Leather Or Vinyl

Leather is created through the tanning of animal skin or hides.

Leather or vinyl.

Sometimes it s hard to tell whether a furniture piece is upholstered in genuine leather or man made vinyl. Since leather is tough it is not easy to tear rip or put holes in. How to tell the difference between leather and vinyl furniture. Some vinyl material so closely resembles leather that sometimes it s difficult to tell them apart.

The material is very versatile and used in a variety of manners think vinyl records or vinyl flooring. Acetone is a last resort and should be used with caution. Leather or vinyl with a damaged finish can be corrected either with solvents or sandpaper. The word vinyl brings to mind the hard shiny materials right out of a 50 s diner but vinyl has come a long way.

Slipping into the leather seats of an older car is like putting on a set of well fitting soft gloves. But when you know the. Vinyl s composition will not change over time aside from its normal wear and tear. Vinyl on the other hand is a synthetic substance composed of resin or plastic.

Leather feels softer warmer more natural. It goes without saying leather is a highly superior product over vinyl material. Leather becomes softer over time meaning that it will allow more comfort with every year that passes. Being nearly identical to the real thing most people will fail to tell whether a product is of vinyl or real leather if not by reading the specs or description of the product.

Why is leather better than vinyl. It is not as durable as full or top grain but it is much cheaper since it can be manufactured into a variety of goods with ease. In some instances the material may be presented as leather but in reality is a vinyl material. Leather has always been the aspirational material for a motorcycle seat but is it better than vinyl.

Know that genuine leather usually has a suede side or feeling to it. Leather upholstery increases the value of both new and old cars. Some coatings or finishes may turn. Try blending the damaged finish with denatured alcohol paint thinner or stripper.

Vinyl on the other hand feels colder stiffer and artificial. The material is rich flexible and soft to the touch. When we modified our 1980 honda cx500 the first thing we did was get rid of the fat old vinyl seat and replace it with a slim leather seat which certainly is a vast improvement. Leather seating is an investment and in many ways is a better car upholstery material than vinyl.

This makes the job of identifying your material a bit more difficult. Test the solvents first in an inconspicuous area and see how well they work. Vinyl vinyl is a synthetic material often used as an alternative to leather. Vinyl furniture tears more easily.