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. 

5 Tips: How to care for leather clothing

If a glitter leather gets wet,hang it to dry, away from heat. Putting it in a dryer or near a heating vent could cause it to shrink and lose its shape.

1. If you get a stain on a garment,don’t try to remove it yourself unless a leather-cleaning professional has advised you to. “The danger is you start removing the color and then it’s harder than ever to get out and restore,” Orlin says, noting it doesn’t matter if the piece is bright yellow, blue or a natural-looking brown. “We usually tell people who call us that we’d like to see the garment first and tell them what the alternatives are.”
2. Store leather garments on padded hangersand cover with a plain bed sheet or cloth garment bag. Avoid plastic bags, as they don’t allow the garment to “breathe,” and can promote mold and mildew. Store in a dark, dry place. Sunlight will cause fading.
3. Avoid letting a leather garment touch your skinin areas where it’s likely to come in contact with oils from your body and hair. Similarly, don’t let perfume or hairspray get on your leather apparel. They are hard to remove and the process of removing them can take color out of the clothing. “Wear a scarf,” Orlin recommends.
4. Clean leather regularly.What about those who never clean their leather jackets, believing they improve with age? “It’s sort of like not cleaning your sheets,” Orlin says. “Believe me, they get dirty.”

How to Clean a Leather Phone Case

Yiguan Leather，a China leather factory

Leather Phone Cases

Leather phone cases are durable and beautiful options for cell phones. The cases come in a variety of colors and styles. Learning how to clean a leather phone case can help keep the protective case in top notch condition. 

Cloth Cleaning

Minor smudges and dirt can be easily cleaned with a dry cloth. Shoppers can find microfiber cloth sets designed specifically for leather. The cloths can be used dry or with a touch of water. 

Cleaning and Conditioning

Regularly wiping the leather cell phone case can keep it in good shape. However, it helps to clean and condition the leather for optimal care. An all purpose leather cleaner and conditioner can help keep leather cell phone cases like new. 

Leather CPR

Leather CPR is a good choice for cases that have seen some wear and tear.  This product not only cleans and conditions the leather, it helps repair damage in the process.  

Leather Care Kits

Leather care kits might be the best choice for those who have multiple leather products at home. Getting into a regular routine of cleaning and conditioning all leather items is a great way to keep them in the best condition possible. 

Leather Repair Kit

Cell phone cases get a lot of use, and from time to time even the highest quality products show some wear and tear. Leather repair kits are available in a wide range of colors so finding a perfect match is simple. 

Leather Cleaning Methods

Leather to the following example:

Leather washing by washing in different ways, divided into machine wash and hand wash two; according to the different nature of washing, dry cleaning and wet cleaning into two categories. Machine washing is mainly through the leather dry cleaning machines for cleaning, hand washing will need to use washing tools and washing techniques for cleaning. Machine wash usually use tetrachlorethylene solvent (also oil and fluorine solvent), low-temperature immersion, due to machine wash by many laundry equipment condition control, at present our country, small laundry mostly manual cleaning. The following brief some manual cleaning practical methods, for reference only. 

The main washing tools: short hair brush, brown hair brush, sponge, plastic cleaning balls, towels, cotton balls, washbasin, wash case, air spray gun, portrait gas mode. In this case,

In this case,

The main washing materials: gasoline, methanol (alcohol), tetrachlorethylene, hydroxide (ammonia), detergent, liquid soap, hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), sodium chloride (salt), alum, sodium sulfate ), Vinegar and other fine.

First

smooth leather cleaning

1. Small area of ​​oil treatment

Washing solvent:> 90 # gasoline or tetrachlorethylene. In this case,

Washing method: the leather shop in the wash case, with a sponge or cotton ball dipped in the amount of solvent on the leather parts of the oil scrub, oil removal, with a towel dipped in 40-50 degrees Celsius hot water on the scrubbing parts of micro-processing, set Ventilation shade to dry. 

2. Large area of ​​oil treatment

Washing solution:

A solution: 95% alcohol, 25% ammonia, the ratio of 1: 1

B solution: 25% ammonia, softener, water, the ratio of 1: 1: 1

Washing method: the leather tile on the wash case, with a short brush dipped in A solution to scrub the way pre-wash, while scrubbing with a towel to scrub, adsorption dirt and dirty fluid, oil removal, dipped in B liquid secondary cleaning (Ibid.), Towel net surface, set the ventilation shade to dry.

3. Skin color shade old processing

Washing solution:

A liquid: detergent, water, the ratio of 1: 400 concentration of 0.25% - 0.3%, water temperature 35-40 ℃

B liquid: brightener, smooth agent, water, the ratio of 1: 1: 4

Washing method: the leather tile in the wash case, with a brown brush dipped in A liquid gently scrub, while scrubbing side with a towel wipe clean, remove the oil, with a sponge impregnated B liquid to scrub the way the soft surface treatment, Put it aside for 15 minutes, the net surface of the towel, home ventilation and cool place to dry. 4. Leather surface denitrification hardening treatment

Washing solution:

A: liquid, salt, water, the ratio of 1: 1: 2 (dissolved mixed preparation); common amount: 250 grams of salt, 250 grams of salt, 55 grams of soft water. 

B liquid: fatliquor (water) slip agent, softener, water, the ratio of 1: 2: 2: 10, water temperature 40-45 degrees Celsius.

Liquid C: formaldehyde, water, the ratio of 1: 8 or 1:10.

Washing method: the leather tile on the wash case, with a brown brush dipped in A solution repeatedly brushing leather so that it fully penetrate the leather, put it aside for 30 minutes, with a plastic cleaning ball dipped in B liquid repeatedly scrub leather surface, standing 15 Minute, the net surface of the towel, the leather sets in portrait gas mode, with the spray gun to C liquid evenly atomized to the leather, home ventilation cool place to dry.