Some Basic Knowledge About Leather Hide

Leather hide is mostly from cattle. In addition to cattle hide, there are other types of hide such as from snakes, lizards, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, and more. Leather hide can be used to produce many products such as furniture, handbags, automotive interior, belts, straps, shoes, and many other products. One of the main reasons why manufactures use leather hide in their products is its durability.  Leather hide is acquired by manufactures of leather goods. Moreover, many DIY'ers purchase leather hide for their projects.

Some Tips When Purchasing Leather Hide

Leather hide has variations in color. If you are purchasing leather hide online, keep in mind that your monitor display may slightly distort the authentic color of the leather hide. Make sure to buy leather hide samples before buying the full product. This way you will be familiar with the shades of the leather hide. Variations in leather hide exist not only with color but also with thickness. These variations exist because of the differences in cattle. It is at tanneries that leather hides are tanned to adopt their colors and textures as seen on products. Tanneries have existed for centuries.

Leather hide is measured and sold in square feet. It is different than fabric, which is sold by the yard. Furthermore, the thickness of the leather hide will be stated in ounces. You can purchase a whole leather hide, or a side. You can purchase double shoulder leather hide, or single shoulder. You can purchase a single bend, or double bend. In addition, you can purchase a belly leather hide. These are all things to keep in mind when purchasing leather hide.

Vegetable Tanning and Chromium Tanning

There are different types of leather hide and tanning methods. There is chrome tan, veg tan, kipskin, suede, and more. Vegetable tanning, or veg tan, is achieved with vegetable tannings derived from different types of trees such as oak or chestnut. Vegetable tanning requires several treatments of the leather hide over the course of a few weeks. For example, cowhide can take up to eight weeks.

Chromium tanning, or chrome tan, is an invention of the 19th century. Acidic salts and chromium sulfates are used to shorten the process of tanning. Chrome tan leather hides are softer than veg tan. Because the process is quicker, the majority of leather hides are chrome tan rather than veg tan. Chrome tan leather hide can be tanned within a day. Veg tan leather hide can be more expensive than chrome tan as there are less tanneries that produce veg tan leather hide. The process of chrome tan is automated; whereas, most of the veg tan process is done by hand.

Whether you are a manufacturer of leather goods or you are a DIY-er, there are different options for types of leather hide to meet your needs.