The longer the antique finish stays on the leather, the more color the leather will take and the darker the receding portions become. In general, when speaking about animal leathers, those from larger animals such as cattle are referred to as “hides”. Those from smaller animals such as rabbits or pigs are referred to as skins. Also in terms of volume, cattle leather makes up about 67% of the total annual leather production around the world. Cattle – Bulls

What the antique finish does is not so much as dyeing precisely but instead, it tones down the original color of the leather and bring out some details on carved or stamped leather to emphasize the relief patterns. There are two basic ways of getting this done; Antique M ethod 1 The double bend cut of a leather hide is from the area ranging from the spine towards the belly, towards the middle of the hide. This is some of the best leather available in a hide, the prime sections generally towards the hind side before the butt. It is best used for across a number of leather product applications. Butt Leather Cut Aniline leather is dyed using soluble, transparent aniline dyes. These colors enable the natural grain of the leather to show through, as well as any character markings on the hide. To the left is a photo showing a close up as before. This time you will notice where the Leather Binder has filled in some areas and the Flexifil others. The grain and corium junction is where the tight, outer layer of the leather blends into the looser fibers of the corium. This junction is a mix of the very desirable grain layer, and the more fibrous and looser fibers of the corium layer. Leather Hide – CoriumThe first step is preparing the leather ready for applications of colour. We do this to remove any waxes, oils or silicones that may be present on the leather, not removing these could cause adhesion problems. Prepping the leather also removes the manufactured finish. If the leather is very dirty, clean it first with the Leather Ultra Clean.

There are many different kinds of leather wax you can get to finish your leather items but I find the adam wax to be one of the best because it’s the pure wax base which is in the recipe for a lot of tanned. It will give you work a nice polish, soften, enrich the dye color and give it a beautiful gloss. Tips on Applying W ax F inish esDegrained leather is a type of leather that has had the grain layer removed. This generally occurs towards the end of the production process. Benefits of degrained leather include a smooth, consistent surface that looks quite nice. However, removing the grain also weakens the outer surface of the layer, making it more susceptible to wear and moisture penetration. Double Face Leather (Double Sided Leather) Alcohol-based leather dyes penetrate the leather deeply, so the color goes beyond the surface. The colors are usually vibrant. However, after the dye is applied and the alcohol dries, it takes some of the moisture out of the leather along with it. Resolene is a synthetic finish for leather. While waxes can be used to seal and protect leather, resolene is comprised of acrylic. It is usually applied in thin layers, each building a thinner layer of acrylic. When dried, it will result is a smooth, durable, shiny surface that provides a fair amount of protection for the underlying leather. Resolene is available in several colors, so a match can be made closely to the leather color that is being coated. 6. Cleanup – How to Dye Leather Pigmented leather is a type of leather that is finished with a top coat of pigment (or paint). That pigment helps both provide an even surface on the leather, and also a protective coating. Pigmented leather is often coated with a clear protective sealer, to help protect the pigment layer. Printed Leather

Great! Let’s start here. The leather hide is the skin removed from an animal. Since it is a natural substance, it has unique characteristics and qualities that help it serve a purpose for the animal it was a part of. As with most dyed leather, even though these dyes include moisture, it can be helpful to coat with a leather finish after dyeing. This will help protect the color from rubbing off, and protect the leather from excessive wear. Low VOC Leather Dye Alcohol-based dyed leather when then usually benefit from application of a conditioner to restore some of that pliability before a finish is added. Often, dyed leathers are coated with a finishing coat, to seal in the dye, prevent it from rubbing off, and protect the leather overall. Water-Based Leather Dye Vegetable tanned leather is stronger and can withstand the daily wear and tear and with proper care can last more than a life time. This type of leather ages well developing a natural patina as you wear it. Polishing is also a type of finish done at the finishing process of the project. It’s done to make leather articles smooth, shiny, and to look fresh off the box. Polishing is done by applying leather enriching substances which are either in liquid, creamy or solid forms. Because polishing enriches leather products, it can be done several times even after the project has already completed and is in use.

Leather finishing in a much simpler way can be explained as the overall appearance and beauty of a product. Finishing includes choice of techniques and all other activities that enhance the outlook of leather products. Types of leather can be broken down into several different categories. We can look at the types of cuts, leather qualities, leather grades, leather finishes, types of leather by animal, types of leather with fur, even types of faux and vegan leather. There are some major differences between them.