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In order to use Leather Master Products correctly and to obtain the maximum cleaning and protection results, it is essential to be able to recognize the various types of leather (Aniline, Protected, and Nubuck), thus avoiding the use of products where not suited.
Leather Master works in collaboration with many upholstery manufacturers in classifying their leathers into the following three catagories: Aniline (A) Protected (P) Nubuck (N)
Aniline: Cleaning Code (A)
These leathers are coloured with transparent dye stuff. This means that you are able to see the actual surface grain and markings. It is as if you are looking through a coloured lens. These leathers have very little or no protective treatments applied to them. Some Aniline leathers are treated with a Wax or Oil finish to provide protection creating a "Pull-Up" effect. These leathers require regular maintanance through application of Waxon or Oleosa care products. The method in which the leather is made varies from tannery to tannery.
Ways to identify Aniline:
For care and maintenance purposes we need to know if the surface has been brushed (has a texture like velvet) or not. This is the point at which people have difficulty distinguishing Nubuck from Aniline. There are several ways you can identify an Aniline leather.
1. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter colour scratch mark. If it scratches to a lighter colour, it is Aniline. This is not the only test to do because some Nubucks will do this also.
2. Wet your finger and lightly rub it into the leather to see if it turns a darker shade. It should darken, lightly, but dry invisibly.
Protected or Pigmented: Cleaning Code (P)
These leathers have combined the best aspects of a natural product (leather) and have utilized tannery technology to create a product that is more uniform in appearance and colour (due to the application of pigments to the surface). It then has a finish applied to the surface that makes the leather more resistant to the effects of heavy use. The pigments and finish applied to the leather do affect the soft hand somewhat. The more finish that is applied the less soft the leather. Protected leathers are the most common leathers in Canada and make up a large majority of the market.
Ways to Identify Protected:
1. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter colour scratch mark. If it does not scratch to a lighter colour (this means the colour remains the same), then it is a Protected leather.
2. Use Soft Cleaner and clean the leather. The cleaner should stay on top of the finish and should not darken the leather.
3. The surface should have some sheen level to it. It is like looking at wood that has a lacquer finish compared to a wipe-on oil treatment.
Nubuck: Cleaning Code (N)
This leather starts out as an Aniline which the surface has been brushed or sanded, and have created a texture similar to a velvet on leather. Many people confuse these with Suede leather. Suede is the flesh side of a piece of leather, and Nubuck is an effect that is done to the grain side, making it incredibly soft. Creating a nap on the leather makes it even more absorbent than Aniline leathers.
Ways to identify Nubuck:
1. The surface should have a texture similar to velvet. Move your hand across the surface of the leather to see if shading appears similar to the effect when you vacuum a carpet in one direction and then in another, if so, it is Nubuck.
2. Wet your finger and rub it lightly on the surface. The surface will darken and also will dry to a slightly darker shade.
3. For waxed surfaces, rub an area of the leather with a sponge several times. This will remove the wax and let you see if the leather meets 1 or 2 above.
Does your leather not match these characteristics?
Please visit our Specialty Leather section.
