How do you tell if leather you are going to use is chrome tanned?

L

Loosearrow

Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
1,810
I know that you want veg tanned for your knives and holsters to keep down the reaction with metal. When I was younger, I was told that recycled leather having a bluish green tint to it on the inside was chrome tanned. I don't know if this is true or not. I have some recycled leather that came from some chairs that I would like to recycle and make some sheaths or axe covers. Any ideas on telling the difference in tanned leathers.
 
I've only seen chrome tanned white leathers. They tend to have a plasticky solventy smell went bent and rubbed. The surfaces are usually slick and shiny. Upholstery leather is generally too thin for sheaths, unless you use it with inlays or to cover the supporting material eg. wooden liners.
You really want 2mm or thicker.

PS: Chrome tanned tends to "bead" water veg tan will absorb water.
 
Thanks for the reply so quickly. The chairs were thick Italian tan dyed leather that was stretched across a chrome frame seat and back and is fairly thick. A leather shop was hired to redo the chairs in new leather and the guy was just throwing it away due to stains etc. I thought that the heavy stiff flat leather would be perfect for sheaths etc. It was free to boot. As far as beading water I'm sure the leather has a finish to it wax etc. and may bead the water.
 
Last edited:
The best overall method I learned was to take a small swatch, about an inch square, and burn it. If it turns black its vegetable tanned leather, if it has a bluish green cast its chrome tanned. Its the chromium salts that turn blue/green.

If you really want to use that leather and its chrome tanned, just line the sheath with a very thin calf or cow hide. Problem solved. :)
 
You can also seal the leather with SnowSeal. I do this with all my sheaths, including latigo (saddle) leather, which keeps the chemicals used for tanning from affecting the blades. Also inhibits moisture absorption by the leather.
 
Tried the "ash" test with samples of known provenance. Definite visual difference between veg tan and chrome tanned ash. The chrome tan ash has a "greenish" hue and the veg tan is "black/gray" under natural light. My photography skills were not adeqaute enough to take decent pictures of the difference.
 
thanks for the information. I will have to try burn method to determine tanning method. I suppose if the leather is not veg tanned I can use it for other projects. Regards
 
Chrome tan is processed with chromium dioxide, and dry the leather out and turns a bluish gray after time. The leather has no character like veg-tan belting leather. Veg tan ages over time and create a patina on the leather. The only way to clean
belting leather, is to use hot water on a cloth to own up the pours and release the dirt.
Tom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top