Oil-leath′er.
（Leather.) Oil-leather is prepared by currying hides in oil. Neat's-foot oil is used, but fish-oil is more commonly employed; to this the French add potassa. It is both more economical and more effective. The hides are somewhat moist, that the oily matters may be gradually and thoroughly absorbed. “A coating of oil is uniformly spread over the grain and flesh sides, after which the hides are hung up to dry, the direct rays of the sun or too violent a draft being guarded against. In summer time the drying is effected in 12 hours, in winter it may extend to 3 or 4 days. When dry, the hides are again fulled, oiled, and dried. This is repeated. Finally, the grain-side is cleansed by rubbing it well with a brush and weak potassa lye. The coloring of the grain or flesh side, as the case may be, follows these operations, and is effected by a dye.” As, for instance, the solution of sulphate of iron, which unites with the gallic acid of the tan to produce a black dye. “After receiving one coat the leather is pommeled crosswise; another layer of blacking is applied; dried, pommeled, or stretched, according as it is deemed necessary; rubbed over with a cork pommel to give it a smooth surface, and finished by giving a light coat of oil on the hair-side.” — Muspratt.
