The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1894-05-16
How to Tan Leather.
Abbeyille Press and Banner.

Ninety Six, s. c., April %, 1894.
Enclosed you will find bit OF alum
tanned leather. The process OF pre-
pairing it is sometimes called glove tan
ming, from the fact that small skins arc
tanned this way for glove making.
Some persons, who have seen some OF
the leather prepared by Mr.. J. Rhodes
who is now living on my place, have
asked me for description, in detail, OF
the way it is done. l have thought 1t
might prove Interesting if not profitable
TO the farmer readers Of the Press and
Banner, to learn of better way OF dis
posing of their beef hides and sheep
and goat skins than selling them at two
cents and buying from the mer-
chants their necessary supply OF leather
at 40 or so cents per pound.
Another reason for sending this 10
YOU for publication is that there was =
man In the town Of Ninety-Six last
week trying to sell the rights to use 1ni'
or q very similar process at 70 eaen'
There il netning new in it. 1t ls ratnsr
ancient for patent. Withthis preface
I will give in as few words as is consist
snt with being understood the detai'
OF the process by which the leather was
tanned from which the piece enclosed
WAS cut. All a farmer needs to make
q lanyard is kerosene barrel sawed IN
two tubs. Locate the yard under snei-
tar. out OF the rain and sunshine. Be-
gin with the skin a. soon as taken from
the animahsaIt l.. more easily worked
but II YOU start of with dry hide
soak IN water for about three days or
until thoroughly soft and pliable, re-
move all the bits OF fish and fat from
| Il and put into lime or strong ashes and
water sufficient to cover. As soon a.
the hair becomes loose in about two
dsys, remove it all. l use . common
farm hoe to scrape the hair on with,
return the hide to tho ashes or lime and
soak it two or four days longer to swell
| tho hide, this loosens up the texture 70
| it will readily take in the tanning sub
stance. Next you want to get rid OF the
lime or caustic potash left In the hide
to do thiS soak 1t In tho other one-haii
barrel In clean water, which keep up
| for four to six days changing the water
every day, or tie it to q weight and
/ throw 1t in the branch.
II you expect to curry the leather you
will do better to keep 1t out OF tho SAND
of the branch. The hide 10 now ready
for tae tanning vat which IL the easiest
and simplest part. Use alum ane
common salt; alum one part, salt two
parts by weight.
For calf, sheep or goat skin, ont
pound alum with two pounds OF salt
for the hide Of beef weighing so pound
to the quarter it will take pound
alum with 10 pounds Of salt: spread th'
hide out fl lssh side up, sprinkle the pull
verized mixture of alum and salt OF
1t, fold or roll it up with tho alum O
salt inside, place in the vat with heav!
weight on 1t, without water, let 1t stant
for ak hours and IL the hide II no
covered by the solution coming out o
the hide and water till 1t doe, take
out every two days, fold 1t di1ersn
way and return to the vat. A small
skin should remain in tan four to sh
days, q hide from one week to three
\ weeks, according to size:
I When the leather Is taken out Of tan
comes tho working part OF tho Job
] II you want soft pliable leather, slbov
] grease Is essential just here Begin a
1 soon as it comes out dripping wet t.
beat with heavy sticks or frail 1t ovel
| Tie top Of sstump for is or 20 minutes
md repeat three or four times . da!
! Until 1t Il ready for use. Do you ssl
vhat sort Of oil, Don't use any veg
stabls oil, castor, linseed, olive no
| cotton sssd. EBeef-foot oil is excellent
mssnsds lard Il am afraid you hav
not got iA'nixed with kerosene is good
How t. curry the leather / do not know
but you wil find way to get the rougl
Oh or you may know some one skille'
that way. Brother Farmer try this; yo'
can witha boz Of copper rivets ant
burrs make all your plow and wagol
harness at home that will, with care
last as we'll a. store-bought ones mad
Of leather at 40 or so cents per pound
| In dressing sheep skins with the WOO
ON, Of course, you do not soak 10 linn
or ashes but carefully remove all tn
flesh and fat. and wash thorough!
with sosp and water, then sprinkle OF
one pound each Of alum and salt pul
vsrizsd, told togstber accurately, tn
flesh sid1xnd leass 1t 20 for three days
Do not wefgkt Il or cover it with water
II fnor beat It with sticks but rub Otter
4 until dry. to keep 1t soft and supple.
"If yaa dou't sueceed try agait."
W. L. ANDERSON