Leather hides is a general term for tanned animal skins. There are various types of leather skins. Each type of leather has a different purpose in the leather-making process. The art of leathercrafting ranges from fine clothing to pet chews and many other leather goods.
Cowhide that is tanned with different types of vegetables is tanned with their chemicals and colors. Vegetables are useful for giving leather a shine, and tannins and tree bark are used to toughen cowhide. Various colors in leather are made from different colored vegetables. Leather skins are sold in different shades of brown.
Once tanned cowhide is flexible, it can be used for book binding, leather carving, or leather stamping. If the leather gets wet, the vegetable tanning will discolor and the leather may shrink or harden further.
Aniline leather is a high-quality product used for clothing. It is obtained by treating full grain leather. Leather skins that are made for sale are treated with aniline to make them perfect and smooth. These skins are then used in jackets and other clothing. Aniline can also be used in conjunction with dyes that can cover blemishes seen in leathers.
Patent leather is always known for its ultra-shiny glossy finish. Patent leather was invented by Newark, a New Jersey inventor by Seth Boyden, in the year 1818. The original process involved coating the leather with a linseed-based lacquer. Today, patent leather contains a plastic coating. Patent leather supplies can be used for various fashion items, such as handbags, purses, shoes, rain boots, coats, etc.
Rawhide is leather that is not tanned. The skin is molded by moistening it. Rawhide becomes the way it is dried. Rawhide is used today as dog chews. Rawhide is a popular material for drumheads. It can be made waterproof by applying oil to it.
Nubuck and suede are part of the full grain leather. Nubuck is made from the top grain, which is the top of the leather, while suede is made from the inside of the leather.
Nubuck leather skins are polished to a smooth texture and a consistency similar to suede leather. Nubuck leather hides are polished with greater strength and thickness compared to suede leathers. Therefore, nubuck leathers are generally more expensive than suede.
Suede leathers are popular for their softness. The chamois is made of fresh sheepskin. The skin is tanned with oils. Chamois is so soft that it is used as a polishing cloth for cars, shoes, jewelry, etc. It is also used to make hockey stick grips.
