The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-10-11

TANNING SKINS AND DYEING FuRs.-
at a loss tor Il good recipe for tanning
the skins OF small animals which may
come in their way, and which might
be advantageously utilized with Il very
little labor.
Kid leather is usually made of sheep
and lamb skins. The flesh side is coated
with a paste Of thick lime water and
rolled up until the wool can be removed,
when the skins are subjected to the bran
bath. When taken from it and thorough
~ ~cleansed they are put into what is
called the "whits BATH composed of
say, n pound OF alum to n gallon of
water and about one-tourth pound of salt.
This solution is made boiling hot and
the skins passed through it successfully;
after which they are immersed and left
in it fJr ten minutes. A paste is then
made by gradually adding to the solution
(and constantly stirring) one and one
fourth pounds Ut wheat flour tor each
gallon Of the solution, gently heated,
aud subsequently, the yolksof five eggs,
and then incorporating the whole thor
oughly. The skins or put into this paste
and LETT twcnty-four hours, after which
they are hung on poles and left to dry
for a week or more, as may be necessary.
They are then sottened by being drawn
across . ''staking iron'-ihe edge of a
shovel will answ.r-and may be polished
with 4 smooth flat-iron, carefully heated
| and managed in the same way as that
used by u laundress. They will become
soft and rs white as snow. Color can
be impaired with dyestuffs rs may be
desired. Ii the skins are wanted tor
mats, robes. or iurs, omit the lining and
branning, and proceed at once to the
alum aud paste bath. The above pro-
cess is called ..tawing.' A simple meth
cd for robes and mats Is merely a sou
ton Of alum and salt, but the drawing
Ut dlmpness is a serious objection 10
it. OF course, in all processes where
-ast is, used there will be dampness to
some extent.
The American Indians, in tanning
buckskin. use brains; that is, they ex-
ercise their own brains by taking the
brains Of animals and placing them with
the skins in a large earthen pot and
heating them to about ninety-iive de-
grees; which converts the moistened
brain into q kind OF lather and makes the
skins clean and p.iablc. After being
wrung out they are stretched by means Of
thongs. and constantly rubbed with a
smoLh stone so as to expel the water and
the fat.
The curing and dyeing Of skins and
iurs at home may he lone in = crude
manner as follows. by those who are no,
professional dyers: The skin having
been brushed down on the furry side. IS
stretched and tackled down to a fiat
board. CIR It has already been allowed
to dry. it must be immersed in clear
water Tor q day, frequent squeezings and
rubbings being applied to render it quite
soit.) With a small fiat piece Of iron.
rounded at tie edges. any fat, flesh, dirt,
etc, which may be adhering, is scraped
away, A strong solution Of alum. witt
sufficient coarse wheat meal to bring i,
to the state OF thick paste, is then made,
This mixture is rubbed thoroughly into
the fcshy side Of the skin, leaving q lay.
er on about one-quarter inch thick fol
twenty-iosr hours This is washed of
thoroughly, again kneading as much ..
possible to insure softness. It is now
allowed to drain, and then immerse iol
. quarter Of an hour in aweak decoctiOI
|, Of gall nuts. It is then tackled ont, with
! the hairy side outward, and allowed K
, dry in the SUM- When dry il is brushes
over on three successive days with : de
coction 0f0ne pound logwoOd, one p0una