Top grain leather is one of the main leather grades. We have collected 10 of the most common questions about this Top Grain Leather.
1 - What is top grain leather?
Top grain leather is the second highest grade of leather. It has a uniform finish and is thinner and more workable than full grain leather, but it does not have its strength or durability.
2 - What does top grain leather look like?
The imperfections which occur naturally in full grain leather have been sanded away and the top
grain leather is imprinted with a regular imitation grain. The result is a smooth, uniformly patterned surface.
3 - Where does top grain leather come from?
There are 3 possible answers:
Where in the world does top grain leather come from?
The top six leather producing countries in the world are: China, India, Italy, Brazil, Korea and Russia. China produces 80% of the world’s leather.
Which animals are used in the production of leather?
Most leather is made from cows, because of their availability, their size and the quality of the leather. Leather can also be made from pigs, sheep, deer and horses. Small quantities of exotic leathers like a alligators, snakes, frogs and sting-rays.
>Where on the hide does top grain leather come from?
As its name suggests, top grain leather comes from the top of the hide, but several millimeters have been removed from the surface in order to eliminate imperfections.
4 - How is top grain leather made?
Several millimeters from the surface of the hide are sanded away, the leather is then buffed to create a smooth, blemish free surface.
5 - How to protect top grain leather
Top grain leather will have an aniline dye or a semi aniline dye. The leather should be nourished every three months, depending on the type of item and its usage.
You can also use a leather Conditioner, like the one we have in our stock, to give some more softness and care to the leather surface.
Disclaimer: You should always test any new products on a small inconspicuous area of the leather first, before applying all over, to ensure you are happy with any changes that may occur to the appearance and texture.
6 - How long will top grain leather lasts?
The life of your top grain leather will depend on the initial quality of the hide, the type of product and its usage and care. Obviously a Full grain leather will lasts longer, but top grain leather will last for a quite while too.
7 - How thick is top grain leather?
The thickness of an animal hide will depend on the type of animal. A cow hide, the most likely choice for top grain leather, is about 3/64thof an inch thick, the thickness of a coin.
8 - Can top grain leather peel?
Top grain leather which has a semi aniline dye and protective coating will peel over time.
9 - Can top grain leather be bonded?
Bonded leather is the lowest quality leather which is made by gluing scraps of leather together in the way that chipboard is made from scraps of wood. Top grain leather is not bonded, it is the top layer of the hide which has had surface imperfections removed.
10 - Common uses of top grain leather<
Top grain leather is soft and attractive and most of the common items we know are made with top grain leather.
Do you have other questions or curiosities about the Top Grain Leather?
Let us know in the comments below.
