Softening

Softening leather

Consumers always touch leather first. Is it soft, warm, natural? Consumers wish soft garment leather, as well as car or furniture leather. Leather in most cases should be as soft and natural as possible. The tanner achieves this through various processes.

Tumbling

Tumbling is the softening of the leather fibres caused by rotating movement in a narrow, high, rotating barrel. This is necessary because the leather fibres stick during drying and the leather feels more firm. Also, the finish on the leather makes the leather stiffer and must be softened. In the barrels are short rods and steps, which additionally reinforce the movement of the leather.

The drums are narrow and the fibres are additionally loosened by rods or steps when rotating in the walking barrel

Stacking - Stacking machine

Also stacking makes leather softer by softening the leather fibres. A stacking machine has two plates with knobs and opposite recesses. By constantly vibrating the plates with the nubs into the recesses, the leather is punctually pressed into the recesses by the nubs and the fiber is thereby stretched. By this method besides the softening, the total surface of the hide grows by the stretching of the leather fibres.

The stacking machine softens the leather.

Softening leather by hands

Wetted leather is often stiff after drying. The leather fibres stick together during drying. The easiest way is to wipe the leather when it is still slightly moistened. Then the fibres can be loosened more easily than waiting until the leather is already completely dry. But also, dried leather fibres can be softened by wiping.

For light leather clothing, it is enough to wipe, rub, knead and pull the leather with the hands. Alternatively, the clothing can also be placed in the dryer with cold air and tennis balls. This copies the tumbling in the tannery. Motorcycle suits are too big for that.

To soften furniture or car leather, hold a bottle neck of an empty glass bottle with one hand and roll the leather softer with the lower edge of the bottle by pressing and rolling with the second hand. Due to the rolling movement, the surface is not damaged by abrasion.

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Video about leather production

The leather production in a modern tannery.

Process steps in the leather production
storage - soaking - liming - fleshing - splitting - pickling - tanning - neutralising - withering - sorting - shaving - dyeing (through colouring) and fatliquoring - drying - finish - softening - final check

Tanning methods
Chrome tanning - Vegetable-tanned leather - Synthetic tanning - Tanning with fats and oils

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