What is Pull Up, Oiled, Greased & Waxed Leather?
There have been a number of posts about the types and different grades of leather. However, the topic of leather seems like a never-ending discussion as it has so many different finishing, levels, and tanning methods that totally change the final product. Usually, people just go for a full or top-grain cowhide or sheepskin. But if they have a bit more knowledge about leather, they’d know about their preferences when it comes to finishing, leather grade, or its after treatment. Today, we’re talking about Pull up, distressed, oiled, greased and waxed leather. Which one of these is better for residential or corporate settings?
Pull Up Leather
Pull-up leather is basically the aniline-dyed animal hide. After applying special oils and waxes, the hides are vacuumed dried. The whole process of dyeing this type of leather aims to create deep and vibrant colors. It is finished using a combination of transparent waxes and oils. These elements make this leather super soft and smooth. The leather is stretched and pulled using hands or some special tools that make the dye penetrate better into the pores. As a result, the color migrates and becomes lighter in the pulled areas. This is where the name “pull-up leather’ came from. This process is known to make the leather look more vintage and worn because of the way it is handled and stretched. Just like any other real type of leather, this one also has evident signs of marks and scratches, and a rich patina, or a bit of glossy surface at some spots. This basically means that the leather will keep getting better and better over time.
Pull Up leather is most commonly used in making furniture, wallets, shoes, and bags. This type of leather is durable and can last for a long time if taken proper care of.
How To Care For Pull-Up Leather?
Newly Pulled up leather has open pores which make them prone to extreme water or heat damage. Its highly recommended to keep your leather protected from any wine, coffee, water, and heat exposure as they can cause stains that are either irremovable or hard to remove by general cleaning. To keep your leather as good as new for a longer period of time, you should get your hands on the color lock waterproofing spray. It can prevent the color of your leather from dimming. Other than that, if you’re planning to clean it, only use the cleaning products that are specifically made for leather. Never forget to apply leather moisturizer and cleaner at the end to restore the moisture.
REMEMBER! While cleaning, don't get the cloth too wet and only rub it on the surface in gentle circular motions, while ensuring that you don't stain the surface or remove any color.
Oiled And Greased Leather
Oiled leather basically means the animal hide that is tanned using certain oils that turn the leather into a more durable, charming, and wearable material. It has a natural rugged look which makes it perfect for manufacturing hiking and mountain boots, boat shoes and tack, furniture, and even certain clothing items for example cowboy hats, trousers, etc. To get the desired results, natural and synthetic oils are applied to the leather. This process is called tanning and it makes the leather highly water-resistant. The leather may come out as totally different in color as compared to its original shade depending on the raw hides, the amount and type of oils that are used, and, in some cases, on the dyes added to the oils. The final product looks a bit shiny on the surface but with use, the tone and texture get subtle. Based on the type of dyes that are mixed in the oil, sometimes the leather turns out to be completely mat. It's usually thicker and heavier than other types of leather yet it is supple.
Oiled leather can also be referred to as greased leather, but the only difference between them is the texture of the final product. As far as the durability of Oiled leather is concerned, it is long-lasting. Not only does it come with an undeniable value and return on investment but is also super easy to care for.
Waxed Leather
Waxing the leather refers to a process in which an oily or waxy finish is applied to a raw animal hide. Typically, there is not much difference between oiled, pull up or waxed leather. However, technically, in this particular process, waxes are dyed which causes the leather to transfer the color throughout the leather. As far as the characteristics of Waxed leather are concerned, it is soft and sensitive to scratches and abrasions. Therefore, the visible signs of wear tend to appear quickly, giving the leather a precious vintage look. So basically, the leather keeps getting better and better with time.
How To Clean And Care For Waxed Leather?
Waxed leather needs special care as compared to any other type of leather. You need to be careful to avoid any permanent water damage. To clean your waxed leather accessory, use a mild leather cleaner and rub it in gentle motions on the leather surface. Before exposing all of the leather to a certain cleaner, always do a patch test on a hidden area and allow it to dry on its own to see if everything turns out ok. Various products are available to maintain waxed leather but you must choose sensibly based on your leather finishing, color as well as the particular accessory i.e. furniture, shoes, jacket, bag, or gloves.
