The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
HOW TO TAN LEATHER.
Interesting aud Valuable Desert ptiOn
of How the Work May be Cheap.
1T Done,
N,netv.Sir G r. Anril % Is

Ninety.Six, S. G., April 20, 1891.
Enclosed you will find a bit OF alum tanned
leather. The process OF preparing IL ls some
times called glove tanning, from the fact that
making. Some persons, tho have seen some
Of the leather prepared by Mr.. j. Rhodes,
s yng on of iSe %sy s
done. 1 have thought It might prove Interest
Ing II not profitable to the farmer readers OF
the Press and Banner, TO learn Of q better way
and goat skins than selling them at two
cents and buying from the merchants their
necessary supply OF leather at 40 or so cents
per pound.
Another reason for sending this to you for
publication Is that there was man in the
town of Ninety-Six last week trying to sell
the rights 10 use this or very similar process
each There is nothins psT in II It Is
face vi give In as few words as ia consist
ent with being understood the details OF the
process by which the leather was tanned
from which the piece enclosed was cut.
kerosene barrel sawed In two tubs. Locate
the yard under shelter, out Of rain and sun
shine. Begin with the skin as soon as taken
from the animal. It is more easily worked,
but II you start Off with q dry hide soak In
water for about three days or until thorough
ly soft and pliable, remove all the bits o
strong ashes and water sufficient 10 cover.
As soon as the hair becomes loose in about
two days, remove II all. use q common
farm hoe TO scrape the hair of with, return
70 four days longer TO swell the hide, this
loosens up the texture 30 IL will readily take
In the tanning substance. Next you want TO
the hide; to do this, soak IL In the other one
half barrel In clean water, which keep up
for four to six days changing the water every
day; op or tie 1t TO weight and throw 1t In the
II you expect TO curry the leather you will
do better TO keep IL out Of the sand OF the
branch. The hide Is now ready for the tan
ming vat which Is the easiest and simplest
part Use alum and common salt, alum
one part, salt two parts by weight.
For calf, sheep or goat skin. one pound al:
lum with two pounds of salt; for the hide Of
beef Weighing so pounds 70 the quarter 1t
salt: spread the hide out flesh side up, sprin.
kle the pulveriZed mixture Of alum and
salt on II, fold or roll 1t up with the alum
weight on it, without water, let it stand for
six hours and II the hide is not covered by
the solution coming out OF the hide and wa.
ter I'LL 1t does, take 1t out every two days.
small skin should remain in tan four to
six days, hide from one week to three
weeks. according TO size.
When the leather Is taken out Of tan,
want soft pliable leather, elbow grease is es-
sentlsl just here. Begin as soon as IL comes
out dripping wet to beat with heavy sticks
or fail II over the top Of stump for Is or
% minutes and repeat three or four times
day until It is ready for use. Do You ask
what sort OF oil Don't use any vegetable
oil, castor, linseed, olive, nor cotton seed.
Beef.foot oil is excellent. homemade lard Il
am afraid you haven't got iU mixed with ker-
osene is good. How to curry. the leather
do not know: bnt you will find way 10 get
the rough of or you may know some one
you can with q box Of copper rivets and
burrs make all your plow and wagon har.
mesa at home that will, with care. last as we'll
as store.bought ones made OF leather at 40 or
so cents per pound.
In dressing sheep skins with the wool on,
ofcourae, you DO not soak in lime or ashes
but carefully remove all the flesh and fat,
and wash thoI oughly With soap and water,
then sprinkle on one pound each OF alum
and salt pul ulverlzed, fold together accurately,
the flesh sides and leave II 30 for three days.
Do not weightit or cover IL with water, nor
beat II With sticks but rub often until dry, to
keep 1t soft and supple.
"If you don't succeed try again"
W. l.. Anderson.