Full-grain leather refers to hides that nothing has been done to change its outer grain, this means that the surface has not been sanded or buffed to remove imperfections thus retaining more characteristics of leather. It is considered to be the highest quality and long-lasting leather you can buy because it has not been sanded and therefore the surface is more natural and its thickness tends to be small.
Full-grain leather is obtained from animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle, although cattle skin is the most commonly used. It is made from the hide just below the hair since this is where the hide of an animal is known to be long-lasting and also the strongest.
The quality of the full-grain leather greatly depends on the skin of the animal it was gotten from and this is because it is not shaved to do away with the imperfections or make it less thick and therefore it shows any scratches and damages on the animal’s hide while it was still alive.
Full-grain leather is known to be strong, hard, tough and most durable compared to other types of leather such as the top grain leather. It tends to be thick and because of this reason, it is less often used to make small items because it can be hard to shape. Full-grain leather looks better and has more fibber strength and ages well through the years as it develops a patina from handling.
Every full-grain leather will show some scratches and imperfections that the animal had encountered while still alive. Since it is known to be the highest quality leather it is widely used in the manufacture of utility belts, shoes, bags, wallets, furniture, and other accessories. The durability of this leather also makes it suitable for the manufacture of items and accessories that require long term performance. Check out our Full Grain Leather Toiletry Bag
Advantages of Full Grain Leather
- It is tough and hard that makes it suitable for elegant furniture and accessories that will last for ages.
- It develops a patina with time giving it a beauty.
- The natural beauty of the animal hide which makes it so valuable.
- It is a long-lasting leather.
Disadvantages of Full Grain Leather
- More expensive than other types of leather.
- It is hard to work with thus making it more costly to produce.
- Its hardness makes it not suitable for products that require flexible leather.
- Less resistant to stains compared to other kinds of leather.
- Less consistent due to natural defects and surface damages on the animal hide.
Care and Maintenance of Full Grain Leather
Ensure that you take care of your full-grain leather item according to the instructions given by the manufacturer to enhance its durability. Some things that you need to do to take care of your full grain leather are such as using a wet piece of cloth to wipe off areas which need more cleaning. Ensure that you always allow your leather product to dry at room temperature and always avoid the use of heat to dry your leather as this can lead to cracking on the item. Or You can Buy our Leather Conditioner.