Nubuck

A nubuck shoe

Nubuck (pronounced /ˈnjuːbʌk/) is top-grain cattle rawhide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface. It is resistant to wear, and may be white or coloured.^[1]

Nubuck is similar to suede. It differs in that suede is created from the inner side of a hide, whereas nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness along with a fine grain.^[2] It is generally more expensive than suede, and must be coloured or dyed heavily to cover up the sanding and stamping process.

Some of the identifying characteristics of nubuck are similar to aniline leather; it is very soft to the touch, it will scratch very easily, and water drops will darken the leather temporarily (it will return to its original color upon drying).^[3]

The word nubuck probably comes from new + buck(skin).^[4]

Notes

1. ^ http://www.kiwicare.com/US/FAQ/
2. ^ http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/glossary.html
3. ^ Caring For Leather Upholstery - Wayne Jordan
4. ^ Merriam-Webster, nubuck, Oxford English Dictionary

References

• Tanning and Leather Finishing. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. 2000. 

• American Leather Chemists Association ALC (1906). The Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association. American Leather. 

• Bredenberg, Jeff (1999). Clean It Fast, Clean It Right: The Ultimate Guide to Making Absolutely Everything You Own Sparkle & Shine (New Ed ed.). Rodale Books. p. 544. ISBN 1579540198. 

• Burch, Monte (2002). The Ultimate Guide to Skinning and Tanning: A Complete Guide to Working with Pelts, Fur, and Leather (First edition ed.). The Lyons Press. p. 240. ISBN 1585746703. 

• Churchill, James E. (1983). The Complete Book of Tanning Skins and Furs. Stackpole Books. p. 197. ISBN 0811717194. 

• Goldstein-Lynch, Ellen; Sarah Mullins, Nicole Malone (2004). Making Leather Handbags and Other Stylish Accessories. Quarry Books. p. 128. ISBN 1592530761. 

• Kite, Marion; Roy Thomson (2005). Conservation of Leather and Related Materials. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 240. ISBN 0750648813. 

• Michigan Historical Reprint Series (2005). The art of tanning leather. Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library. p. 266. ISBN 142552365X. 

• O'Flaherty, Fred; Roddy Lollar (1956). The Chemistry and Technology of Leather. American Chemical Society, ACS Monograph 134, Krieger Publishing Co., 1956, reprint 1978. 

• Parker, Sybil P (1992). McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology: an international reference work. New York; St Louis; San Francisco: McGraw-Hill. p. 508. ISBN 0-07-909206-3. 

• Procter, H.R. (1885). A text-book of Tanning: A Treatise on the Conversion of Skins into Leather, both Practical and Theoretical. E. & F.N. Spon. p. 281. 

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (2001). Home Tanning of Leather and Small Fur Skins. Univ Pub House. p. 24. ISBN 1570021953. 

• Watt, Alexander (2005). Leather Manufacture: A Practical Handbook of Tanning, Currying, and Chrome Leather Dressing. Adamant Media Corporation. p. 504. ISBN 0543775720. 

External links

• Leather industry directory