Sheepskins have to be preserved properly before they can beprocessed into boots

Tag : boots
Genuine Ugg Boots are made from the highest quality materials,including sheepskin hide. You can buy knockoff Ugg Boots almostanywhere, but only the real deal provides the comfort anddurability promised by Ugg. If they are not made in Australia thenthey are not authentic. Ugg Boots are just not made in China, sodont be fooled. Buying Ugg-style boots that are not genuine willleave you with boots that are far inferior in quality. Translation:uncomfortable and smelly.

Warm in the winter and cool in the summer, genuine Ugg Boots aremade from Australian double-faced sheepsking, usually AustralianMerino Sheepskin. The highest quality around! Saving a couple ofbucks will get you some synthetic fiber thats not the same.

Some folks wonder if any animals are harmed during the making ofUgg Boots. The short answer is, the sheep is slaughtered. BUT, thatsheep was going to be slaughtered for meat to feed peopleit isnever actually slaughtered to obtain the sheepskin. Sheep farmersobtain a secondary profit for selling the hides in addition to themeat. So, understand that the making of Ugg Boots doesnt directlyharm the sheep.

Sheepskins have to be preserved properly before they can beprocessed into boots. Tanneries use large vessels called paddles,that hold anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 liters of salt water andslowly swish the skins around inside. This is a gentle process thattakes about 10 days to get the hides properly tanned and ready tobe cut for Ugg boots.

Step 1. Tanning/ Processing

The first step in tanning or processing of sheepskin is Soaking,which takes about 16 hours to complete. During this process, theskins are thoroughly rinsed in cold water to remove any excess saltor dirt from the wool and pelt. This soaking process is doneovernight in a vat of fresh cold water.

The next step in the tanning process is called Fleshing. Thispart of the process uses a fleshing machine which removes anyexcess fat and muscle tissue from the underside of the sheepskins.This part of the process is essential for allowing more rapid andcomplete penetration of chemicals in the later stages ofprocessing, particularly during the pickling and tanning stages.

After Fleshing comes Scouring. This 30-45 minute segment of theprocess uses surfactants at high temperatures (around 38 degreesCelsius) and takes care of removing dirt and lanolin (grease) fromthe wool.

Pickling of the sheepskin then takes about 16 hours. Before thesheepskin can be tanned, they have to be ) pickled. Pickling meanssoaking the skins in a solution of acid and salt. Adding saltprevents any potential swelling of the skins because of the acid.Its important to lower the internal pH of the skins to somewherebetween 2.8-3.0, which will allow the tanning agent to properlypenetrate the skin.

The 16-hour Tanning step involves using chromium salts which formcross-links with the collagen, thereby helping to stabilize theskin structure and preventing putrefaction or rotting. This step isperformed at room temperature, around 25 degrees Celsius, andaround a pH of 2.5-3.0. Once the tanning agent (the chromium)penetrates the skin, the process is stopped, and the chrome isfixed to the collagen by raisng the pH to 3.6 using sodiumbicarbonate and heating the skins to between 35-40 degrees Celsius.In doing so, the shrinkage temperature of the skin is raised toanywhere between 60-100 degrees Celsius.

Next comes Wool Dyeing or Fatliquoring. This takes anywherefrom 3-4 hours to complete. After the skin is tanned, the wool maybe dyed any of a variety of colors. Wool dyeing needs to be done atabout pH 4.5-6 and at 60-65 degrees Celsius. Special "pelt reserveagents" must be added to keep the wool dye from staining the pelt.Once the dye is stable, the pH is lowered to about 4.0 to fix thedyes to the wool, and fatliquor (emulsified oil) is added to thesolution. Fatliquors are part of leather manufacturing that help tolubricate the collagen fiber and allow them to move flexibly andfreely once the skin is dried. This is what makes the leather feelsoft.

Drying of the skins then takes 4-24 hours. Forced air dryers areused with the skins stretched across a frame. Drying occurs at50-80 degrees Celsius.

Drycleaning must then take place over the following 4-24 hours.Either a white spirit (high boiling petroleum fraction) orperchloroehtylene is used to remove any natural fat or grease thatremains in the skins.

Following final removal of the pelt grease, Pelt Dyeing orSyntanning comes next. Back in the paddle (the soaking vessel),the pelts are dyed in cooler temperature dyes (less than 30 degreesCelsius). This minimizes staining of the wool. After the peltdyeing is completed, syntanning involves using synthetic tanningagents to make the pelts added fullness and firmness. Finally, theskins are dried once more.

Step 2. Finishing

After the lengthy tanning process is complete, the final finishingis done so the skins may be used to make Ugg Boots.

The skins must be conditioned to approximately 20% moisturecontent. Staking is the process by which the skins are softened andstretched, and a nappy surface is added to the pelt.

Final Combing, Ironing, and Clipping then takes place toremove any tangles, burrs, or grass seeds that may be remaining inthe wool. The wool is straightened using an iron to remove thenatural crimp. Lastly, a clipping machine creates a uniform woolpile at a desired length (usually 12-15 mm).

Step 3. Manufacturing

A clicking press is used to cut individual panels from the skins.After being cut to the right size, the panels are then sewntogether using special industrial sewing machines. The soles arethen glued to the boot upper, and, finally, the Ugg Boots are readyfor you to purchase.
Article Source : http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

Don VanPelt is a writer for LightningbUUGs.com who has publishedmany articles about Ugg Boots . Read his comments and recommendations about cheap ugg boots .
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
Not yet Rated