Hide Leather
Posted in Arts and Crafts on 04/05/2009 08:36 pm by adminHide Leather
Tanning Processes
Once skins and hides are removed, they are processed for cleaning and the removal of any tissue and hair. This ensures the skin is as clean as possible and ready to be tanned. Leather quality is determined by a number of factors, but the most important is the way the hide is tanned.
Tanning Leather
Tanning leather involves multiple steps. Depending on the type of process being used, the nature of the hide and the desired result, some steps may be repeated. Consider these various forms of tanning leather:
Brain Tanning
Brain tanning is one form of tanning leather that does not involve a commercial process. This is done with nothing but the animal itself. The basic process of brain tanning leather is to use materials from the brain, hence the name. The brain lipids are then used to treat the skin, producing a magnificent piece of soft leather.
The process of brain tanning leather actually dates back to the Stone Age when cavemen and hunters would soak the hides in brains, pulling them until they became soft. For these primitive people, this was a part of daily life in making bedding and clothing to stay warm.
Although German and English tanners were brain tanning leather as recently as the late 19th and 20th Centuries, the only thing that remains from the Stone Age Europe are bone and stone tanning tools. The earliest record of European tanning is:
Homer’s Iliad
“The ox hide, which is soaked in fat, is pulled to and fro by men standing in a circle, thus stretching the skin and causing the fat to penetrate into the pores.”
Additionally, the following tribes and regions have been identified by researchers as having been involved with brain tanning leather:
Zulu tribe of Southern Africa
Chukchee tribe of Eastern Russia
Nomadic people of Asia
Northern Asia
China
South America
North America
To brain tan a hide, this process can take up to one year. However, fans of brain tanned leather agree that the final product makes up for the wait. First, the hide has to be de-fleshed, cleaned, and then “grained”. Although the hide is grained in one of several ways, the result is the removal of the grain side, which is the side with the hair.
This leaves the softer under layer of the skin. Then the hides are cured in salt and allowed to dry, creating a hard, yellowed “rawhide”, which is nothing like the finished product.
The rawhide is put into successively stronger solutions of brain material, soaked, and then worked with brushes and scrapers to stretch and dry the hide. This process is repeated several times and interestingly, some tanners will smoke the hide as the last step, which produces a handsome hide and rich color as well as a smoky scent.
Chrome Tanning
Chrome tanning, also called “mineral” tanning, is a quicker process compared to vegetable tanning. Chrome tanning leather takes about a day and begins with pickling the skin in an acid-salt mixture. After the skin is pickled, it is put into a solution containing chromium-sulfate. Chrome tanning leather is used to produce a wide variety of garments, especially if the design requires a softer leather.
Vegetable Tanning
Vegetable tanning leather produces stiffer result that is still flexible but better suited for sturdier products such as belts and luggage. Hides are placed on frames and hung in vats of tannin, which is where ‘tanning’ got its name.
Tannin is a natural product found in certain parts of trees such as chestnut, oak, and hemlock, using the bark, wood, leaves, and fruit. This process involves the skins being moved through a series of vats. The first vat will have a weaker solution of tannin than the final vat.
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Looking for the best exotic leather hides snakeskin, alligator,etc.Do you know of a supplier in Argentina?
Looking for the best exotic leather hides snakeskin, alligator,etc.Do you know of a supplier in Argentina?
I am also interested in vibrant colors. If you know of a supplier with the best exotic leather I would really appreciate your help. I tried searching google but I’m really looking for leather I can use in designer items.
Go to yahoo international site then click on Argentina then type into the search bar for leather supplier.
The only catch is that, you should be able to read, write and speak Spanish to be able to communicate with the other person on the other end or if you have any personal translator to do in behalf of you.
Good luck on finding one.
Urbanwrist.com – Sewing Exotic Stingray Hide on Black Leather
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Baby / Sky Blue Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather 12″x12″ Full hides available $8.99 |
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6 pieces Smooth Dark Brown Leather hide pieces 4″x6″ for crafting $7.99 |
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BLACK Suede Split Leather Hide 8″x10″ 3-3.5 oz / 1.4-1.6mm thick $3.99 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 41 Green $92.25 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 44 Green $99.00 |
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Goatskin leather hide skin 2 shades VTG D BROWN 5sf $19.00 |
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Lambskin leather soft hide skin skins hides SNAKE EMBOSSED ON CAMEL 8+sqf $26.10 |
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Lambskin leather soft hide skin skins hides SNAKE EMBOSSED ON CAMEL 6+sqf $22.00 |
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Lambskin leather hide skin RUSTIC WASHED BROWN 6sf $25.00 |
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10 Lb. Leather Hides Scraps / Arts & Crafts / Pieces X50 $39.99 |
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Gorgeous Super Soft Hot Pink Suede Leather Hide 8″x10″ $3.99 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 46 Green $103.50 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 45 Green $101.25 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 52 Green $117.00 |
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BK11 Leather Cow Hide Hides Upholstery Fabric 42 Green $94.50 |
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Rocky Ranch Hides Rock Leather Biker VEST-3X $15.50 Features black snaps laced sides and 2 front pockets…. |
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6 Eggshell Nicole Leather Parsons Dining Room Chairs $749.00 Leather Color: Eggshell; Legs Finish: Espresso W-20″ x D-23″ x H-39″, Height from floor to seat 19″, Seat depth 17″ Available also in Wasabi, Espresso, Black & Red 100% Italian Top Cow hide Leather, Kiln dried hardwood frame, Webbing belt Support System & High Density Foam. |
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BUSN2A-00151 Photo Mugs Old-time shoemaker working outdoors. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration…. |
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Street Ready $11.98 … |
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Joan Jett: Good Music [Vinyl Lp Record] 1 Good Music 5:46 2 This Means War 3:38 3 Roadrunner 3:33 4 If Ya Want My Luv 3:55 5 Fun, Fun, Fun 2:20 6 Black Leather 3:59 7 Outlaw 4:16 8 Just Lust 3:17 9 You Got Me Floatin’ 3:31 10 Contact… |
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SE 8-3/4 Professional Leather Punch Plier, S.S. $13.00 Punch That Cow(hide) This sturdy steel punch for leather goods has a coiled-steel spring, and (6) screw-in punches. Make 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm holes, even in heavy leather. 8-1/2″ long OA…. |
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Custom Leathercraft 2091 Cowhide Gloves, Kids $8.53 The CLC 2091 Kids Split Cowhide Gloves are durable, split finger, cowhide work gloves designed to fit children's hands. The 2091 kids gloves can also be used by some women with very petite hands and fingers. Features: Split cowhide leather is extremely durable, protecting hands from abrasion, splinters, sparks, etc. Keystone thumb design allows thumbs to bend more comfortabl… |
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9 Ft. Split-Hide Spanish Leather Bullwhip $19.99 These top-grain Spanish leather bullwhips are extremely durable and suitable for professional or recreational use. This Whip is approx. nine feet long and will produce a loud crack when handled correctly. The cord “cracker” can be replaced when worn out. Made in Spain…. |
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Old English Scratch Cover for Dark Woods: 8 OZ $6.95 This liquid polish is designed to hide nicks and scratches in wood furniture, paneling and floors. For dark woods like mahogany and cherry. Features Helps restore damaged wood surfaces Hides unsightly scratches and nicks For use on darker color woods 8 FL. OZ. (236 mL)… |
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Body Toolz Horsehide Leather & Canvas Barber Strop $22.99 Quality Leather Strop With Sharpening Canvas and Swivel Hanging Clip. 23 1/2″ Overall Length. 2 1/2″ Wide…. |