The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-05-05

in warm room. Back OF the Kitchen
stove is a good place to keep II. Take
out the hide and work ii until nearly
dry every two or three days. Lots Of
working and stretching Is what
makes good leather. Before working
II, wash II In soapy water, and be-
fore putting It back, warm up the tan.
ming solution to about 80 degrees,
Keep on doing this until the hide is
thoroughly cured. II II begins to get
cured enough and must be put back
in the tanning mixture. A properly
cured hide will be soft and pliable
when II is dry. Always be sure to
wash the hide in soapsuds before
working.
This curing process will take from
ten days to two weeks, depending on
the hide 1t is highly important to
work the hide while It is drying. 9th
erwise 1t is almost sure to be a little
stiff. A convenient way of working
and stretching a hide is for two per
sons to keep stretching II around n
post. 1t Is rather awkward for a per
son to work hide properly alone UNI
less he has some contrivance for hold
ing It. Never have the tanning mix
ture any warmer than 80 degrees
when the hide is put in, as liquid
much warmer than this Is almost
sure to burn the hide. Finish the pro-
cess by working in some meats foot
oil.
This method will make good har-
ness leather. The hide may be cut
in long strips about six inches wide
q n
and stretch than a whole hide. Then
there is apt to be less waste.
The old-fashioned bark tanning
method makes excellent leather for
harness or soles, but II takes longer.
To make the bark liquor, cut up about
a peck of the inner bark of any OF the
oaks, willow helmlock, or chestnut, and
pour over II about three gallons OF
rainwater which has been heated to
the boiling point. Cover the pail and
let II steep until cool, after which the
bark should be removed. IL the leath'
err is to be used for soles, the hide
should be cut and placed in fiat, with
some bark between the pieces Of hide.
The liquid should be heated occasion
ally, and fresh bark added from time
sole leather, which will wear like old
fashioned shoes used to.
A calf skin can be tanned in about
two weeks, but the liquid must be
heated up and fresh bark added four
or five times. One can tell when 1t
is cured enough by cutting of q thin
strip and holding 1t up to the light
II the color strikes clear through 1t,
the hide is ready for the final work
ing and drying; II II shows a light
streak, warm up the mixture again,
add more bark and let II cure for a
few days longer. This process makes
nice tough, dark red leather. and
one can depend upon 1t that the
leather will wear like iron because II
as not been eaten by acids. Heavy
hides may come out little stiff, but
they can be made soft by rubbing in
little heats food oil. This bark
| tanning method can be used for sheep
| skins which are to be made into work
aprons, for tanning dog or cat hides
to get strong, durable leather for
work gloves.
The sulphuric acid method is as
| follows: One-half ounce OF com.
mercial sulphuric acid, two gallons OF
water and about two pounds OF salt,
mix the solution and rub we'll into
the hide. When thoroughly soaked
up spread It out and scrape with a
duh knife. Dry slowly and rub fire.
quently. This method will make a
white grain to the leather when
stretched and it will be Of fairly good
grade. This is said to be one OF the
quickest methods known and can be
applied to farm conditions.-Utah
Farmer.