[TheForge] tanning hides

[Bruce Freeman]

Try Wikipedia as a starting point for info like this.

FWIW, I came across this via a magazine I get:
http://news.clariant.com/clariant%E2%80%99s-easywhite-tan-process-%E2%80%94-leaner-cleaner-and-safer/



On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 10:29 PM, Bob Ehrenberger <eforge at centurytel.net> wrote:
> I know that this seems a lottle off subject, but it is blacksmith related.
> A couple years ago I had someone give me the wooden pieces off of an old
> bellows. I always intended to restore them but due to time and the cost of
> leather I haven't gotten to it.
>
> This year after skinning out a couple does it hit me that if I could tan
> them they would go a long way toward providing the leather needed for my
> bellows.
>
> So, have any of you used buckskins to make a bellows?
>
> Have any of you made buckskins? I'm following the instructions in a book,
> but have some questions.  To do a vegtible tan it says to use bark off of an
> oak tree.  I doesn't say whether it needs to be a live tree or a standing
> dead tree.  I cut down a large dead oak tree and am using the bark off of
> it, but was wondering if the tannon leaches out of the bark as soon as the
> tree dies or does it stay pretty strong as long as the bark is still on the
> tree?  The first batch of tanning solution looks pretty dark, the hide has
> been soaking for two days and is starting to develope some color.  This is
> pretty much what I have for this time, but I was wondering if next year I
> need to cut down a live oak for the bark, or is standing dead going to work?
>
> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> eforge at centurytel.net
>
>
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-- 
Bruce
NJ