Types of Leather
When considering leather furniture, it is important to understand the difference in both the "types" and "grains" of leather in order to make an informed choice.
Genuine leather is very versatile and no other material can compare to its durability and strength. Much of the quality of genuine leather depends on the type and grain of the leather you choose.
Vegetable Tanned leather
Perhaps the most versatile type of leather is Vegetable Tanned leather. Oak tree bark and other plants contain natural tannins that are used to make Vegetable (or Vege-Tanned) leather. The benefits of this type are that Vege-Tanned leather stretches well when soaked in water and it can be carved, molded, painted, dyed, oiled or waxed. This proves to be extremely useful in making leather furniture, and can also be the most expensive type of leather.
Chrome-Tanned leather
Chrome-Tanned leather is another type of leather, but it stretches much less than vege-tanned and therefore cannot be carved or molded. This type of leather is made by a process of soaking the hide in an acidic bath that contains a high level of chromium. Chrome-tanned leather is relatively inexpensive and does take well to some dyes. This type of leather can easily be identified by a gray toned edge when it is cut.
Oil-Tanned leather
The special feature of Oil-Tanned leather is that it is usually the most agile type of leather available. If you have ever touched a piece of leather that has a slightly oily surface feel, it is probably an Oil-Tanned leather type. This oily feel will not rub off on your hand, but it gives this type of leather a unique and interesting finish.
True Buckskin leather
The True Buckskin leather is a strong and pliable deer hide that gets treated in a basic solution of wood ash and lime. This type of leather is extremely soft, supple and water friendly. When you are investigating Buckskin, be careful to find out if the hide has been treated by other tanning methods that may cause the buckskin to lack the very highest qualities and feel of True Buckskin.
Rawhide
The term Rawhide refers to an untanned type of leather that is considered to be at a hide's most basic state. These cattle hides become very stiff when they are dried, but flexible and stretchy when they are wet.
Leather processing
Sometimes combining types of leather bring down the costs of what might otherwise be a more expensive type of leather. A combination type like Vegetable-Oil Tanned leather may be processed first as a factory tanning that gets followed by a Vegetable Tannin bath to enhance the feel of the leather. Combinations of processing can give the illusion of a higher quality type of leather. However, be aware that while the look and feel might be enhanced, the characteristic of a true Vege-Tanned type of leather is really of a higher quality.
