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Faithmead

Skins......as in Sheep

We're finishing some lambs beginning of October, and I thought this time, that I'd get the Skins back and get them 'Tanned' / 'Cured' (whatever). I'm guessing this is not something I could do myself Sad or is it Surprised ?

Anyone done any Question Wink
sally_in_wales

In principle this method should work fine, but you need to be able to set enough time aside to work the skins as they dry, and with sheep the important bit is not matting the wool as you do it
http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?t=3498
Cathryn

I am considering doing one of ours as well. This is based on the bit in Sally's instructions which says that the skin can be left (abandoned) for quite a long time without coming to any harm. Smile


(Or there is a thread on here that I started where a tannery is recommended. I would send them off if I was doing more than one.)
Ixy

I'm finding it very possible, but a long and tedious process.
Cathryn

You're doing something large aren't you? Smile
Ixy

not huge - red deer and calf
BadgerFace

Has anyone used acorns for tanning ? I have a vague memory of reading somewhere about American Indians using acorns for hide tanning. We have a bumper crop of acorns this year, and I would like to try tanning some Badger (lamb) skins.
dpack

plant acorns
oak bark from firewood is ok but wasp galls are ace,a handful for a hare ,roadkill, and scaled up i recon a bucket would do a sheep or deer
scraping is the time eating job
Ixy

READ ME
Bulgarianlily

I used to use parafin for sheepskins, it was an old wartime method.
Sherbs

I seem to recall it being very messy and very smelly but eminently possible
BadgerFace

I do have a fair amount of oak galls so it is a possibility.

Very interesting link, Ixy. thanks Very Happy
Faithmead

GULP - wow, thanks all. I've read and re-read the info supplied by SallyinWales.....and although I think "yeah, I can do that"....I also know that 'time' will probably be my downfall Embarassed Sad

I think I'd better send them off somewhere - and Fenland Sheepskins has been recommended.....although there is absolutely no indication of price....GULP, GULP and DOUBLE GULP. Rolling Eyes

thanks again......maybe next year will find more time in my calendar Rolling Eyes
wellington womble

Let me know if you find that time, I could sure use some!
Mutton

Very timely thread for us - as soon as we have more time Very Happy Very Happy Laughing Laughing then we will be tanning two sheep skins we salted back in the Spring.

So far, brought them back from the abattoir, rubbed lots of salt on them on the same day, pegged them to a washing line in a draughty outbuilding. They did an interesting mix of slowly drying and dripping. Misty days they dripped more than dried. After a week or so we found they were pretty much dry - including when you felt the skin at the base of the wool - as in stuff your fingers into the wool. (Make sure your fingers aren't salty or then you start getting water coming onto the salt in the wool.) Then we folded the salty side together and rolled the skin up loosely, put them in several well sealed bin liners, put those bin liners in another bin liner with one of the drawer dessicant bags a friend had given us, and that in a plastic crate which went in the cool spare bedroom. Not taken them out in - ooh - about six months - but lifted the lid yesterday and there is a sheep smell but no smell of rot. So as long as it is cool and you can your sheepskins dry, don't see why you can't store them for a bit. Main thing is keeping off egg laying flies. (Not had anyone come to stay in the spare room either........)

We salted the skin of a brought in by the cat bunny years and years ago and occasionally open the biscuit tin to find out what is in it, go Oh, the bunny skin, and put the lid back down. Stiff as a board, not gone off at all. One day....... Laughing
Faithmead

wellington womble wrote:
Let me know if you find that time, I could sure use some!



Its priceless stuff isn't it Rolling Eyes Wink
Faithmead

Mutton wrote:
Very timely thread for us - as soon as we have more time Very Happy Very Happy Laughing Laughing then we will be tanning two sheep skins we salted back in the Spring.

So far, brought them back from the abattoir, rubbed lots of salt on them on the same day, pegged them to a washing line in a draughty outbuilding. They did an interesting mix of slowly drying and dripping. Misty days they dripped more than dried. After a week or so we found they were pretty much dry - including when you felt the skin at the base of the wool - as in stuff your fingers into the wool. (Make sure your fingers aren't salty or then you start getting water coming onto the salt in the wool.) Then we folded the salty side together and rolled the skin up loosely, put them in several well sealed bin liners, put those bin liners in another bin liner with one of the drawer dessicant bags a friend had given us, and that in a plastic crate which went in the cool spare bedroom. Not taken them out in - ooh - about six months - but lifted the lid yesterday and there is a sheep smell but no smell of rot. So as long as it is cool and you can your sheepskins dry, don't see why you can't store them for a bit. Main thing is keeping off egg laying flies. (Not had anyone come to stay in the spare room either........)

We salted the skin of a brought in by the cat bunny years and years ago and occasionally open the biscuit tin to find out what is in it, go Oh, the bunny skin, and put the lid back down. Stiff as a board, not gone off at all. One day....... Laughing


Ahha....so you CAN leave it "safely" provided its well salted...hmmm...got me thinkin again Rolling Eyes Where does one get the salt - is it like the stuff to stop you slippin on the ice Laughing
Ixy

I just use ordinary table salt. Salted the skins, let them drain for at least a week and then piled away, no bags or anything and they've lasted 7 months so far without any further treatment. It's best if they dry out. they'll get stiff, but when you want to flesh them just soak in cold water with a bit of washing up liquid (kills bacteria).
colour it green

if you send them to someone else they still need to be salted.

We have had our sheep skins prepared for us, as we are lucky to have someone right close that does it - we take the skins from the abattoir to their place and they salt them for us for a couple of quid. the whole cost of having a skin done is about 20 quid. One day we shall do our own.. but they do do them so nice.
Pea

I followed Sallys instructions, I had the skin in November but left it until February to take it out of the pickle and finish it off, Will do the same this year.

I did not find it too time consuming but I only have small sheep i suppose, Balwens.
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