WSA

Introduction | About us | Hide grading | Wet Blue Working for us | Contact us
Hide grading
Most offers will specify a selection of 70/30% Firsts/Seconds, meaning there will be a maximum of 30% seconds.

-First selection
These are hides with no holes in the prime area and up to three holes in the offal.

-Second selection
Hides with up to three holes in the prime area and up to three or more holes in the offal.

-Flay selection
The standard of take-off may vary depending of the origin, the majority of our hides originate from cattle that have been slaughtered in EU inspected slaughtering facilities and many of these have mechanical hide pullers and air knives.

-Curing
The majority of hides in Europe and Latin America are wet salted. One of the major factors in determining the quality and value of leather is the early treatment of hides and skins. If there is a delay between removing the hide or skin from the carcass and the beginning of the curing process, damage can occur. Hides and skins can digest themselves through a process called autolysis and they are also subject to bacterial degradation. Curing involves preservation by either salting or bringing and both of the above mentioned degradative processes are controlled if this is done properly. Faulty curing results from the lack of uniform penetration of sufficient salt, however, other problems can arise if salt tolerant bacteria are present. These latter bacteria are controlled by additional preservatives.

-Wet blue hides
For wet blue hides we tend to keep the original selection made in wet salted excluding faulty hides or low grades ("T/R free of rejects"). Special arrangements can be made at the request of our customers regarding quality grading. The following products are usually available on a regular basis:wet blue whole hides, full substancewet blue grains split in bluewet blue drop splitsdouble butt splits and groupons

-Semifinished leather (“Crust”)
Upon request, we can produce both full chrome and semi-vegetable bovine crust for the shoe and garment industries. Prices may vary depending on thickness and colours.

 
The Subdivisions of Leather

Belly F or G
Single Bend D or E
Double Back B+C+D+E+A
Side A+B+D+F or A+C+E+G
Back A+B+D or A+C+F
Double Shoulder B+C
Single Shoulder A+B or A+C

Leather terms

Buying leather can be much easier if you understand what the different types of leather are used for, how different leathers are tanned and how skins are sold. If you still have questions, please call us at 1.888.890.1611.

Back – A side with the belly cut off, usually 15 – 18 sq. ft.

Belly – The lower part of a side, usually 4 – 8 sq. ft.

Kip – The skin of a large calf, usually 9 – 17 sq. ft.

Split – This refers to the undersection of a piece of leather that has been split into two or more thicknesses. Splits are usually embossed with a design and finished or sueded.

Suede Split – Leather that has been sanded to produce a nap.

Grain – The epidermis or outer layer of animal skins.

Full Grain – Leather that is just as it was when taken off the animal. Only the hair has been removed and the grain or epidermis is left on.
Note: Only full grain, vegetable tanned leather will absorb water and tool correctly. All leather carving
and tooling must be done on full grain leather.

Top Grain – Top grain leather has often been sanded to remove scars and then sprayed or pasted to "cover up" the work. Top grain is not the same as "Full Grain" leather.

Thickness or Weight – Leather is usually measured in terms of ounces. One ounce equals 1/64th of an inch thickness. Thus, a weight of 7 to 8 oz. means the leather is 7/64th to 8/64th of an inch thickness. In an effort to make leather a uniform thickness, wet hides are run through a splitting machine. However, each animal is different and there is always a slight thickness variation throughout the hide. This is why leathers are usually shown with a range of thickness, such as, 4 to 5 oz., 6 to 7 oz., etc.

Tanning Process

• Receiving and Storing - As soon as the hide has been removed from the animal it must be cooled to prevent bacterial putrefaction. The hide is then prepared for tanning

• Soaking - restores lost moisture to hide

• Unhairing (also known as liming) - remove hair and other soluble proteins. The hair and epidermis are removed by treating the hide in a computer controlled drum where low sulphide, hair-save liming system is used. This is more ecological than the traditional hair-burn process. Liming swells the hide which gives the finished leather the required softness and flexibility.

• Tanning - After liming, the hide is prepared for tanning. The first step is to de-lime (also known as “bating”) the hide by neutralising its structure by removing liming chemicals and non-leather making substances. This is followed by enzymes which produce a fine, smooth grain. Pickling – next step right after bating -- with acid brings the pH range down to the correct level and hence transforming hides into a suitable acid environment for tanning. We at Intercuero use chromium sulphate, a mineral salt to tan. The end product of the tanning process is called 'wet blue' and in this state the hide is stable and saleable.

• Wringing and Sorting - Remove excess moisture and sort for thickness before splitting

• Splitting and Shaving - Adjust the thickness for the requirements of the end use

• Re-tanning (“crusting”) and finishing - operations required to turn the wet blue hide into semi-finished (“crust”) leather and then into finished leather.
For any technical enquiries, contact by e-mail: Gerson@intercuero.com

Waterproof

We have branded our waterproof leathers “ANTI-AQUA” signifying water being repelled by the waterproof properties built into the leather. The leather is being sold worldwide for the manufacturing of footwear destined for North America and Europe. The footwear style where ANTI-AQUA is being used varies from casual-adventure to sporting, basic work and military footwear. ANTI-AQUA results across the range of waterproof leathers have been overwhelmingly satisfactory. Starting with the best quality hides sourced from around Europe, Intercuero produces specialised leathers for manufacturers of upholstery, footwear and accessories accompanied by a unique Italian know-how.