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How do you tackle peeling leather? There is a solution but it will always have drawbacks!

From experience I know whatever causes the peeling (also known as de-lamination) theres a chance it's going to happen again due to the flex of the leather during useage.
It's all about managing your customers expectations and giving no guaruntee, consider that you don't want a problem you didn't create becoming your responsibility down the line.

What causes peeling on genuine leather?

It can be a variety of causes

1. The pigment coating hasn't been bonded correctly to the leather during the tanning/finishing process, quite simply the pigment isn't stretching with the leather and pulls away from the surface.

2. From time to time I have seen pigment peeling off aniline leather, again at the tannery they may be left with odd aniline hides which they spray with pigment to make up a batch, the oil or wax content within the aniline leather can contaminate the pigment and cause it to peel.

3. Some delamination slightly crumbles or peels leaving a cleaner version of itself underneath, this is most probably the clear sealant breaking down due to wear, dirt and lack of care routine.

How do we tackle it?

If its the pigment or sealant is peeling, sand back as much as possible until it peels no more.
Clean the area using a water based cleaner, rinse using solvent prep cleaner.
Apply bonder using a cotton bud or finger cloth the smooth over the edges and adhere it down to the surface, this is a slow painstaking process but necessary.
Re-color and seal if required.

Why is the repair likely to be short term?

Not all repairs will fail but its likely to be a high percentage.
The problem is the peeling starts from underneath the pigment, we can only repair from the top of the pigment.
The area will always remain fairly unstable, when leather is flexing during useage it puts a lot of stress on the pigment which simply can't hold on to the leather forever.

If you have any technical leather problems, contact Jackie Roberts - Head technical advisor for Buffalo Products.
contact@buffaloleather.co.uk

• You have control over production of your product backed up with great technical advice
• You have control over your own pricing without competition for the same brand. 
• As the seller, you control your pricing which helps with create a healthy profit margin.
• Control over marketing and branding. You choose how to promote your own branded products before making them available for sale.

Here at Buffalo products, suppliers to the trade of leather chemicals, repair and care products ... we are trying not to raise our prices during this cost of living crisis!

On the whole we re-lowered most of our prices after the pandemic when our chemical supplies went back to normal, yes we have raised a few but only nominally due to the rising cost of the raw ingredients.
What we have done is try to lower some of our business overheads to compensate for the rising cost of running our company rather than over raise trade prices passing that cost to you.

We remain fiercly loyal to all our customers, offering free advice, free leather application tips, and special offers here and there... as a thank you for your custom.

Jackie Roberts
Leather Technical Manager