The Art to make Leather from Raw

Posted: May 21, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 59 | Bookmark and Share

Many consumers own a variety of leather products, ranging from belts to jackets, and the resourceful material has been used for thousands of years in a variety of products. The process for making leather includes a complex set of steps from skin to finished product. These steps are often referred to as “tanning” due to the most typical part of the process, which uses the tannic acids present in plant matter to chemically modify the leather so that it will not decompose or rot.

If used without any treatment, animal hides would quickly break down and begin to stink. For this reason, the hide needs to be treated to form leather. The process can be broken down into two

basic stages: wet blue processing and finishing, both of which are adept in large commercial spaces known as tanneries. While it is possible to make leather at home, it is an aromatic and complicated process, and most people prefer to send out their hides for tanning.

Skin has three layers beginning with the epidermis, proceeding to the derma, and ending in the adipose, which is also known as flesh. When making leather, only the strong and flexible derma, which is a layer of collagen fibers, is preferred. The collagen is exuded by cells, and forms a network of useful strings. When leather is processed, these fibers are retained while everything else is stripped away.

First, the skin is fleshed, the flesh being cleaned off of the hide, and the surplus adipose, or animal fat, is removed. Then the hides are washed and soaked, which regain moisture to dried hides while loosening blood and dirt. Chemicals are added to turn the water alkaline, which will eat away at the hair and epidermis. The collagen fibers begin to swell, while excess proteins rushed out.

When this process is complete, the water is brought to a stable pH and the swelling goes down, so that enzymatic cleaners can be added to remove any remaining organic waste. Then the hide is pickled in a highly acidic solution, which prepares it for tanning. Tanning agents form bonds with the collagen in the hide, causing it to resist bacterial attack, and the hides are removed from the wet blue processing tank for finishing, after being run through rollers to remove excess water.

When the hides emerge from the wet blue stage, they are split to the preferred thickness. Depending on the planned use of the leather, this thickness may vary. Then the leather is re-tanned, with different materials depending on whether it needs to be firm or soft, and dyed. After dyeing, the leather is oiled so that it will remain flexible and soft. Then the leather is dried, mechanically treated to soften it, and buffed so that it will have a smooth and attractive surface. Some leathers are marked with patterns before the final stage, which is the function of a finishing coat of polymer or wax to protect the surface of the leather.

Leather treatment used to be a highly polluting industry, but tanneries responded to public protest about odor and pollution issues. Tanneries now recycle the liquids used in the leather making process and desist from chemical dumping. Tanning still carries a strong stink, but is no longer accompanied by environmentally unfriendly business practices in most parts of the world.

(ArticlesBase SC #929535)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/antiques-articles/the-art-to-make-leather-from-raw-929535.html

    Article Tags:

    apparel motorcycle

    ,

    armor leather jacket

    ,

    armored motorcycle jacket

    ,

    1 piece leather suit

    ,

    leather suit

    ,

    bike suit

    ,

    brown leather motorcycle jacket

    How to Wear Leather Jackets

    From crop styles to basic black, stay warm and trendy this season with a fitted leather jacket. Hear Amanda Garrigus' suggestions. (01:00)

    Introduction to the Collection of Kippys

    Check out the great Italian leathers and Swarovski crystals collection at Kippys (03:07)

    How to Grow Clematis

    Planting Clematis involves a different process than with most other plants. When choosing what variety of clematis you want to grow you must consider the size of the area you have to grow in. (03:02)

    Katzkin Leather Interior Installation Guide

    MOTORZ shows you how to install a Katzkin leather interior, replacing the stock cloth seats on a Ford F-150 SuperCrew pickup truck. (25:48)

    iKit Checkmate Leather Case - Tech Review

    Tech review, this video will review the ikit checkmate leather case. (10:22)

    Dealers in Florida Antique Shows’ east coast locations demonstrate ingenious antique recycling methods.

    By: Fred and Gail Taylor l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 09, 2010

    Art, heritage, creativity, and cultural symbols play a vital role in our lives, as we all are connected with them and their simplicity.

    By: Tim Clement l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 08, 2010 l Views: 5

    If you are into French culture and you collect antique clocks, chances are you are on a look out for antique French clock. You shouldn’t have to look any further because the Internet will provide you with the information you need on the clock that you want to buy.

    By: Ricky Lim l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 08, 2010 l Views: 7

    California's famed Getty Museum may soon be losing yet another antiquity to its country of origin. The situation presents an important warning to art collectors anywhere.

    By: Anne Jackson Hart l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 06, 2010 l Views: 3

    Express Home Solutions Contact - Solutions Home Express Home This comes from the Old French "dead pledge," apparently meaning that the pledge ends (dies) either when the obligation is fulfilled or the property is taken through foreclosure

    By: Express Home Solutions l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 05, 2010 l Views: 1

    a moving and amazing love story about Tiffany

    By: charlene l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Feb 04, 2010 l Views: 3

    When you enter Barber Chair as a search term you will find that EBay feature prominently, and the brand Koken that I mentioned above will typically be the highest priced chairs for sale. When you look closely at the Koken brand barber chairs you will quickly realise why that brand in particular have such a following. A typical Kokand Barber chair will weigh about 300 pounds and feature Iron Porcelain and quality leather seats.

    By: Paul Ritchie Inge l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Jan 31, 2010 l Views: 35
    Maurice Robertson

    Lustre ware produced an almost instant reaction with its golden iridescent glaze. At first it was considered alchemy, because the process involves using a lead-based glaze to create a golden shine on a pot, but without gold in it!

    By: Maurice Robertson l Art & Entertainment > Antiques l Jan 28, 2010 l Views: 24

    Fashion refers to the styles and customs prevalent at a given time. In its most common usage, "fashion" exemplifies the appearances of clothing, but the term encompasses more.

    By: faport l Internet > Internet Marketing l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 13

    A boot is a type of footwear that covers at least the foot and the ankle and sometimes extends up to the knee or even the hip

    By: faport l Sports and Fitness l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 30

    Motorcycle protection apparel is always a must. This also includes motorcycle suits as well.

    By: faport l Sports and Fitness > Fitness l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 123

    The word wristbands can be used to refer to the encircling stripes that are worn on the wrist.

    By: faport l Internet > Internet Marketing l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 415

    Though cycling involves the entire body in the physical activity, the hands are the ones to control direction and the feet to give power to the movement.

    By: faport l Sports and Fitness l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 248

    A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit closer than hats and have no brim or only a visor.

    By: faport l Sports and Fitness l Jun 04, 2009 l Views: 84

    Men’s leather sex gloves are a clothing fixation where an individual is obsessed and stuck by another or oneself wearing gloves on their hands. In some cases, the fetish is enhanced by the material of the glove, (e.g. leather, cotton, latex, satin or nylon).These gloves are available in different shapes, sizes and colors.

    By: faport l Sports and Fitness l May 27, 2009 l Views: 1,332

    This is the world of fashion: the beautiful models, the runways, the photographers, and the clothes. Fashion is not only what we wear, it is also how we describe ourselves to the world.

    By: faport l Shopping > Clothing l May 27, 2009 l Views: 13

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    1