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Leather Hides & Fur Pelts

Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. Leather was a very important clothing material, and its other uses were legion. Together with wood, leather formed the basis of much ancient technology. more...

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Leather with the fur still attached is simply called fur.

Forms of leather

There are a number of processes whereby the skin of a dead animal can be formed into a supple, strong material commonly called leather.

  • Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using tannin (hence the name "tanning") and other ingredients found in vegetable matter, tree bark, and other such sources. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact shade depending on the mix of chemicals and the color of the flesh. Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water; it tends to discolor, and if left to soak and then dry it will shrink and become less supple and harder. In hot water, it will shrink drastically and plasticize, becoming rigid and eventually becoming brittle.
  • Alum-tanned leather is tanned using aluminum salts mixed with a variety of binders and protein sources, such as flour, egg yolk, etc. Purists argue that alum-tanned leather is technically "tawed" and not tanned, as the resulting material will rot in water. Very light shades of leather are possible using this process, but the resulting material is not as supple as vegetable-tanned leather.
  • Rawhide is made by scraping the skin thin, soaking it in lime, and then stretching it while it dries. Like alum-tanning, rawhide is not technically "leather", but is usually lumped in with the other forms. Rawhide is stiffer and more brittle than other forms of leather, and is primarily found in uses such as drum heads where it does not need to flex significantly; it is also cut up into cords for use in lacing or stitching, or for making dog toys.
  • Boiled leather is a hide product (vegetable-tanned leather) that has been hardened by being immersed in hot water, or in boiled wax or similar substances. Historically, it was used as armour due to its hardness and light weight, but it has also been used for book binding.
  • Chrome-tanned leather, invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other salts of chromium. It is more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather, and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned. More esoteric colors are possible using chrome tanning.
  • Brain-tanned leathers are exceptionaly absorbent of water. They are made by a labor-intensive process which uses emulsified oils (often those of animal brains) and which has not been industralized. They are known for their exceptional softness and their ability to be washed.

Leather—usually vegetable-tanned leather—can be oiled to improve its water resistance. This supplements the natural oils remaining in the leather itself, which can be washed out through repeated exposure to water. Frequent oiling of leather, with mink oil, neatsfoot oil or a similar material, keeps it supple and improves its lifespan dramatically.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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Quality Slate Blue Fine Grained Leather Cowhide 2.75 sq ft 21"x20"Quality Slate Blue Fine Grained Leather Cowhide 2.75 sq ft 21"x20" Dark Burgundy or Dark Maroon Cowhide Grain Leather Hide 8"x10" Dark Burgundy or Dark Maroon Cowhide Grain Leather Hide 8"x10" $3.99
Thick Pliable Medium Blue Suede Leather 12"x12", 4 oz. / 1.6 mm thick hide skinThick Pliable Medium Blue Suede Leather 12"x12", 4 oz. / 1.6 mm thick hide skin $4.49 8"x10" Light Sky Baby Blue Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather Bigger by request8"x10" Light Sky Baby Blue Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather Bigger by request $4.99
Eb296 Full-Grain Embossed Cowhide Muddy Water PebbleEb296 Full-Grain Embossed Cowhide Muddy Water Pebble $95.00 Goatskin genuine leather hide skin pelt skin skins Patent Pearlized Olive 7sqfGoatskin genuine leather hide skin pelt skin skins Patent Pearlized Olive 7sqf $29.00
K1472-a Kimono Brown! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts!K1472-a Kimono Brown! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts! $136.08 6 pieces Smooth Dark Brown Leather hides 4"x6" for crafting6 pieces Smooth Dark Brown Leather hides 4"x6" for crafting $7.99
6 pieces 4"x6" Light Brown / Medium Brown Leather hides6 pieces 4"x6" Light Brown / Medium Brown Leather hides $7.99 K1474 Kimono Whiskey! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts!K1474 Kimono Whiskey! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts! $139.32
Marbled Reddish Brown Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Cow Hide Upholstery #81Marbled Reddish Brown Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Cow Hide Upholstery #81 $3.49 Maroon & Black Alligator Cowhide Leather 4.5 sf 23"x21"Maroon & Black Alligator Cowhide Leather 4.5 sf 23"x21"
 Camel Upholstery Furniture Hide Leather Skin E74e Camel Upholstery Furniture Hide Leather Skin E74e Gray Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather 12"x12" Grey, Bigger Pieces AvailableGray Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather 12"x12" Grey, Bigger Pieces Available $8.99
Rich Thick Dark Burgundy / Maroon Suede like Split Leather Hide 12"x12"Rich Thick Dark Burgundy / Maroon Suede like Split Leather Hide 12"x12" $3.99 Leather Rosettes, 6-7 oz. chrome tan, 2in. 100 pcLeather Rosettes, 6-7 oz. chrome tan, 2in. 100 pc $30.00
Etched Pink Daisy Floral Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Bigger Pieces AvailableEtched Pink Daisy Floral Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Bigger Pieces Available $4.99 Thick Bright Blue Suede like Split Leather Hide 12"x12" 3 - 3.5 oz / 1.2-1.4 mmThick Bright Blue Suede like Split Leather Hide 12"x12" 3 - 3.5 oz / 1.2-1.4 mm $3.99
Slate Blue for Letterman Jacket Sleeves Leather Cowhide 4 sq ft 30"x17"Slate Blue for Letterman Jacket Sleeves Leather Cowhide 4 sq ft 30"x17" $23.96 Buffalo Leather Chap Scrap Piece Craft Hobby 9 39Buffalo Leather Chap Scrap Piece Craft Hobby 9 39
Mainly brown Boot Leather Scraps 3-5 oz Cow hide Remnants 5#Mainly brown Boot Leather Scraps 3-5 oz Cow hide Remnants 5# $8.99 Beautiful Deep Red Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Bigger Pieces availableBeautiful Deep Red Ostrich / Emu Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Bigger Pieces available $4.99
Sheepskin Rugs Multiple Colors Sheepskin Rugs Multiple Colors $64.50 k642 Classic Navy! Leather Upholstery Hides/Hide/skin​sk642 Classic Navy! Leather Upholstery Hides/Hide/skin​s $130.50
Goatskin genuine leather hide skin pelt skin skins hides Patent Olive 6+sqfGoatskin genuine leather hide skin pelt skin skins hides Patent Olive 6+sqf $26.00 Sheep rug from New Zealand, original BowronSheep rug from New Zealand, original Bowron $99.00
Light Brown / Cinnamon Cowhide Grain Leather Hide 8"x10" 1.75 oz /.7mm thicknessLight Brown / Cinnamon Cowhide Grain Leather Hide 8"x10" 1.75 oz /.7mm thickness $3.99 Dark Pink / Burgundy Leather Goatskin 4.25 sq ft 32"x16" Goat Hide Dark Pink / Burgundy Leather Goatskin 4.25 sq ft 32"x16" Goat Hide
Goatskin leather hide hides skin skins Eggplant 4sqfGoatskin leather hide hides skin skins Eggplant 4sqf $18.00 "Smoke" Leather Cowhide Upholstery 7 sqft 13B36A26"Smoke" Leather Cowhide Upholstery 7 sqft 13B36A26 $11.49
"Aloe" Leather Cowhide Upholstery 4 sqft .7B35A26"Aloe" Leather Cowhide Upholstery 4 sqft .7B35A26 $6.99 Gorgeous Light Olive Green Flower lace look Leather hides 20"x20"Gorgeous Light Olive Green Flower lace look Leather hides 20"x20"
K1473 Kimono Cigar! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts!K1473 Kimono Cigar! Leather Cow Hides Upholstery Skins Crafts! $136.80 1Pcs 25cm/10inches America raccoon tail Handbag Accessories/key​cha in,unisex1Pcs 25cm/10inches America raccoon tail Handbag Accessories/key​cha in,unisex $5.98
Tandy Leather Harness Needle Size 000 Large 10 PackTandy Leather Harness Needle Size 000 Large 10 Pack $7.19 Lambskin genuine leather hide skin Wrinkled Blue Pearlized Old Gold 4+sqfLambskin genuine leather hide skin Wrinkled Blue Pearlized Old Gold 4+sqf $24.00
Black Salmon Fish Skin Leather HideBlack Salmon Fish Skin Leather Hide Etched Turquoise Daisy Flower Cowhide Leather 12"x12" Bigger Pieces AvailableEtched Turquoise Daisy Flower Cowhide Leather 12"x12" Bigger Pieces Available $8.99
Leather Cow Hide Upholstery Skin - BrownLeather Cow Hide Upholstery Skin - Brown $59.00 Well Over 10+ sq ft of Thick Heavy Cowhide 1/8" well Oiled split leather scrap Well Over 10+ sq ft of Thick Heavy Cowhide 1/8" well Oiled split leather scrap
Rich Black Suede Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Cow Hide #146Rich Black Suede Cowhide Leather 8"x10" Cow Hide #146 $3.99 Caramel Brown Dragon Print Cowhide Leather 3.25 sq ft Caramel Brown Dragon Print Cowhide Leather 3.25 sq ft
Ermine Skins - Two very nice skins 1Ermine Skins - Two very nice skins 1 $9.99 Brown Lizard Print Cow Hide Leather Skin T16abcBrown Lizard Print Cow Hide Leather Skin T16abc
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Prices current as of last update, 02/05/12 12:15am.

See also...
Buffaloskins, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Cowhides, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Deerskins, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Fur Pelts, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Goatskins, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Lambskins, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Other Hides & Pelts, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft
Pigskins, Leather Hides & Fur Pelts, Leathercraft

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