The Perfect Armor Improved: Water Hardened Leather

Yiguan china leather factory

Some years ago, I wrote an article on how to make hardened leather armor, using beeswax. Since then, I have concluded that although the method I described works reasonably well for SCA purposes--I have fought in my wax hardened klibanion for a good many years now--it is quite unlikely that it is the method used in period for armor.

I reached that conclusion for three reasons:

•  Beeswax is a lubricant. Furthermore, stiffening the leather makes it easier to cut, just as it is easier to slice meat if it is half frozen. So although wax hardened leather provides protection against the sort of blunt weapons we fight with, it would be of very limited usefulness against sharp swords, arrows, and the like.
• Although I have found no period descriptions of the process for hardening leather, the period term for hardened leather is "cuirboulli," which translates as "boiled (or cooked) leather." That is not the natural way of describing the wax hardening process.
•  I have found an entirely different way of hardening leather which does fit the term and which produces armor that is much better protection against real weapons. This article describes that process. As it happens, in addition to being a better guess at what was done in period, it is also a somewhat better technology for making SCA armor. 

Leather Maintenance(2)

Third, leather care instructions:

1, ordinary leather The first layer of skin is the animal skin, good elasticity, fiber tight, you can see the skin injury, knife injury or toothpick marks, and leather itself pores, blood tendons and veins. The first layer of skin without treatment, the top tight, the following more loose, a transition due to leather processing dyeing staining, so the use of a period of time, especially the lighter color of the leather surface, there will be slight decolorization and wear skin, is a normal phenomenon .

2,patent leather: the surface is coated with high brightness light paint or crystal paint, gloss, leather surface firm, uniform color, suitable for the manufacture of popular fashion leather. High water resistance, no air permeability. Due to finishing heavy, cover strong, and more use of the first layer of defects and more skin production. Maintenance methods: the patent leather scratch is difficult to repair, try to avoid the use of hard objects, gravel scratches, wipe with a soft towel, not in the sun exposure or roasted, in order to prevent the leather surface hard, available colorless Care oil care, and wipe clean with a clean cloth back and forth, so as to maintain the original luster.

3, oil skin: When scratched with a fingernail when the surface will appear anti-white phenomenon. After hand rubbing will return to primary colors. This skin type oily, moist, thick but not hard, shiny. The first layer, there are two. Cleaning method: put a small amount of cotton on the leather oil, wipe evenly. Maintenance and precautions: pay attention to waterproof, anti-grease, try to avoid scratches with hard objects collision, resulting in cortical injury will not be able to recover. Oily heavy leather adhesive effect is poor, easy to open plastic. Can be used for maintenance of skin oil, such as Bili beads, varnish and the like.

4, water leather, waxing leather: test method: water dyed leather, waxing the surface without any decoration, just dyeing only, after polishing the surface of striae clear, three-dimensional sense of strong, smooth feel. Water dip leather surface, a significant wet India, the skin surface water. Cleaning method: in the cleaning process, can not use oil-based agent, the best rub with an eraser. Care and precautions: Water dyed leather, waxing leather is uncoated leather, easy to absorb moisture and stains, color is more prominent, the use should pay attention to avoid water or other stains, avoid contact with oil, not Rain, when not wipe the dust, keep the leather surface brightness, to prevent mildew.

5, wrinkled skin test method: the texture of the skin is more natural, a rough fine, feel better, through the wrestling machine is made of many beat processing. Cleaning method: easy to clean, with the general skin oil can be cleaned. Maintenance and Note: When not in use, it is best to hang up; if flat, to put on the surface, to avoid crushing wrinkles by other items, affecting the appearance.

Leather Maintenance(1)

First,the daily maintenance

(1). weekly use of  leather care solution for maintenance and care;

(2). Clean the leather with a soft cotton and leather wax wipe clean, so that will not hurt the leather, leather goods are not directly on the water where cleaning.

(3). To avoid the leather by a long exposure, rain;

(4). Avoid contact with acids, alkaline substances, corrosive substances, oil;

(5). Avoid sharp contact with hard objects or friction;

(6). To prevent overloading, overloading;

(7). When the leather damp, subject to moisture should be immediately dried, or dried with warm air;

(8). When the leather for long-term collection, the leather should be placed in the damp-proof agent, and plastic bags sealed in cold places.

Second,Matters needing attention：

1, when used to prevent the following: rain soaking, moist storage, prolonged sun exposure, 70 ℃ above the high temperature, not directly with the rough material friction, avoid contact with acid and other corrosive substances.

2, how to deal with wet or wet leather with newspapers according to the original shape of propped up leather goods, in the sun to avoid ventilation drying, with leather oil leather; not near the high temperature, avoid drying or exposure to fire .

3, the leather surface scratches: spray skin care oil, natural air-dried. Cover the surface with a dry cloth, hair dryer heated 30-60 seconds after repeated friction with a dry cloth.

4, leather torn and damaged, it should be timely repair. If a small crack, can be coated in the cracks at the egg white, cracks can be bonded.

5, leather mildew how to use soft dry cloth to wipe the moldy part of the wipe clean, and then wipe the skin evenly. Must not be wiped with water and gasoline, water can make leather harden, gasoline can make leather oil volatile and chapped.

to be continued

How to Remove the Smell of Leather(1)

how to remove the smell of leather, leather wallets, car leather chairs, leather clothing, has its own methods.

If Leather wallets have strong leather smell, you can put leather wallets into the refrigerator fresh day, you can also spray some perfume or champignon or put some tea, so can removed the smell.

Remove the automotive leather smell, the most effective is to put the car activated carbon, activated carbon has a strong adsorption effect, can quickly and effectively absorb the car leather smell. But do not the car perfume, otherwise the taste will be more unpleasant, but also to do under the sun exposure, otherwise the flavor will be even greater.

Remove leather garment odor, there are many ways, such as clean leather garment with alcohol and water; it is better to select special cleaning agent to remove leather with strong odor.

PCE has some of the odor removal effect, both leather cleaning dirt, but also to remove the smell of leather, and high efficiency.

The leather hung just showered and there is some steam bath within two to three hours, when the smell of leather in the evaporation of water will also evaporate, you can remove the odor when out to dry.

The leather hang in a dry, well-ventilated shade to blow odor. When hanging leather, you can spray a little vinegar on clothes, vinegar after air drying, there is no taste, the smell of leather and will reduce or even disappear.

When placed in leather or wearing leather, you can spray some of the perfume in leather garment, this will not lead to strong scent mixed with the smell of leather, leather will not cause odor distribution.

The 2-3 grapefruit skin wrapped in leather among place a week or so, you can remove the odor, but also smell the fragrance of grapefruit. You can place some grapefruit skin or some activated charcoal on cupboard to absorb odors.

to be continued

How to Maintain Furniture(2)

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6.Do not rinse plywood furniture, should not be placed in alkaline soak prevent splint bulk plastic or unglued.

7.Do not use different color to embed in furniture ,so as not to leave scar.

8.Do not wipe the dirt surface of the furniture with a dry cloth. Because dust is made of fiber, sand and siliceous, these tiny particles in the wiping back and forth friction, it has been damaged furniture finish. Although these little scratches, and even the naked eye can not see, but over time, it will lead to bleak rough surface of furniture.

9.When moving furniture not dragged, should put lightly; discharge should be placed flat steady, if uneven ground, the leg pad is to prevent damage to the mortise structure.

10.Not put hardness things on top of the wardrobe, in order to avoid the door bulge or deform; clothes do not pile up too much, so as not to exceed the door, causing the door shut lax.

The Principles and Maintain of PU Leather(2)

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2. Divided by product type:

(1) Furniture Maintain:

a. Place the furniture to avoid high temperatures. Too high temperature will change the appearance of synthetic leather. Therefore, furniture should not be placed near the stove, it should not be placed on the radiator edge and do not let direct sunlight.

b. Furniture do not place in the cold air blowing straight position , prevent to synthetic leather cold, cracking, hardening.

c. Do not place furniture in the humidity of the space, such as toilet, bathroom, kitchen.

d. Wipe synthetic leather furniture, do not use detergent or soap dipped in a wet towel, wipe with a dry cloth in general, with special leather care agent. If you accidentally knocked over drinks or water, wipe it dry immediately, to keep the surface dry.

(2) Leather shoes maintenance:

a. When the shoes dirty, scrub gently with water dipped in detergent, then rinse, wash and not touch the weapon. When brushing is not a long soak in the wash solution, the soaking time may not exceed 15 minutes.

b. Place the shade to dry, and avoid direct sunlight.

c. Avoid contact with organic reagents and fat class solution, but not at high temperature environment for a long time wearing. General wear or washing with a temperature not higher than 45 degree centigrade.

d. If long term storage, shoe brush clean firstly, cool dry place rear ventilated place.

(3) Clothing PU leather products:

a. a damp cloth dipped in water and diluted with a little detergent cleaning, avoid gasoline scrub or alcohol and not contact with organic solvents.

b. Not to dry wash

c . Not put on the sun exposure

d. PU leather coat needs to mount bagged collection, not off loaded