Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. Leather is a very important clothing material, and its other uses are legion. Together with wood, leather formed the basis of much ancient technology. Leather with the fur still attached is simply called fur.

Forms of leather

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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.

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Tmr have examination but I still havnt leather shoes....gorshhhhh !!! Sends me some shoes plzzzz http://myloc.me/2DwyM
platoclassick (PLATO CLASSICK) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:18:25 -0000
Tmr have examination but I still havnt leather shoes....gorshhhhh !!! Sends me some shoes plzzzz http://myloc.me/2DwyM
@LadyBonessa Is the bag leather? I want one!!!!
MaggieTKat (Maggie Tortie) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:47 -0000
@LadyBonessa Is the bag leather? I want one!!!!
@JayTeeNet White,glass roof and black leather seats!U know whatta iam talkinn about.I saw u knw who drivin past me 2dae.Damn!
ZanneyZan (Zan Zic) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:41 -0000
@JayTeeNet White,glass roof and black leather seats!U know whatta iam talkinn about.I saw u knw who drivin past me 2dae.Damn!
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SanAntonioCP (San Antonio CP) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:28 -0000
San Antonio: Overstock.com Stops Selling Exotic Leather http://bit.ly/895YQm
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nirudyogi (nirudyogi) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:26 -0000
Leather wallets, Magic wallets with id, mens wallets, Eel skin checkbook covers | Linksprocket Social Submission http://lnk.ms/5Bqld
@cat_delilah hops in my leather chair aft I warmed it up. #copycat I do this with her but never noticed she does it to me. She can burn.
kyraocity (Kyra Gaunt, Ph.D.) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:17 -0000
@cat_delilah hops in my leather chair aft I warmed it up. #copycat I do this with her but never noticed she does it to me. She can burn.

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