PDA

View Full Version : Identification of Leather Types and finishes.



Pioneer
09-03-2008, 07:26 AM
Roger,

Could you, please, explain how to identify the different types of leather, eg: lamb, cow, etc.

Also can you explain how to identify aniline, semi-aniline, finished, etc.

Roger Koh
09-03-2008, 11:40 PM
What we need to know about upholstery leathers is that almost all commercially produced comes from the bovine family (bulls, cows & steers) and also from the Asian water buffalo (seldom is buffalo refers to the North American Bison).

Hides (from bigger animal) are normally used for upholstery and skins (from smaller animal - pig, sheep or goat) are mainly for garments.

So, in upholstery cleaning or restoration it makes no difference which animal or gender they are made from.

Rather it is the type of tannage that has significant bearing to the effect of cleaning and conditioning.

Vegetable-Tanned leathers appear to be on the brown shade naturally, while Chrome-Tanned leathers are grayish green in color naturally.

What if they are aniline dyed through into another color, then the tell tale sign is that all chrome tanned leathers are softer to the “hand” usually not thicker than 2½ mm.

While on a Vegetable-Tanned leather double layers stitching it can average up to 8mm in thickness.

A good example is take a look at our precious leather shoe, the soles of the shoe is Vegetable-Tanned leather while the shoe upper is normally Chrome-Tanned.

Vegetable-Tanned leathers are more alkaline sensitive, and more fatliquor dependant than Chrome-Tanned leathers.

See how the soles of the shoe crack up even though they are frequently wet.

So the notion that water alone is sufficient to soften the leather as a conditioner is not true.

The leather protein fibers has to be pH conditioned below the iso-electric point (pH 3-5) to a cationic (+) charge before an anionic (-) pH 5.0 fatliquor can have an effective long lasting hydrogen bonding effect.

Alkalinity above pH 6 will progressively break the chemistry constituent hydrogen bonding and cause the slow denaturing of the leather.

Leather upholstery can be divided into the smooth type often refers to as leather.

And the velvety type like nubuck (top grain - fine nap) and suede (split suede - coarse nap) refers to as suede.

Suede has naps that need to be groom for softness with a “finger writing effect”.

Next we need to know that smooth leathers regardless of fashion effects can either by absorbent, semi-absorbent or non-absorbent.

Leather absorbency also tells us how deep the stain has gone into the structure.

Leather identification can be by sight, feel or scratch.

From my experience, knowledge by sight alone is the most valuable asset acquired by a professional especially in today pictures by emails.

The following are the various common leather fashions (finished types).

Picture #1, bovine “Hair-on Hide” popularly found as a combination with Aniline or Nubuck country style upholstery.
Cleaning and rinsing products recommended: Wool Cleaner-5.5 with Wool Rinse4.0.
Tools recommended either nubuck Brush-2 or suede Brush-3.
Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-S.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/003.jpg


Picture #2, “Wet Blue Grain” is what is left on worn-out chrome tanned pigmented leather.
Or when a solvent spotter or cleaner is been used that accidently removed the pigment finish.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/002.jpg


Pictures #3, “Wet Blue Suede” in most cases are further custom dyed for upholstery.
Tools recommended: suede Brush-3 & nubuck Eraser-5.
Non-stick protection: leather Scent-W.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/004-1.jpg


Picture #4, “Nubuck” is a result of buffing an aniline leather grain side to produce a fine velvety texture.
Tools recommended: nubuck Brush-2 & nubuck Eraser-5.
Non-stick protection: leather Scent-S.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/006-2.jpg


Picture #5, “Pure-Aniline” is full grain leather that is fully dyed through with aniline dyes to enhance its inherent beauty.
They are the most absorbent among all the smooth leathers that stains easily.
Scuff and surface scratch can be easily rectify with Wax Effect-8.6 without need of a color touch-up.
Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-S.
Water spotting (a pH phenomenon) can be easily rectified with leather Rinse3.0.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/005-1.jpg


Picture #6, “Aniline” is pure aniline that has a “dye-on” surface dye and a protective top coat.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/014.jpg


Picture #7, “Wax & Oil Pull-Up” is aniline leathers that are infused with both Oil Effect-2.8 and Wax Effect-8.6 to create a pull-up effect.
This wax and oil combination gives the leather a satin look.
When the leather is pulled or stretch it becomes lighter in those areas.
Therefore seating cushions looses it colors fastest.
And evidently light marks from scratch are apparent.
Softening and strengthening leather with Fatliquor-5.0 prior to reviving the effect with Oil Effect-2.8 and Wax Effect-8.6.
Non-stick protection recommended: either leather Scent-B or leather Scent-D.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/009.jpg


Picture #8, “Oil Pull-Up” is aniline leathers that are infused with Oil Effect-2.8 to create a pull-up effect that has a glossy look.
Stretching reveals a lighter color. Fatliquor-5.0 is applied for softening and strengthening prior to Oil Effect-2.8 to revive the pull-up effect.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/011.jpg


Picture #9, “Wax Pull-Up” is aniline leathers that are infused with Wax Effect-8.6 to create a pull-up effect that has a satin look.
Fatliquor-5.0 is applied for softening and strengthening prior to Wax Effect-8.6 to revive the pull-up effect.
Testing: A stretch reveals a lighter color and heating up with heat blower darken it.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/012.jpg


Picture #10, “Embossed Wax Pull-Up” is similar to the above wax pull-up effect.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/016.jpg


Picture #11, “Semi-Aniline” is the best between the aniline and the pigmented in terms of breathability and cleanability.
They are usually full grain leathers that have been dyed and lightly micro-pigmented with a fine top finish that is semi-absorbent.
Non-stick protection: leather Scent-B.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/017.jpg


Picture #12, “Pigmented - Kela Effect” or a cloudy two tone effect with opaque pigment and a top coat finish makes this leather non-absorbent. Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-B.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/008.jpg


Picture #13, “Pigmented - Corrected Grain with embossing” this is a low-end non-absorbent leather among the top grain leathers.
Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-B. The black you see are caused by a black dye transfer which can be removed by Ink Remover-7.7 without any color touchup.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/013.jpg


Picture #14, “Pigmented - Wiped Effect” has a primary opaque pigment (maroon) and a secondary transparent dye (black) on top of the pigment to create the wiped look with matching topcoat. Non-stick protection recommended: leather-Scent-B.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/007-1.jpg


Picture #15, “Pigmented - High Gloss” This fashion is common for traditional or office upholstery with a ultra high gloss finish.
Non-stick protection recommended: leather-Scent-B.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/015.jpg


Picture #16, “Pigmented - Metallic Effect” Usually done with a secondary effect on top of primary opaque pigment base.
Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-B.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/010.jpg


Picture #17, “Aniline - Pebble Grain” It is an aniline finish with natural high pebble grain texture.
Non-stick protection recommended: Protector-B (scentless) or Protector-B+ (leather scented).
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/019.jpg


Picture #18, “Vegetable Tanned” leathers are constructed differently with its characteristic thickness sewn without the normal cushion fillings. Non-stick protection recommended: leather Scent-D.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/020-1.jpg


Picture #19, “Bicast” leathers or synthetic lamination over split leathers are non-absorbent but do scratch quite easily.
Wax Effect-8.6 and Leather Scent-D recommended to rectify scuffs depending on the severity.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/018-1.jpg


Post some pictures here too, and I’ll try to identify it!


Roger Koh
Leather Doctor® System

Mansera
04-17-2017, 01:38 PM
7712
Hi can you tell me please with type of leather is?
the leather is absorbent rather
Thanks7713

Roger Koh
04-18-2017, 07:12 AM
Leather finish type is "Aniline".

Fashion type is most probably "nubuck" as mentioned is absorbent - Nubuck is a napped fashion finished leather with the grain side buffed to create a fine napped, also known as velvet suede - the reverse side is suede. To positively identified it - inspect the unused area.

JasonMD
10-01-2020, 04:44 AM
Mr Koh,

Thank you for creating this forum, and thank you for including all the information you’ve included in your product descriptions which pertain to the chemistry involved in your different LeatherDoctor products. I have learned a lot by reading much of that information and am very happy to now have a much better understanding of the different types of common leathers, different tanning processes, as well as of the different finishes often applied to some leathers.

For Mr Koh and/or other forum users:
I believe I may have learned enough over recent weeks to correctly identify the type of leather and the finish used to construct the outer of the shoes pictured below, and although I am less confident re the lining I have a best guess at the characteristics of that leather as well. ...but I am by no means certain, and I would thus greatly appreciate the input of a better trained eye than my own. I have purposefully left out my own best guess to these questions as to not negatively influence the thoughts of anyone else who may know better than me.

If there are any questions I can answer that would assist in determining the exact type of leather and finish used for these shoes, please let me know and I will provide whatever additional information is asked as well as additional pictures if it would help to have any additional and/or different pictures than I have already included. Thank you to anyone who may be able to assist me with this...
-
10156
-
10159
-
10158
-
10160
-
10157
-
Thanks Again for any help you may have,

Jason

--