Tanning Materials and Uses

1.0 Vegetable tanning

1.1 The major tanning method until the 20th century
1.2 Uses extracts of barks, leaves, fruits, roots and wood
1.3 Used for Shoe Soles, Belts, Straps, Industrial Leathers, Classical Upholstery, Shoe Linings, Bookbinding, and many types of Leathergoods
1.4 Is not 100% fixed to the leather and will wash out over time

2.0 Chrome Tanning

2.1 The predominant tanning method throughout the world
2.2 Uses chrome sulphates
2.3. Used for Shoe Uppers, Gloving, Clothing, modern Upholstery, certain types of Sole Leather and finds its way into most forms of leather
2.4 Fully fixed to fibre and does not wash out

3.0 Alum Tanning

3.1 The ancient art of Tawing
3.2 Uses Alum or aluminium sulphate or chlorides
3.3 Used for Glove Leather, Fur skins, and Cricket Ball Leather
3.4 Tannage is weak and can be washed out

4.0 Oil Tannage

4.1 Uses Cod oil.
4.2 Wash Leathers (chamois) and washable Glove Leathers
4.3 Creates a very absorbent leather
4.4 Does not wash out

5.0 Aldehyde Tannage

5.1 Formaldehyde is normal but Glutaraldehyde is also used
5.2 Used for washable Glove Leather and Clothing Leather
5.3 Very resistant to sweat, and does not wash out. Absorbent.
5.4 Used as a pretan (wet white) to allow easier management, transportation and processing of skins prior to tannage

6.0 Syntans

6.1 Enormously varied raw material sources and types
6.2 Properties and utilisation very widely spread
6.3 Normal used in conjunction with other tannages to produce selected combined benefits - tight flanks, white leather, low density etc.