How To Make Your Own Un-Bleached Sheep or Goat Skin Rug

[@georgewillis3760]

I just love your family so different than the states for it’s multigenerational instead of single generation households and you help and contribute a lot to the community

[@willowdmello6692]

Thank you, for responding to my question, it is much appreciated! I am going to try this process on an elk hide, and two lamb hides this month, as I want to use them all as rugs. I will let you know how, it all works out, being Native American we have a long labor intensive process for preparing hides, but I wanted to try another quicker process for keeping the pelts to use as runs, and was vary intrigued by your well demonstrated video. Thank you once again, I will keep you posted on how they turn out. Willow

[@WayOutWestx2]

We'd be interested to here how you get on, Willow. But wouldn't it be interesting to compare your traditional techniques with more modern ones? You could make a video about it!

[@TheBlueCaterpillarStudio]

Hi, Great tutorial!! I'll definitely be trying this with our sheep skins, we do all our own butchering at home so I like to make use of the EVERYTHING, Sometimes I tan a rabbit skin using egg yolk and then when I cold smoke it it goes really stiff and water proof, so great for a hat or satchel! We are building an Earthship at the moment and once it is done I'd love to have some awesome rugs like this to keep our toes warm! So i can't wait to have a go...Thanks for taking the time to show us how you do it.

[@Rollinpeace.]

Great! I have just got into the world of tannery, I havant tried any bathing methods yet, I'm very impressed that you manage to do this with accessible materials, Definitely going to give this a try. Thanks a lot, Very instructional.

[@sharonlong8969]

Wonderful! They are beautiful rugs! Jacob sheep have wonderful fleece. So soft. I prefer mine on live sheep so I can spin and spin and spin. Of course, you cannot then eat the tasty sheep. And they are tasty!

[@izabelaramovic2012]

Ja imam vunu I od sedenje ima prasinu kako bi mogla daje operem opet rucno pranje molim na pitanje

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Wonderful! We have goats that we raise for milk and meat..Would this work on the goat skins?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Other people we know have used this recipe on goat skins and it's worked perfectly. We don't have goats though (we'd rather have apple trees!) so we can't absolutely promise. Please try and let us know?

[@calvinrenfrow3072]

Hi OurHalfAcreHomestead, I was wondering whether you used household salt or Stock Salt? I'm doing a presentation on sheep pelt tanning and I'd like to know this.

[@rubygray7749]

It needs to be fine not coarse salt, and not iodised nor table salt (has additives), then the cheapest you can find is good.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

I used household pickling salt..no iodine

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

etsy.me/2T2aq20

[@osmantekcan7260]

I'm giving it a shot, got the raw skin today and salted it, nice blue eyed goat that ran away, I had named it Heisenberg. You either knew how fast it was going or where it was, and never both at the same time. He will be missed.

[@johnnyutubester]

hello sandra, victory at last! i am so happy---you will be pleased to know too that my washed sheepskin is drying as it should after i applied the neatsfoot oil while it was still wet. i am so elated, i feared i would have to throw it out tomorrow (garbage day). i have 3 more sheepskins on their way to becoming beautiful rugs. i learned something off another website that i thought i would pass along to you, it is a handy trick for removing the tough membrane layer so you have a nice clean skin to begin with (and it won't take forever). you may have already figured this out with your sheepskins, but the trick is simple; instead of washing off the salt from the first stage and then removing the fat, leave the salt on---for whatever reason, the fat/membrane comes off in huge pieces if you start a little bit with your knife/herb chopper (i liked using the herb chopper the best)and then pull, pull, pull with your fingers. worked like a charm and it was amazing! i did 3 sheepskins in 1 hour and they are smooth as a baby's bottom! i am excited to start these ones. thank you so very much for all your help and for putting up with me. i will now have 5 sheepskins to show for Christmas. have a very merry one! hannah

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Joel Hardy So pleased to hear it Hannah! Congratulations and well done for persevering! Thanks for the tip too - I'll definitely try it the next time we do a batch. The thing is we now have about 12 !

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

etsy.me/2T2aq20

[@joshuasage4224]

Hello, this is great as I was about to start brain tanning the hides but I like this method better. Is there a place where I can search for quantities used of the salt and oxalic acid in the bath? This would be greatly appreciated, Joshua

[@_rose_Hyperthread]

Thank you! I was struggling to find a video on how to do this. A poor little Genet wondered to our power box outside and got electrocuted 😥 I wanted to at least save the skin for a small rug. So thank you for the tutorial!

[@rubygray7749]

+Way Out West Blow-in Blog Hey there Sandra! I just tanned my first 3 sheepskins, the first of many I hope! (The butcher next door has been throwing away literally thousands of skins for years.) Thanks for the encouragement to have a go at doing this, using an eco-friendly method! It is wonderful to make something so lovely out of a "waste product"! They turned out soft, supple, sweet-smelling (at all stages of the process), and creamy-white, rumply and suedey on the inside. My process was pretty much like yours. I salted the skins, folded them up so they stayed damp (this is called "wet salting"), and didn't get a chance to work on them till I had all the tools & chemistry together, about 4 months later. They were fine. Rehydrated overnight in plain water. Washed with washing soda and rinsed well. I used citric acid crystals instead of oxalic acid, with salt & water. Left them in this strong pickle for 3 days. The pH needs to be between 1 & 2, and they can stay there forever or until you are ready. pH papers are cheap and well worth using here. Check the pH again the day after putting the hides in and adjust so it is still below 2. Then fleshed them completely with a proper fleshing knife, (Tim may be able to make one from a blunt planer blade), the hide draped over a self-made fleshing beam, which makes it so much quicker & simpler. They came up beautifully clean, and the chooks fought over all the bits of flesh, fat & membrane off the hide. See Joshua Albanese's video on fleshing a hide. It's really quite simple and makes a huge difference to the end result. Back in the pickle for a day or two. Rinsed then neutralised the acid with a little bicarb soda or washing soda. If the pH is not neutral at this stage, the oil cannot be absorbed into the skin and it will stay hard. Drained till just damp, several days here in winter. Made up an emulsion of grated pure soap, boiling water & 1 Tbsp of neatsfoot oil per hide. Smeared that over the damp flesh side, folded together and left to soak in for a day or two. Opened out & hung up to dry. Again, took several days in cold weather. As the edges started to dry and become stiff, I progressively (over several more days) started stretching out the hide by laying it wool side down on a table, pressing down firmly with one hand, then pushing a pry bar across the skin away from me. The skin magically turns into creamy leather as it stretches out! There are many ways of stretching hides, but this is an excellent one. See Taxidermy Journal's channel for video of this amazing process. If you have 2 people, you can play tug-of-war with it. Or like me, just grab handfuls and vigorously twist them about. When they were really dry, I used a final trick to make them smooth and soft. 120-grit sandpaper on a little wood block, with the hide sprinkled with cornflour which acts as a lubricant. You can go over again with finer sandpaper if necessary. Used a metal dog comb or brush to fluff up the fleece. Perfick!

[@wingsonmyback1]

you should get hides and do this and sell them, I have been buying several from ebay and they go for around $40 a a skin 2 ft x3ft

[@warefh]

How much salt and baking soda and citric acid you are used ?and let them souking for 2 days? Only

[@ashibee3877]

Sounds like a good way to try

[@karamitchell1041]

I would love to have one as a saddle blanket!

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

Kara Mitchell find one here : etsy.me/2T2aq20

[@Memoiana]

Thx for the video! A small Safety note: it is recommended to wear rubber gloves to handle oxalic acid. Especially when you put it in the salt water solution and then touch the skins with your bare hands.. also make sure to NEUTRALIZE the acid by diluting in water with baking soda before you can flush it in the environment. Cheers!

[@johnnyutubester]

hi way out west---i will try wiping off the excess. it is not outside, it is in my basement so it should have dried out by now. the skin is a BIT more pliable with the oil on, but some parts are still very stiff. i had used a different soap (with glycerine in it) before i found the saddle soap, perhaps this is why it is not absorbing now? i will try to wipe it off, and hope that all i did was put on too much! thanks, hannah

[@mamadeebuildsahouse]

I'll try this though I do not know if we have the acid.

[@johnnyutubester]

hi again, i have put the saddle soap on, let dry, and applied the neatsfoot oil---it has absorbed into the skin but it is still hard as a rock---help! i did not stretch these skins while they were drying--- i did lay them flat on a table--but the skin is very wonky and 'bubbly', and so tough---when i stood on one it crunched! this would all be very funny to me if it wasn't for all the time i put in to these two sheepskins, and the fact that they are supposed to be Christmas presents :( if you have ANY ideas on how i can soften these, i would really appreciate it. thanks so much for all your help during this process, i hope i can make them work. hannah

[@DFoley93]

Beautiful! Very helpful video. Thanks for sharing!

[@drason69]

Oxalis acid is a key ingredient in Barkeepers Friend cleanser. I may try it as a substitute

[@mrbennotmrban]

hi, I'm interested to know if you tried it, was it good enough?

[@Maties1585]

Thank you so much for sharing good, old knowledge and wisdom! :)

[@cindythomas5246]

You mentioned a washing soda mix to wash them in but didn't say what the mix was, great way of tanning this way, I saw a man use eggs ,mayo. veg.oil and water and rubbed it in the hide and made it real soft.

[@AtetiTc]

hey I really like your video! I am about to try this technic and I have a question. If I have all the ingredients I need from the start, I have to rub the skin with the salt anyway?

[@EngrSB]

hello, is there an alternative for oxalic acid?

[@emmabowen4431]

Love the video we have everything ready but could do with a guide on how much oxalic acid to use please?

[@hicoteo]

When you salt and keep the skin for a week, can it be folded up and stored in a bucket where animals can't get it or must it be kept open?

[@mwholmes2006]

Is it ok to use a plastic (Rubbermaid) garbage pail to soak the hides in with the oxalic acid? I.e. will the plastic deteriorate from the acid, significantly?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+mwholmes2006 I'm going to say it won't harm it. But I can't be certain because there are different sorts of plastics out there and they may behave differently. Try a drop first?

[@MMSF.1]

Thank you for this video. We live in Virginia and purchased merino sheep about a year ago. We had about 25 "bloops" (the first few were unexpected and then we caught on...) and several of them have died for various reasons. ☹I thought about making a rug on my way back from the vet after having to euthanize one of my little guys and figured I would try to at least use his life for something. I will have to fight my cats for it though. When we're skirting and throwing the ickies (as my 4 year-old calls it) on the floor the cats show up, knead their little paws out and promptly fall asleep. Thanks again for the video.

[@ashleytrills2022]

great video !! i have a cow hide i want to make it into a rug i applied salt to it and left it for a week ( big mistake ) it is rock solid !! anyways i did try to break the hide by scratching the cowhide skin surface to make.it soft ... what would.you suggest ?? it is very stiff

[@yellowlabsrule]

Have you ever had an issue with any hides growing mold while drying? Or is this an issue of the hide not being scraped enough?

[@WayOutWestx2]

gamedevftw We haven't had that trouble - except if they're left in a damp place. (But then everything will go mouldy in a damp place, I suppose.) Salt will attract water from the atmosphere - so if the salt wasn't washed out well enough that might be the problem? But that should sort itself out over time so I don't think you should worry.

[@freddiemercerful]

Hi, out of interest how was this process without chemicals done in the old times? I mean obviously our ancestors didn't have things like Oxylic Acid, so what did they used instead? Thanks!

[@WayOutWestx2]

urine, wood ash washout (lye), salt, baked lime, and bark-tannin - all powerful chemicals that humans have used for millenia. Not sure of any recipes, though I'm sure you could find out!

[@freddiemercerful]

WayOutWest Blowinblog Great thanks for the info! :)

[@OmmerSyssel]

Oak bark soaked in huge pools. Read the book "Brendans Travel". Experimental Archeology has gained lots of knowledge as well.

[@johnnyutubester]

the video says to wash the sheepskins in a wool detergent, but you don't list that in the ingredients list....what wool detergent do you recommend? does this step need to be taken, or will the washing soda do the trick? thanks, great video.

[@ФархадЗакиров-ы4ч]

Joel Hardy I used a hair shampoo with conditioner. I guess worked for me.

[@Darrenholmes]

Hi, is the washing soda just baking soda?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Good question - no, they're not Darren. Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate, while washing soda is Sodium Carbonate. Both available in our local supermarket. I just looked it up and apparently you can easily change the first into the second. Magic!

[@thundercloud47]

What a beautiful rug of nature's design. Would think it be so tempting to curl up into a ball and take a nap :). Mrs. Tc

[@emmabowen4431]

Is it best to do the salting process inside the garage or outside in the sunshine?

[@nahidach9995]

Very nice video

[@mabeltangney6174]

Hi! What a great video! Thanks for sharing this great info. My hide is drying be as we speak! ... However, I am afraid I didn't mix it well enough during the 3 day oxalic acid soak and it seems there are some still slimy white spots.. Can I start the process over and resoak in oxalic acid? .. What do you recommend? Thanks again!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Carly TangneyDecker Hmmm. I'm really not sure what to say Carly. The thing is, we have heard that if you leave it in too long the hair could start falling out. Perhaps it would be safest to keep going and see how it turns out? Good luck!

[@arioprananda3527]

wow amazing craft

[@metalplaster]

Really want to try this! Thanks for sharing

[@wildchild1161]

Hello i'd like to say if you have a 2500 -3200 psi power washer with an oscillating head attachment it makes quick work of any excess fat /skin membrane that is left after butchering the animal.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Interesting - thank you

[@AsifShaikh-co7cn]

Nice video I love the way u explains 💕👌

[@AsifShaikh-co7cn]

I try personally but a fat remain on it And it’s Start degrading from some area Please correct me

[@Onadneva]

Hello whats the name of the curvy tool you used to remove the fat from the skin? Also in the first step, when i put salt on the skin, do i need to keep it in the shade or it can have some sun? thanks

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Jorge Avendaño I borrowed the curvy tool from the kitchen, it is intended for cutting up herbs really. I always try to keep the salted sheepskins somewhere cool and away from flies. I would worry that if you leave the salted skins out in the sun, that flies might choose some part of the skin/wool that isn’t covered with salt to lay their eggs and then you’ll end up having to pick off maggots... (Actually, we don't have much sun here!)

[@Onadneva]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog thank you so much :) I slaughter a sheep 3 days a go. and this will be my first rug.

[@WayOutWestx2]

good luck!

[@kellyb5231]

after you hang to dry. are they completely dry and stiff. then apply soap? then do you let that dry and apply oil?

[@salihcagdas3368]

I am grateful for this video

[@gingerbreadmanC]

could I leave the skins in the baking soda ( washing soda crystals) overnight?

[@Nagasaki54]

You dont pull or press on the meat side of the skin as it dries?

[@mypony891]

When you were pickling them how did you keep the pH in the barrel where it's supposed to be? Mind always starts out at the right point but by the next day it's not acidic anymore and trying to mix another solution together is huge pain. Trying to mix more acid in the current solution while the pelt is still in there is even worse.

[@MsMesem]

I tried this as a teenager in NZ. Couldn't get decent advice on how to do it so the result was not the best! Few people seem to tan sheepskins there which is pretty crazy (you wouldn't see homes with homemade sheepskins on the floor. Everyone is used to industrially produced stuff be it food or something like this.

[@joshmorris2474]

Great video. Should we be concerned about dumping the various wash mixes on the ground?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Josh Morris Probably, yes. Avoid delicate plants and water-courses?

[@joshmorris2474]

Thanks for getting back to me. I found out that the oxalic acid used is very biodegradable and that it can be neutralized with baking soda (which is probably part of why you used a baking soda detergent for the washing). May even be enough to pour the mixtures off in the same area, one neutralizing the other. One site recommended testing with a litmus strip.

[@slytheron]

will this work if the skin is already dry and stiff?

[@kayliearsenault1313]

Hi Sandra and Tim, Thanks for the great video. What kind of barrel did you use? Is plastic ok to use with oxalic acid?

[@WayOutWestx2]

yes, that should be fine. Good luck!

[@sawsansalim]

من فضلك ممكن تشرحين .ماهي المواد الكيماوية المستعملة بالتدريج حتى افهم ...

[@juozaspavilonis9653]

can you help me pleas in my state is not posible get nestefoot oil what to do?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Neatsfoot oil is 'a yellow oil rendered and purified from the shin bones and feet (but not the hooves) of cattle.' So you will need to go to your local hardware shop and see what they have that's similar. Good luck!

[@rubygray7749]

+juozas pavilonis Hi, macadamia nut oil has very similar properties to neatsfoot oil, and you can use the rest on your salad! Or to oil timber. It does not go rancid. You can also mix up raw egg yolks and hot water. Mink oil (possibly sold as shoe leather dressing) is another good substitute.

[@djyul]

If i have all the ingrediants,i guess i can go straight to fat removal and then into salt/oxalic acid mix?

[@honeybee7589]

Is there a same method for goat skin i dint have sheep

[@martinkaz06666]

Does this work on deer, fox or beaver skin too?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Martin Reyna Can't think why it shouldn't, but we haven't tried.

[@martinkaz06666]

Next hunting season I will try and I will let you know Thanks

[@asfs8965]

Lütfen suyun içine sırayla ne koydugunuzu soylermisiniz 🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗❓❓

[@katsaras1]

Can these be used to make a jacket too?

[@rollothewalker5535]

Would this work for a fox pelt? Also, any substitute for the neatsfoot oil? Lard or suet maybe?

[@WayOutWestx2]

I think the lard/suet would go rancid pretty soon?

[@kellyb5231]

does the back of the hides go like the normal tanned hide? that nice neat backing? and would you use this same method on a cow hide?

[@WayOutWestx2]

It isn't tanned (made into leather) - it's just dried. So it's more like cardboard than leather. We haven't tried a cow hide, but I imagine it would be the same.

[@kellyb5231]

WayOutWest Blowinblog oh so when this is finished it will be very stiff ? mines up to oil stage now and is stiff as...

[@johnnyutubester]

hello again--thanks for your quick reply! you said that the sheepskin would be smelly, but what if i only salted the fleeces ONCE and then preceded with the next steps? because that is what i did. i did not realize that i needed to salt and salt and SALT them until they were done 'seeping'-- i have started over with the same fleece, this time with lots of salt, and i'm hoping that this will preserve the skins---they smelled pretty bad (rotted meat smell) when i took them out of the oxalic acid bath. i am hoping i can still use these original fleeces, what do you think? also; in the video, when you are removing the fat, you get it pretty clean---do i need to make sure every scrap of fat is off? you say in the video that the washing-soda mix removes the fat--just want to be sure. please reply soon, the skins need doing! thanks, hannah (using my husband's account)

[@johnnyutubester]

+Joel Hardy not sure why that first part is scratched out!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Joel Hardy Ok, Hannah, we're not experts and we can't see what your skins look like, so we may be wrong, but it seems reasonable to expect them to be fine if you go back and do the salt stage again. The salt draws all the moisture out of the cells - moisture which would otherwise allow bacteria to live (and make smells). We think the oxalic acid breaks down the fats - which also would get smelly as they are digested. Your aim is to remove the fats and cell-water and then replace them with stable oils so the rug is flexible. If there is still fat present - you might need to redo the acid stage too. Let us know how you get on with it? Good luck!

[@johnnyutubester]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog thank you so much, i will try it again and let you know how they turn out! hannah

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

etsy.me/2T2aq20

[@ashleygallant6822]

Can you do this with goat hides??

[@WayOutWestx2]

Yes you can

[@joshuast.patrick426]

can you use this same method for alpaca hides?

[@Michyritchey]

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful.

[@chrishellize]

Hi, thanks for the tutorial! can I ask, I'm not familiar with the term washing soda, do you mean just regular powdered washing detergent ? Thanks!

[@WayOutWestx2]

No, it's not detergent it's Na2CO3 or sodium carbonate. It comes in a white crystal form. I wonder what it's called where you live?

[@chrishellize]

@@WayOutWestx2 Thank you! Ive just discovered I can buy soda ash or washing soda at a few places here in New Zealand. It also seems to be a key ingredient in pool ph balancer, I'll have to check our supplies and see if it will do! The home-kill butcher skinned a lamb for me yesterday (we have sheep and beef farm, but this is the first time Ive attempted to use the wool). Its currently salted and folded as per your instructions :D I wonder if I could ask one more question...do you apply the glycerin soap and neatsfoot oil over several days as it dries, or once when it is completely dry? Im sorry to ask, I hope you dont mind :)

[@crannogecofarm1326]

Hi guys, thanks for the great video, did a few sheepskins following your instructions a couple of years ago and they turned quite nice :) About to do it again but I have one question, how much water did you use for the four skins in your video?

[@matthewshroyer1493]

Hello! i see you did not stretch them, how stiff did they turn out? i am looking to do this in the next couple weeks, pretty excited. Thankyou for your video posts, the first one i watched was the one of you milking your sheep... i cannot believe how willing they are, mine are quite insane when it comes to milking. take care!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Matthew shroyer Insane sheep, eh? Sound fun!Our skins are not stiff like cardboard - far from it. but you wouldn't be able to make a jacket with them either. They'd drape over a bucket, but not over a broom-handle, if you get my meaning. Perfect for rugs anyway. Good luck!

[@matthewshroyer1493]

WayOutWest Blowinblog Thankyou! oh, i have Navajo churro sheep, and they are flighty and jumpy. well, i have the hide salted, ill see how it goes...

[@10sveta85]

Hello, I’m just wondering if I can substitute oxalic acid with citric acid?

[@WayOutWestx2]

I really don't know - sorry. But try it and report back? Good luck!

[@johnnyutubester]

hello again--you are probably sick of me by now but---i have given the sheepskin a scrub with saddle soap, let it dry, then used a pretty big brush to put on the neatsfoot oil---in the video you say to brush it in generously, and i believe i did so without over doing it, but after letting it sit overnight, the oil has not absorbed into the skin. does this process take a matter of days, or am i supposed to wipe off the excess oil with a rag? my sheepskin looks so lovely and i can't wait for it to be done, so it is a bit disheartening to get to the final steps only to have this stand in my way. thanks, hannah

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Joel Hardy Well done, Joel - sounds like you're almost there. Wipe off the excess - if it hasn't soaked in by now it wont (unless it's outside in the cold, maybe?) As soon as it's dry and not smelly anymore, you can use it. If, over the years, it dries out and becomes hard, try putting some more oil on it.

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

etsy.me/2T2aq20

[@beatrizactis-dato5517]

Greetings from Spain! We wanted to know how much oxalic acid is 1 cup. Maybe it's a silly question but we do not want to make a mistake. thank you very much!

[@ellendegraaf492]

hello!! i tanned the skins with only salt , washed them with shampoo and a hose pipe , now i put them in a barrel with washing soda but is it alright i leave them there for a whole night ? after that I sqeese the water out , span the skins on a frame and blow dry the wool. i use a hot air gun to dry the skin . tell me what you think of this way

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Ellen De graaf Interesting. It might work, Ellen. Let us know how it goes?

[@mitchell_grove]

Totally cool! Where do you rinse the solutions . . . is it all right to just put it on the ground?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Well, that's a really good question. On an industrial scale I imagine it wouldn't do anything much good, but, spread over a large patch of ground, I think this quantity is ok. No sign of damage anyway.

[@o0TheKillerFish0o]

If I just want a stiff deer hide to hang on the wall, would salting it a few times In stages work to preserve it, or will it rot?

[@WayOutWestx2]

o0TheKillerFish0o Yes it will work, but you will need to wash the salt out afterwards or it will attract moisture from the air when you hang it on the wall. Good luck!

[@simonvieaux]

thank you for posting such an informative video. This was my first time processing a lamb skin and it turned out well. My lamb hide still has that animal body odor smell. it is not super strong but still there. should I rewash or is this normal?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+simonvieaux Ours were still smelly for a few weeks, and then one day they just didn't smell anymore. So I'd say try waiting longer. S.

[@MsElehman]

Just about finished doing this. Thanks for the video... I have one question though. The lambskin I am working with was VERY dirty when we processed the lamb. I washed it over and over again with a gentle wool detergent (Eucalan) but there is still a lot of brown stuff at the top of the wool. The bottom 3/4s of the wool is white, the top 1/4 is dirty. Any ideas? The skin is dry, but I am ok with getting it wet again if needed. What wool detergent did you use? Have you ever encountered wool that is white at the bottom and brown/dingy at the top?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+MsElehman Hmmm. That's not a problem we've come across. The question is whether the wool itself is a different colour, or if there's something stuck on it. If it's the first then you'll need to dye it or bleach it, I guess? Otherwise, keep trying cleaning agents? Does your local dry-cleaners have any advice, maybe? Sorry we can't help : - (

[@johnnyutubester]

ok, yes, i will wait for the soap to dry before the neatsfoot oil, thanks, again, hannah

[@danbeaty9905]

How many gallons of the acid solution do you think I would need for 2 smaller sheepskins?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Dan Beaty You could measure the amount of water you need to cover them - and then replace it with the mixture?

[@traceystumpclark931]

I was wondering if this makes the hides side enough for clothes. To make cloaks and whatnot live off grid and make my own clothes and need a new jacket. I raise angoras :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

the ones we make would be very stiff, Tracey. Not unwearable, but not soft either.

[@traceystumpclark931]

Way Out West Blow-in blog thanks for the reply! I actually found that doing what u did, but after, rubbing it down with a hot water/egg mix did the trick! Rub it on, fold it up and leave it for a day! :).

[@sandrafilipovic8925]

@@traceystumpclark931 what did you do with the eggs? My hide is so stiff.

[@mushfequssaleheen6498]

Grateful to you

[@untouchable802000]

how long should i keep the skin in the mix of salt and oxalic acid?.and could i use olive oil instead of neatsfoot oil? Thanks.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Raouf Beshry Not sure about the olive oil - sorry. The rest is in the video and the description. Good luck!

[@untouchable802000]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog well in the video it says we put the skin in the mix overnight....is that means for one day...and then we move the skin from the mix and put it in another barrel for 3 days with giving it a stir-about?

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Raouf Beshry Sorry, perhaps it wasn't clear. Let's say 3-and-a-half days in total? Or thereabouts.

[@astridlim]

Just wondering if there is a specific way to to hang the skins while drying... after all that work, afraid that i might ruin the shape...

[@WayOutWestx2]

We found the best way is just lay them onto flat mesh so they stay flat and still dry. Good luck

[@bornstoffer]

great video, but i was thinking, will the hair fall of in time, or will the rug be preservt for the "rest of life"

[@0097r]

There are more easy thing for do it? Also if I have work more pls

[@BeSatori]

Do you know if this method will work with hair-onn deer hides? Thanks.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Can think why it wouldn't. Give it a go and let us know?

[@halabouziane7043]

Je veux bien la traduction en français

[@aquabilly]

great, thanks for putting the vid together.

[@mercoexportleathers4498]

Nicevideo

[@juliacasperd4034]

I am going to give this a go we have the most beautiful Boer goats and I cannot see their skin go to waste. Please could you advise on the quantities of oxalic acid and the soda to water? Thank you

[@WayOutWestx2]

If you look at the top of the comments under the video, there should be details there...good luck!

[@jonathanjovan5176]

Can i use salt and eggs

[@nicolecarpenter1895]

Hi there. I really appreciate your video. It is hard to find information on tanning wool-on sheep skins. Is the washing soda used to make an alkaline solution? What is the purpose of it? Just curious, trying to compare your method to other methods I've read about.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Hi, The soda is used after the soak in the acid to raise the ph. Have a look at this website: www.headsabovetherest.com/article_chemistry_of_tanning.html - it explains the difference between our way of tanning and ‘real’ tanning - which is more complicated and requires more chemicals. I find that our way works perfectly well for hair-on sheep skin tanning for home use. Hope this helps, good luck!

[@nicolecarpenter1895]

thanks! are you able to wash the rugs and they stay soft?

[@brookewitana8297]

Where do you store the hide after salting? And it’s been 24 hours since the sheep was skinned. Can I still salt it?

[@WayOutWestx2]

I think it should be fine

[@sarafayez]

Wooooow, the result is wonderful.

[@hasantharadara4445]

It really work???????

[@attilatatlc7758]

Thank you very much.

[@johnnyutubester]

hello way out west---my sheepskin is drying out nicely! you were right, i needed to be patient and wait a bit longer :) i have some soap with glycerin in it (among other things) and it is the colour of yours in the video, will this do? also, do i wait for the soap to dry on the skin before adding the neatsfoot oil, or can i add it right after the soap? (i know, there's my impatience getting the better of me again!!!) i want to get this one done as soon as possible, it is a Christmas present, thanks!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Joel Hardy Hey, that's great. glad you're feeling a bit happier about it now (Hannah?) Definitely wait for the soap, I'd say. Christmas is still a good way off! (Sandra)

[@darlingxvibez3893]

Great video :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks!

[@hicoteo]

I tried this method with a goat skin. It turned out like a wrinkled piece of cardboard. You just hung yours to dry and they came out fairly soft. What did I do wrong? What can I do to soften them?

[@WayOutWestx2]

try rubbing oil into the skin?

[@hicoteo]

@@WayOutWestx2 Thanks for responding. I see this video is already 8 years old! Wow. Perhapes your method works well where you live because it's cool and humid? I'm it the tropics so the hot sun just shriveled mine up like jerky. I identified a few errors that could help others. Next time I'll stretch the skin on a rack and try to dry it slower. Then I'll work the skin to soften it before it's totally dry. There are many techniques. I saw one where they rub the skin with the end of a board and saw dust. I'm going to soften my goat skin again, with some warm water, and try the board method. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[@cateelisabethlsn6400]

I have a question on how to turn a hard rough goatskin that was all summer outside into a soft one. I've put the goatskin outside because inside the smell was too strong. Now they are all hard and not beautiful anymore.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Sorry, Cate we haven't had that problem. Oil will surely soften the skin though, and time will diminish the smell? Good luck

[@munnymon]

Great video! Do you know if this method would work on deer hides as well?

[@WayOutWestx2]

NatAndKat Davis Can't think why it wouldn't. Good luck!

[@quiltqueen4318]

Thank you! Thank you so much!

[@jassamali4984]

good job

[@johnnyutubester]

okay, so nothing is working to soften the leather----the only thing i can think of is that i used 'bar keeper's friend' instead of pure oxalic acid, since i can't seem to get it shipped to me online...the main ingedient in bkf is oxalic acid, so i thought i was ok...i also read somewhere that i should rub the neatsfoot oil on the hide when it is still a bit damp, do you do this to yours?please let me know, i have 3 more skins to try, and i am hopeful that with your help they will make great Christmas presents. p.s i am thinking of wetting my stiff skins again and adding the neatsfoot oil while it is still damp, what do you think?

[@victoriavale9902]

Did you ever figure out the answer. I am doing an alpaca skin and hoping that it won't come out too stiff.