Full grain leather vs Top grain leather vs Enhanced grain vs Split grain vs Bonded leather
(PART1) YOU TUBE VIDEO EXPLAINING FULL GRAIN VS TOP GRAIN ETC
(PART 2) YOU TUBE VIDEO EXPLAINING FULL GRAIN VS TOP GRAIN ETC
FULL GRAIN LEATHER VS TOP GRAIN LEATHER VS ENHANCED GRAIN VS SPLIT VS BONDED
FIRST LETS TALK ABOUT TYPES OF LEATHER FOR UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE.
LEATHER CAN BE BROADLY DIVIDED INTO 4 CATEGORIES FULL TOP GRAIN, ENHANCED GRAIN, CORRECTED GRAIN AND SPLIT LEATHER. IF THE HIDES NATURAL GRAINS,PORES AND TEXTURES ARE LEFT INTACT IT IS CONSIDERED A FULL TOP GRAIN ALSO KNOWN AS FULL GRAIN AND WILL DEVELOP A PATINA OVER TIME FROM USE, ALTHOUGH THIS IS MORE DUE TO THE TYPE OF FINISH/ DYE USED ON THE LEATHER.
ENHANCED GRAIN LEATHER IS A FULL GRAIN WITH SLIGHT PLATING OVER THE SURFACE TO HELP EVEN THE HIDE.
TOP GRAIN IS A CORRECTED GRAIN AND IS PRODUCED FROM THE TOP GRAIN OUTER PORTION OF THE HIDE BUT GOES THRU A SANDING PROCESSING TO HELP CONCEAL NATURAL OCCURRING IMPERFECTIONS IN THE HIDE, AND PLATING PRESS IS USED TO EMBOSS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN TEXTURE.
SPLIT LEATHER IS PRODUCED FROM A TOP GRAIN . IT WOULD BE THE SECOND OR SOMETIMES THIRD CUT BELOW THE SURFACE, IS THEN HEAVILY PIGMENTED AND EMBOSSED WITH AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN TEXTURE. SPLIT LEATHER IS CREATED FROM THE FIBROUS PART OF THE HIDE LEFT ONCE THE UPPER PORTION OF THE RAWHIDE IS SEPARATED FROM THE HIDE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL TOP GRAIN LEATHER USUALLY THE TOP 3/64" OR 1.1-1.5 MM
NO MATTER HOW ADVANCE THE TANNERY IS EACH AND EVERY PIECE OF LEATHER PRODUCED IS UNIQUE JUST LIKE A PIECE OF WOOD MIGHT BE. THE GRAIN, TEXTURE WILL BE DIFFERENT ON EVERY PIECE. LOOK FOR THESE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL GRAIN LEATHER
1. FAT WRINKLES OR GROWTH LINE AS SUBTLY SHADED BANDS ON THE GRAIN SIDE.
2. NATURAL VARIATIONS IN GRAIN AND SHADING.
3. SMALL SCARS AND IMPERFECTIONS SINCE ON A QUALITY PRODUCT THEY DO NOT RENDER ON LARGE PORTIONS OF THE HIDE USABLE FOR YIELD.
4. A SIMILAR SHADE OF COLOR ON THE SUEDE SIDE DEMONSTRATES SUPERIOR DYE PENETRATION.
5. DEPTH AND SHADING OF COLOR ON THE GRAIN SIDE IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF A TRANSPARENT STAIN ON A PIECE OF WOOD.
6. FULL GRAIN LEATHER IS GENERALLY USED FOR FULL ANILINE OR PURE ANILINE FINISHES, ALTHOUGH SOME ANILINE PLUS FINISHES ARE USED.
7. BECAUSE OF THE FINISHING PROCESS USED FOR PURE ANILINE LEATHERS, THIS TENDS TO BE THE MOST DELICATE FOR SERVICING ISSUES LIKE FADING, SPILLS, SCRATCHING. EXAMPLES WOULD INCLUDE PULL UP LEATHER.
8. THESE LEATHERS IF ANILINE DYED WILL HAVE 100% BREATHABLE PROPERTIES LIKE SKIN.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL TOP GRAIN (ENHANCED) LEATHER
1. FAT WRINKLES TEND TO DISAPPEAR AS TOP COLOR PROCESSES CONCEAL THESE PROPERTIES.
2. VARIATIONS IN GRAIN ARE MINIMAL AND TEND TO BE MORE SLIGHTLY MORE UNIFORM.
3. SOME LARGER SCARS AND IMPERFECTIONS ARE PRESENT BUT WILL BE CONCEALED TO SOME DEGREE AS COLOR PROCESSES HIDE THESE.
4. A DIFFERENT SHADE OF COLOR ON THE SUEDE SIDE IS BECAUSE THE CRUSTS ARE DYED INITIALLY ON A BASE COLOR AND THEN THE TOP OF THE HIDE GETS COLORED IN A SPRAYING METHOD.
5. DEPTH AND SHADING OF COLOR ARE MORE UNIFORM AS COLORING AGENTS ARE APPLIED TO THE TOP OF THE HIDE.
6. TOP GRAIN LEATHER IS GENERALLY USED FOR ANILINE PLUS/ SEMI ANILINE OR PIGMENT FINISHES.
7. BECAUSE OF THE FINISHING PROCESS USED FOR PURE ANILINE LEATHERS, THIS TENDS TO BE THE MOST DELICATE FOR SERVICING ISSUES LIKE FADING, SPILLS, SCRATCHING THESE TEND TO BE MORE APPARENT, EXAMPLES WOULD INCLUDE PULL UP LEATHER.
8. THESE LEATHERS IF ANILINE PLUS/ SEMI ANILINE WILL HAVE A DEGREE OF LESS BREATH-ABILITY PROPERTIES DEPENDING ON THE APPLICATION OF COLOR AGENTS AND TOP COATS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TOP GRAIN (CORRECTED) LEATHER
1. FAT WRINKLES TEND TO DISAPPEAR AS TOP COLOR PROCESSES AND LIGHT SANDING OF HIDE CONCEAL THESE PROPERTIES.
2. VARIATIONS IN GRAIN ARE NON-EXISTENT, GRAIN TEXTURE WILL APPEAR UNIFORM, THIS IS DUE TO THE EMBOSSING PROCESS AFTER SANDING/BUFFING.
3. LARGER SCARS AND IMPERFECTIONS ARE PRESENT BUT WILL BE CONCEALED DUE TO THE SANDING / EMBOSSING AND COLOR PROCESS WHICH CONCEAL THESE LIKE PAINTING OVER A PIECE OF WOOD.
4. A DIFFERENT SHADE OF COLOR ON THE SUEDE SIDE IS BECAUSE THE CRUSTS ARE DYED INITIALLY ON A BASE COLOR AND THEN THE TOP OF THE HIDE GETS COLORED IN A SPRAYING METHOD.
5. DEPTH AND SHADING OF COLOR ARE USUALLY NON-EXISTENT EXCEPT IN A SAVAGE FINISHED LEATHER AS EMBOSSING AND COLOR AGENTS ARE APPLIED TO THE TOP OF THE HIDE.
6. CORRECTED TOP GRAIN LEATHERS IS GENERALLY USED FOR PIGMENT FINISHES AND ARE MOST DESIRABLE FOR A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION.
7. BECAUSE OF THE FINISHING PROCESS USED FOR PIGMENTED LEATHERS, THIS TENDS TO BE THE MOST DURABLE FOR SERVICING ISSUES LIKE FADING, SPILLS, SCRATCHING THESE TEND TO BE MORE NON EXISTENT.
8. THESE LEATHERS IF PIGMENTED WILL HAVE MUCH LESS BREATH-ABILITY PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THE EMBOSSING AD THE APPLICATION OF COLOR AGENTS AND TOP COATS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SPLIT GRAIN LEATHER
1. FAT WRINKLES WILL NEVER BE SEEN AS THE SPLITTING PROCESS REMOVES THIS ENTIRELY AND THE TOP PORTION IS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN EMBOSSED AND PIGMENTED.
2. VARIATIONS IN GRAIN WILL NEVER BE SEEN AS THE SPLITTING PROCESS REMOVES THIS ENTIRELY AND THE TOP PORTION IS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN EMBOSSED AND PIGMENTED.
3. LARGER SCARS AND IMPERFECTIONS WILL NEVER BE SEEN AS THE SPLITTING PROCESS REMOVES THIS ENTIRELY AND THE TOP PORTION IS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN EMBOSSED AND PIGMENTED.
4. A DIFFERENT SHADE OF COLOR ON THE SUEDE SIDE WILL NEVER BE SEEN AS THE SPLITTING PROCESS REMOVES THIS ENTIRELY AND THE TOP PORTION IS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN EMBOSSED AND PIGMENTED.
5. DEPTH AND SHADING OF COLOR ARE WILL NEVER BE SEEN AS THE SPLITTING PROCESS REMOVES THIS ENTIRELY AND THE TOP PORTION IS AN ARTIFICIAL GRAIN EMBOSSED AND PIGMENTED.
6. SPLIT GRAIN LEATHERS WHEN USED ARE FOR NON TOUCH AREAS (OUTSIDE BACKS,ARMS, BETWEEN SEAT CUSHIONS, MAYBE KICK PANELS) OF SEATING TO
SUPPRESS OVERALL COSTS IN MANUFACTURING, SINCE APPROX 65-70% OF THE COST OF A SOFA IS THE ACTUAL RAW MATERIAL.
7. BECAUSE OF THE FINISHING PROCESS USED FOR SPLIT LEATHERS, THIS TENDS TO BE THE MOST DURABLE FOR SERVICING ISSUES LIKE FADING, SPILLS, SCRATCHING THESE TEND TO BE MORE NON EXISTENT.
8. THESE LEATHERS WILL HAVE ZERO BREATH-ABILITY PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THE EMBOSSING AD THE APPLICATION OF COLOR AGENTS AND TOP COATS.THESE LEATHER ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SEATING SURFACES.USED FOR CHAMOIS CLOTHS, BELTING, INDUSTRY.
BONDED LEATHER (NOT REAL LEATHER) A PVC/PLASTIC/FIBER/GROUND LEATHER PRODUCT LAMINATE
1. MADE FROM A COMBINATION OF PVC (PLASTIC) FIBER CONTENT (NYLON OR SIMILAR)
AND 10-25% GROUND UP LEATHER FOR A BACKING ONLY.
2. GRAIN WILL BE UNIFORM BECAUSE IT IS ARTIFICIALLY EMBOSSED .
3. WILL NOT BREATH, WILL BE HOTTER OR COLDER TO THE TOUCH.
4. WILL DE-LAMINATE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF THE BONDED. USUALLY IN 1 -2 YEAR PERIOD.
5. AVOID THIS CHOICE FOR LONGER TERM USE.
SUMMARY:
IF YOU DESIRE THE SOFTEST AND MOST NATURAL LEATHERS FOR YOUR SEATING PURCHASE , A FULL TOP GRAIN/ ANILINE/ FULL ANILINE FINISHED LEATHER WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.KEEP IN MIND SERVICEABILITY GOES DOWN.
IF YOU DESIRE STILL AND SOFT AND NATURAL LEATHERS FOR YOUR SEATING PURCHASE , A FULL ENHANCED TOP GRAIN WITH AN FULL ANILINE FINISH LEATHER WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.KEEP IN MIND SERVICEABILITY IS USUALLY A LITTLE BETTER DUE TO MICRO-PIGMENT COLORING.
IF YOU DESIRE A NEXT DEGREE OF SERVICEABILITY, THEN THE LEATHER WILL HAVE SLIGHTLY FIRMER FEEL ( AS IN HAND) LESS NATURAL APPEARANCE , THEN A FULL GRAIN OR TOP GRAIN LEATHER WITH A ANILINE PLUS FINISH WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.
IF YOU DESIRE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SERVICEABILITY, THEN THE LEATHER WILL HAVE FIRMEST FEEL ( AS IN HAND) A UNIFORM APPEARANCE , THEN A TOP GRAIN LEATHER WITH A PIGMENT FINISH WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.
BONDED LEATHER - AVOID ENTIRELY.