Way to take care of different Types of Leather

The most common leather is cowhide. A variety of animal skins are used to produce different looks in leather. Once leather is tanned and processed, certain sections are selected for use on a particular application. It will then go through another series of processing and splitting for each application. Leather quality is determined by the actual processes and chemicals used in its production. Respectable manufacturers use high quality in the production of furniture, car upholstery, as well as jackets and clothing. Lower priced leather on the other hand, means lower quality and is less durable in the long run.

There are 3 kinds of leather:

1.Top grained (protected and coated) - is leather used in all applications- car upholstery, jackets and clothing. This is the easiest to maintain and also the most durable. It has that “finished look” and somewhat heavier. If a drop of water is spilled, it will bead up and cause no darkening of the spot and is easily wiped away.

2.Aniline- is a very soft feeling form of leather with no finish on the surface leaving it “unsealed” and prone to dirt and staining. Being much more difficult to maintain, it is used on furniture and clothing.

a.Suede (Nubuck) - is a form of aniline leather. It has that brushed look and appears “Knapp” which will change colors when the surface is gently touched with hand or other objects. Water will bead up but when wiped, will be absorbed creating a “dark” spot.

3.Semi Aniline- is also uncoated leather but has a finished look. The surface has the same appearance as top coated leather but will be a bit softer and lighter in feel. When a droplet of water is spilled - it will be absorbed right away and cause a dark spot. This is the most difficult to care for. It is the most common leather used in furniture.

The different types of leather mentioned, need different approaches in caring and maintaining.

A.Faded and worn- can still happen even if you take real good care of it. Surface must be cleaned of any accumulated dirt and you may use a recoloring kit to restore. It is very simple to use.

B.Stains- pet stains, spills, ink stains, and others can be removed if done immediately. Use a stain remover and replace the finish over stained area using a recoloring kit.

C.Cleaning, Conditioning and protecting your leather- before buying maintenance products, fist know the type of leather. Using any product not meant for your leather can cause staining and further damage. All leather should be cleaned regularly, conditioned and protected about every 3mos.

All top coated, “finished or protected” leather may be cleaned easily using leather care products. Most dirt, grime, oil and stains may be cleaned without damaging the finish which may cause hardening of the leather. This should be followed closely by conditioning so that oils and lubricants may be replaced.

Naked, “Aniline” Suede or Nubuck must be treated differently. This type stains easily and needs different formulations of leather care products. Use products designed for finer more absorbent types that will not cause more staining while giving it the strongest cleaning agent. Nubuck leather conditioner should be applied after cleaning to restore the oils that have been lost through daily use.

Protection from staining of the finish may be done in many ways:

Protection cream - will give a protective coat to prevent staining from water, oils, alcohol, body oils and daily soiling. Apply as soon as leather is bought followed by re-application with regular maintenance.

Fabric guard- is highly recommended as this will give the same protective cover in an easy spray form.

UV Protectant- protection from fading due to direct exposure to sunlight. This product lessens the light that reaches the surface of the leather. Long term exposure also brings about drying and hardening of the leather.

Semi Aniline- will need the same cleaning and maintenance products as full Aniline, but the application procedure will vary. The right steps for treatment are as follows:

-Thoroughly clean surface using the right leather cleaner product.

-Condition leather to restore lost oils and lubricants by using right leather conditioner.

-Apply fabric guard or protection cream to give it a protective “coat’ to lessen soiling and staining.

-Use UV Protectant to lessen fading and decline of leather.

Source : The Different Types of Leather and How to Care for Them

Luxury watches for Love one

Certain watch companies specialize in luxury watches, embellished in diamonds, which are intended to be worn as jewelry. Cartier, Rolex, and Ebel all specialize in top quality luxury watches. Athletes are partial to the Rolex, because certain models are suitable for extreme sport use, such as mountain climbing, flying in an airplane, and deep sea diving. Rolex offers three lines of designer watches, which include the Cellini, Professional and Oyster Perpetual. Some of these watches are chonometers, while others are chronographs, and some combine both characteristics. Chronometers are watches that are designed to meet precision standards and that designation comes with certification. A chronograph, on the other hand, allows the wearer to not only tell time with the watch but also use the watch as a stopwatch.



Specialty mens watches also can come with several different complications. This is not a negative feature when it comes to watches, however. It simply means that the watch comes with specialty features that make the internal mechanisms of the watch more complicated. Complications commonly found on high-end watches can include a tourbillon, which is used to diminish the effects that gravity can have on the accuracy of the timekeeping mechanism within the watch. Many watches come with calendars, and it is considered a complication to bring the calendar up to the standard of a perpetual calendar, which is accurate for more than one year, and deals with corrections made due to small variations in year lengths. For those who need to know what time it is even in the dark when seeing the face of the watch might be out of the question, a complication is available which is known as a repeater. This is a chime that can be set to ring on the hour and even on the minute. Some luxury watches also include the capacity to show the moon phases, referring to what the moon looks like to an observer. A double chronograph is sometimes available on some high-end watches that includes two separate stopwatches in addition to the watches' regular timekeeping mechanisms.

Source : www.free-articles-zone.com

Great Gift Ideas For The Serious Biker

Have a biker on your gift giving list ? No need to worry, here are some great gift ideas that any serious biker will appreciate.

Headwear

Many truly serious bikers still frown on wearing a helmet, only wearing one when required by law. For bikers in states where there are no requirements for head protection, states like Colorado, New Hampshire, Iowa and Illinois, a nice gift would be some bandanas or a skull cap. These pieces of headwear protect the riders hair, but is mostly used to enhance the biker look.

Eyewear

A new pair of biker goggles or motorcycle sunglasses is not only a fashionable gift idea but also a practical one. Every biker, whether wearing head protection or not, needs strong eye protection when they are on the road. This is not just to protect their eyes from road debris, bugs, rain or mud, but also to protect their eyes from UV rays and dangerous glare created by other vehicles.

Accessories

For any biker who goes on long rides, they'll need some essential accessories. Consider the many different sizes of saddlebags available. Saddlebags are leather bags that hang off the motorcycle that can contain all the luggage needed for a long trip. A set of saddlebags usually includes a barrel bag, which is used to keep a sleeping bag or mat clean and dry. A tool bag is often also included which obviously, will contain tools or accessories for the bike. A T-bag or backpack may also be included. Lastly, in most saddlebag sets, a windshield bag is included. A windshield bag is a roll type bag that is shaped to fit underneath the front of the windshield or handlebars.

Another accessory to consider is a cable lock. This is a super strong cable made of metal and plastic that a biker will snake through their tire spokes to make it impossible to steal their bike. This type of cable comes with 2 keys and is a practical and inexpensive gift.

Apparel

In general, bikers like to wear tough but comfortable clothing while riding. Two materials fit this description. They are denim and leather. This is why you'll find few bikers on the road who aren't wearing at least one of these materials. Any biker would appreciate a denim or leather jacket. A denim jacket is also easily customizable with patches, embroidery and other designs.

Under the category of apparel accessories, consider motorcycle gloves. Almost always made of leather, motorcycle gloves can help keep a biker's hand's safe from sunburn and dryness. Gloves can also keep a bikers hands from getting sweaty and slipping off the handles for extra safety. Gloves come in fingerless varieties as well, and fingerless gloves will allow the biker to experience the tactile touch of the handles, while still offering good hand protection and flexibility.

For a great stocking stuffer, consider belt buckles. Just about every biker needs a good belt buckle and they come in such a huge variety of styles and sizes, that it's virtually impossible to not find one that fits the personality of any biker.

Source: Articles Universe: http://articlesuniverse.com

Lydia Quinn writes for PhatSportShades, a leading performance eyewear provider, offering biker goggles and motorcycle sunglasses. Visit us at: www.phatsportshades.com/

Pashmina - A Gift That Will Last

Whether it be for an anniversary gift, birthday gift, thank you gift, Christmas gift, or any other special occasion, you can never go wrong by buying a nice Cashmere scarf, shawl, or wrap. Benefits of this gift --

* They are such a unique gift idea.
* They are great to add flare to any outfit in her wardrobe!
* They don't take up near as much space as shoe collections.
* A girl can never complain that she has too many!


Why a Cashmere type ? Most wool is from the small hairs on sheep, which is great for keeping you warm in any weather, but the problem is that wool itches. Who wants to use an itchy scarf or shawl? Cashmere wool is wool but it is different in that it comes from the Cashmere goat and is also known as Pashmina. Pashinas are one of the finest fleeces available. Pashminas look beautiful on any girl at any age. Since they can be dyed in different colors, they can really add color to any outfit.

The Pashmina wool comes from a special breed of goat that is found in the Himalayan Mountains. For many thousands of years, shawls have been made from this special goat's fleece. Capra hircus is the name of this special Himalayan Mountain goat, and its fleece is carefully hand-picked using a course comb. This process does not hurt the goats at all, and since it grows back each year, it is a great renewable resource.




Since Pashmina wool can't tolerate a whole lot of tension, it is usually mixed in a 50/50 blend of Pashmina and silk to give it added strength while still maintaining the smooth comfort. Some shawls use more Pashmina, ranging up to 70% or even 100% Pashmina. The higher the amount of pure Pashmina in the fabric, usually the more expensive that the item will be.

Source : http://www.articlesuniverse.com/Article/Pashmina---A-Gift-That-Will-Last/72925