What kind of material is nubuck?

Leather and suede, both natural and artificial, have long been firmly entrenched in our lives and everyone knows what their differences are and why they are used. But what kind of material is nubuck, which many praise so much and from which today they sew not only shoes, but also upholstery for furniture - they still ask this question. You will receive complete information about this material from this review.

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Nubuck - production features

Material nubuck (natural) is similar to the usual suede, but its manufacture is somewhat different. To understand the difference, just know the following:

1. As the main raw material for the manufacture of nubuck use the skin of only large animals - deer, elk, yaks. Suede is usually made from the skin of small cattle.
2. The tanning technology is also different - for this process, mineral salts, usually chromium, are used to obtain nubuck material. Suede treatment is carried out with fatty and formaldehyde substances.
3. In appearance, to understand what kind of material is nubuck is also easy. The pile is quite short, and the material itself is hard and tough. Suede with a tactile comparison is more soft and high pile.

Important! Based on these production features, it is easy to conclude that the nubuck is more wear-resistant, although it also requires a careful attitude.

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The main pros and cons

In addition to wear resistance and a longer service life, nubuck has the following advantages:

• less prone to mashing;
• has excellent breathability;
• has a higher rate of strength;
• lightweight and practical.

Important! The disadvantages are classic for all types of natural leather materials - it does not tolerate excess moisture or direct exposure to water. Although if there is a choice of nubuck or leather - which is better precisely according to the criterion of resistance to moisture and ease of care, it is better to give preference to natural skin. If you are ready to spend a certain amount of time on grooming, choose shoes or upholstery with high decorative properties - this is only nubuck.

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Kinds

In order to have a fuller idea of ​​what nubuck material is, you need to familiarize yourself with what it can be. Today, manufacturers of leather materials produce such variations of nubuck.

Natural

Here, the basis is precisely the skin of cattle, which is tanned by special technology. At the end, the external surface is treated with small abrasive devices and substances - sandpaper or sand, due to which the evenness of the material with a fine pile is achieved.

Important! According to the characteristics, it is not very practical - it has a more decorative purpose because of its velvety structure. Suitable as upholstery material for any items of upholstered furniture.

Artificial

Unlike natural, artificial nubuck is very practical, since it is based on a composition of various polymers. The desired structure and thickness of the material is obtained by sequential spraying of layers.

Important! This material not only endures moisture, but also any mechanical impact, temperature fluctuations. Due to the artificial base, this nubuck material for shoes is not very suitable, as it does not allow the skin to fully breathe.But as a decorative upholstery material for rooms with intensive use and difficult conditions - kitchens, living rooms, hallways, will be just right. In addition, it costs an order of magnitude cheaper.

Nubuck Oil

This kind of natural material has appeared relatively recently. The main difference from the classic nubuck is that after tanning is completed, the material is impregnated in several stages with special oil solutions.

Important! Nubuck-Oil in the end is not very velvety and even somewhat moist to the touch, but its characteristics are much higher:

• it is easier to tolerate the direct effects of water and chemicals;
• retains its strength longer;
• not destroyed at very high or low temperatures.

Great for making upscale designer shoes that can be worn for more than 1 year.

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Price

If we talk about what kind of material is nubuck as a whole, it belongs to the premium price group. Comparing with products from more familiar leather or suede, we can draw the following conclusion:

• natural nubuck will cost a little cheaper than suede, but definitely more expensive than smooth skin;
• artificial nubuck - here it is difficult to determine which is more profitable, it all depends on the manufacturer of artificial nubuck, leather, suede and the quality of the raw materials in the base.

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Nubuck Care

Nubuck looks very interesting and worthy, therefore, it attracts the attention of buyers when choosing not only shoes for any season, but also as upholstery material. If you have definitely decided for yourself that you prefer this particular option, at the same time you check out the purchase of the main product or upholstery fabric, get the necessary care products and accessories.

Important! It is advisable that care products be released under the same brand as the fabric or shoes themselves.

To care for nubuck you need:

1. Aerosol protective sprays. As a rule, these are water-repellent and antistatic agents that prevent pollution. Product processing should be carried out immediately after purchase upon arrival home. Then - as necessary, for example, before going out into the street in nubuck shoes in slushy or snowy weather.
2. Special brushes. To clean the nubuck, sponges and hard brushes for smooth skin will not work, and suede care tools will not be very convenient to use. Therefore, buy exactly those that are marked “for nubuck” - they have optimal rigidity and length / area of ​​the working surface.
3. If thorough cleaning of material from complex spots is required, but there is no special tool at hand, use a not very concentrated solution of ammonia. It will take a couple drops of alcohol per 1 tbsp. water.
4. Another method of cleaning is to hold the product over steam and wait until the pile has settled. Next - just walk along the surface with a brush and all the dirt will come off.

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Stock footage

We hope now it has become clear to you what kind of material is nubuck, where is it used and how comfortable will it be shoes or upholstery from your furniture. Correctly approach the choice of material, organize the necessary care for interior or wardrobe items and you will appreciate all the advantages of nubuck - its beauty, strength, tactile pleasantness, sophistication.