Introduction

 This recipe is designed to cure and tan 5 to 7 kilogram of raw skins after it was salted and let to dry. The ideal is to have a 200 litre open plastic drum to do the tanning in. The recipe contains acid therefore be careful not to use a drum that can that can be damaged by the chemicals, you will also need something to stir the skins in the solutions. Please note that no guarantees are given with this recipe so it is advised to do a sample exercise first.

Recipe

Step 1:        Soaking:        Day 1:

100 litres cold water

2 kg Salt

500 ml Soaking Agent (Chemical Auxiliary Agent )

Time:        08:00 day 1 to 08:00 day 2

Instructions:    Mix the solution well before adding the skins. If the skins are stiff due to being salted do not fold them when emerging into the water as they will crack or break. The skins will gradually enter the water in totality when they start getting softer from the solution. 

Comments:    Use this solution only once. Stir every hour.

Step 2:        Scouring:        Day 2:

After the soaking process has been completed you can remove the fat and loose pieces of skin and meat. This can be done with a sharp knife or scraper. Be careful not to damage or cut through the skin.

100 litres water at 35 C (do not use cold water)

100 g Sodium Bicarbonate

500 ml Scouring Agent

Time:    After flesh, fat and sinew have been removed start scouring on the inside of the skin for about 90 minutes.

Instructions:    Mix solution well prior to adding the skins. Use the mixture only once. Stir and rub the skins vigorously together to ensure effective scouring. After the process have been completed, remove the skins and hang them to drip dry for 30 minutes.

Step 3:        Pickling:        Day 2:

Comment:    This mixture must not be discarded as it will be used again in step 4.

Pickling solution consists of:

100 litres cold water

5 kg salt

1 kg Tanning Acid. Do not add all the Tanning Acid at once as the Tanning Acid will be

the chemical regulating the ph. The ph need to be between 2.5 and 3.0.

Time:    15:00 day 2 to 15:00 day 3

Instructions:    Mix the solution well prior to adding the skins. It is important to have the mixture at a ph of between 2.5 and 3.0. Ideally the ph should be exactly 2.6. Remove the skins on day 3 and hang to drip dry overnight until 08:00 on day 4.

Step 4:        Tanning:        Day 3:

Use pickling solution as mentioned in step 3 and add to it:

100 ml Formalin

2.5 kg Tanning Salt

Comment:    This solution is called the Tanning Solution and must not be discarded as it will be used again in step 5

Time:    08:00 on day 4 to 08:00 on day 6

Instructions:    Mix the three items mentioned above well before adding the skins. After the tanning process has been completed on day 6 leave the skins in the drum or tub for step 5.

Step 5:        Neutralising:        Day 6:

Use Tanning Solution which was made I step 4 and which was requested to be kept, and add to it:

300 g Sodium Bicarbonate

3 litres cold water

Time:    08:00 to 12:00 on day 5

Instructions:    Mix the 300 grams of Sodium Bicarbonate well into 3 litres of cold water. Add this mixture slowly to the bath or drum which already contains the Tanning Solution and skins from step 4. Add this over a period of 60 minutes while mixing well.

Step 6:        Staking and oiling:        Day 6:

1 litre Tanning Oil

Time:        14:00 day 6 to 14:00 day 7

Instructions:    Remove the skins from the bath after neutralising and hang to drip for two hours. The skins will still be a little wet. Open the skins and apply the Tanning Oil with a brush or cloth to the inside of the skin. After about 60 minutes, nail the skins with fur side down to wood and allow drying. Large and thick skins may need more than one application of Tanning Oil.

Step 7:          Softening of skin          Day 7:

Comment:    The skin will be dry and may feel a bit stiff. Rubbing the skin in your hands should impart and immediate softness to the skin. You can also plant a spade in the ground with the blade side up and work the skin side over the blade.