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Leather with the fur still attached is simply called fur. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ There are a number of processes whereby the skin of a dead animal can be formed into a supple, strong material commonly called leather. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using tannin (hence the name "tanning") and other ingredients found in vegetable matter, tree bark, and other such sources. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact shade depending on the mix of chemicals and the color of the flesh. Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water; it tends to discolor, and if left to soak and then dry it will shrink and become less supple and harder. In hot water, it will shrink drastically and plasticize, becoming a rigid, brittle material of little use.
- Alum-tanned leather is tanned using aluminum salts mixed with a variety of binders and protein sources, such as flour, egg yolk, etc. Purists argue that alum-tanned leather is technically "tawed" and not tanned, as the resulting material will rot in water. Very light shades of leather are possible using this process, but the resulting material is not as supple as vegetable-tanned leather.
- Rawhide is made by scraping the skin thin, soaking it in lime, and then stretching it while it dries. Like alum-tanning, rawhide is not technically "leather", but is usually lumped in with the other forms. Rawhide is stiffer and more brittle than other forms of leather, and is primarily found in uses such as drum heads where it does not need to flex significantly; it is also cut up into cords for use in lacing or stitching.
- Boiled leather is a hide product (vegetable-tanned leather) that has been hardened by being immersed in hot water, or in boiled wax or similar substances. Historically, it was used as armour due to its hardness and light weight, but it has also been used for book binding.
- Chrome-tanned leather, invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other salts of chromium. It is more supple and stretchier than vegetable-tanned leather, and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned. More esoteric colors are possible using chrome tanning.
Leather—usually vegetable-tanned leather—can be oiled to improve its water resistance. This supplements the natural oils remaining in the leather itself, which can be washed out through repeated exposure to water. Frequent oiling of leather, with mink oil, neatsfoot oil or a similar material, keeps it supple and improves its lifespan dramatically.
Tanning: :This page is about making hides into leather - or chastisement. For the natural darkening of human skin, see sun tanning.... Hide: Hide may refer to:... Pelt: Pelt or Pelts may refer to:...
Leather related Images and Photos (experimental)
| 
