Features & Advantages of Cowhide for Leather Bags

Do you want a leather bag and you do not know which one? Do not know the different types of animal skins that are used to make bags? You have reached the right place! The cowhide has many features and advantages that you can not miss Aim! What is cowhide?

Cow leather is usually the most used for the manufacture of bags and as its name suggests, this type of leather is removed from the skin of cows. It is usually of very good quality and very versatile, but, being of the skin of a non-domestic animal, it usually presents streaks, scratches and holes. What are the general beneficial properties of cowhide? Cow leather has been used since ancient times to dress people and today is considered a quality product.

To determine the quality of a skin is analyzed by the location on the leather . Cow leather that is complete can be divided into 5 sections. There are two segments in the stomach, in the lower part that includes the abdomen in addition to the front legs. This part is usually the one that has the least quality and often leads to defects and irregularities. Better leather and more resistant than the one previously mentioned, is that of the part of the two legs of the upper part of the cow, that is, in the back. It usually has more strength and fewer defects, but, undoubtedly, the best leather the cow has is the front loin, on the back of the head of the cow. In addition to the above properties it has better texture than that of the other parts.

Cowhide leather has several properties that make it very suitable for the manufacture of bags, as well as clothing, hats, belts, wallets, footwear. This skin, as mentioned in one of the previous post , is thicker and more resistant so it will be less prone to breakage than that of another animal. The bags made with cow leather are usually flexible, breathable, ductile and can be dyed or left with its natural finish. It is durable , with this we mean that its aging is good and can last up to 5 times more than other types of fabrics.

As an anecdote, we can tell you that the riders use this material for the durability and resistance properties that we mentioned above. It repels moisture, retains its shape and is resistant to sun damage and heat, very suitable for the outdoors.

The highest quality cow leather is full grain leather. It is the strongest grain and with the highest level that we can find in the skin of the cow and that is located under the hair. The skin that is under the epidermis is the most resistant since it has the fibers of the skin very connected and united. Full-grain leather is of such high quality because it is not treated, that is, polished and filed to remove stains and defects that may be on the surface of the skin. In addition, there is another treatment that is done to other skins that is ironing with hot plates to simulate another artificial texture and that does not include this type of skins as they break the fibers and decrease the quality of this skin.

To delve into the beneficial properties that we can find in cowhide we can analyze the chemical properties of this. This characteristic of the skins is not usually analyzed and is very important. It is usually evaluated with tests through chemicals. This humidity will change according to the conditions to which the skin is exposed and, as we have said before, this characteristic is important because it very often conditions the physical properties that we will analyze later. The ideal moisture that cow leather should have is 12% to 14%. This is achieved by drying a sample of cow skin up to a constant weight of 100 ° C.The level of fat contained in the cowhide is very controlled by the tanner and has important properties in the finished product as the fat gives flexibility and handling to the skin. If the fat is very low the skin (like ours) will be dry and therefore will tend to crack. In contrast, if the skin is very oily it will not be perceived in the manufacturing processes but once finished, this grease can go outside and solidify so that a waxy film will remain on the surface. The amount of skin fat is determined by extraction with a solvent. The fat levels of a leather are very variable, from 1-2% to 15-20% depending on the use that is going to be given.

The pH of the skin is analyzed to determine the acidity or alkaline of this. The pH range goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic level and 14 the most alkaline level. The normal thing in leather is that its pH level oscillates between 3.2 and 5.5 so it would be considered acidic. This level is achieved through a good tanning process.A low pH level can cause leather aging to occur earlier than usual.

The previous characteristics of cowhide can condition, as has already been said, the physical characteristics of this. These characteristics that make it so good to make purse are the following: High tensile strength. Tear resistance. Very high resistance to bending. High resistance to puncture. Good thermal insulation Large amount of air that is very bad heat conductor so it gives comfort.

Leather is warm in winter and cool in summer. Elastic properties to be able to be modeled and retain their new shape without problem. Resistance to wet and dry abrasion. It is inherently resistant to heat and flames. Resistant to fungi.