Kind of leather and skins
What is leather and what kind of leather there are?
Leather is skin that has been treated by tanning, which is a process by which putrescible skin is converted into rot-proof leather. The types of tanning that exist are chrome and vegetable tanning.
Leather comes from a layer of tissue that covers animals. The skin layer is separated from the animal’s body, removing the hair or wool in the process and subjecting it to a tanning process. It has resistance and flexibility properties that are very appropriate for subsequent handling.
There are different leather kinds. The leather could be classified as its origen or as the treatment or finished.
Each kind of leather is different according to the spices and the habits while the animals were alive, edge, gender, and so on. A good piece of leather has uniform thickness, grain and pores, beside a good resistance.
Skin & Leather
According with spices.
Bobine, goat, pig, horse, otter, chinchilla, reptile, fish or deer. The animal’s lifestyle, age, gender or season of the year in which it was treated will influence the structure of the skin.
According with the process post tanning.
Tanning is the process carried out on the animal’s skin to convert it from putrescible to rot-proof leather. Traditionally, tannin has been used for this process, a chemical compound that prevents the decomposition of the skin.
Bovine: Beef skin is usually the more common leather used to manufacture bags and as its name indicates, this type of leather is taken from the skin of beefs. It is usually of very good quality and very versatile, but, as it is made from the skin of animals that used to live in the wild field, the leather could have stretch marks, scratches or holes.
Goats: Goat leather is the best material for beginners in the art of leather goods, its thinness and resistance allow the precision and quality required from the design to the production of your products.
Sheep: The skin of the type called “pelibuey”, from hair sheep, is considered one of the best in the world, due to its good resistance and high softness, being highly valued in the international market.
Calf: The skin of the calf is very fine and smooth compared to cow skin, for example. Its greatest characteristics are its softness, it is delicate and smooth texture. calf skin is very resistant. Its texture is possible, thanks to the fact that the fine hair follicles are much closer to each other.
Pig: Its leather is porous but it is strong and soft, therefore, once it has been treated and processed, it obtains good resistance and is durable. Like the previous ones, depending on the pig’s own lifestyle habits, its skin will be better, but it is generally a rigid skin.
Kind of leather
Cooked leather: Leather is hardened by putting it in boiling water, wax or grease. Depending on where it is immersed, the final resistance will be different, achieving a better result when immersed in wax or grease. When the piece of skin cools it becomes very moldable, then maintaining the shape obtained once it hardens.
Greasy leather: It is most water resistant. With this treatment, the natural oils of the leather are replaced after the tanning process. Oiling keeps the leather more flexible and prevents it from becoming brittle, giving it a longer life.
Dyed leather: It is a leather treated with dyes to achieve decorative color tones. All types of leather can be dyed. Aniline dyes dissolved in alcohol or acrylic paints are used. Depending on the type of leather that you want to obtain as a final result, one technique or another is used.
Patent leather: Leather covered with a layer of polyurethane varnish, giving it a characteristic shine. In this way the leather becomes a little more waterproof and resistant.