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

This is how we make really lovely sheepskin floor rugs - using only soap, salt, oxalic acid, washing soda and oil. They're so cheap and easy to make and you mostly just need household products to do it.
There are different ways of curing, drying and tanning skins and fleeces, depending on what you want them for. But most use seriously nasty chemicals. Our method is simpler and much less toxic, and they end up perfect for floor rugs or for taking outside by the bonfire, but they are not soft enough for, say, making a coat (you'd need to tan them for that and that's a different process).
So this is a really easy and inexpensive method and you end up with something lovely and warm and friendly -- but it's a little bit stiff too. Ok?
The abattoir should just give you back the skins from your own sheep/lambs/goats/calves. And even if you don't have any sheep of your own, you should have no problem getting some -- the abattoir get next to nothing for them. Pick the best and cleanest you can though, and save yourself a lot of work.
YOU'LL NEED:
Salt -- the cheap and cheerful sort
Washing Soda -- again cheap and cheerful
Neatsfoot oil -- from your hardware shop or saddle shop
Saddle soap -- from the same places.
Oxalic acid -- through your chemist/drugstore or order online. This is the same acid that's found in rhubarb leaves so theoretically you could make your own, but it's very cheap to buy.
You will also need:
a large bath or barrel
Wire brush/comb -- hardware shop or petshop
Somewhere to hang the skins while they dry - which could be a week or more.
The precise amount you use isn't absolutely critical. For each 2 gallon bucket of water, we use approximately:
1 kilo salt (about 2lbs)
1 cup of powdered oxalic acid
Then later, for the first wash,
1 cup of washing soda crystals for each bucketful water.
WARNING -- these go through a smelly stage while they're drying out, so be warned!
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www.wayoutwestemporium.com/
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www.patreon.com/user?u=276131...
Copyright WayOutWest. All rights reserved. Please share if you like, but don’t copy or use without permission. Just get in touch via email blowinblog @ gmail.com
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[@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

[@inkedoutmiss]

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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@Maties1585]

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

[@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!

[@DFoley93]

Beautiful! Very helpful video. Thanks for sharing!

[@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.

[@metalplaster]

Really want to try this! Thanks for sharing

[@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!

[@Michyritchey]

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful.

[@_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!

[@salihcagdas3368]

I am grateful for this video

[@sarafayez]

Wooooow, the result is wonderful.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@aquabilly]

great, thanks for putting the vid together.

[@karamitchell1041]

I would love to have one as a saddle blanket!

[@AbderrahimTihaoui2016]

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

[@quiltqueen4318]

Thank you! Thank you so much!

[@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

[@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.

[@attilatatlc7758]

Thank you very much.

[@therealdinwah]

thanks for sharing..

[@mushfequssaleheen6498]

Grateful to you

[@cristinavalenta1576]

Really useful video thank

[@onderinozu9433]

sweetheart, you re absolutely amazing !

[@sscfc1]

Excellent

[@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

[@mushfiqmushtaq59]

Just lovely

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thank you

[@pattysherwood7091]

I am so excited to see this process.

[@arioprananda3527]

wow amazing craft

[@nahidach9995]

Very nice video

[@patbavji]

Wonderful

[@eskendirzulkarnai]

super good

[@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?

[@jassamali4984]

good job

[@FRSHBL]

very nice thanks alot

[@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

[@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?

[@alfredozambrano7641]

Thanks.

[@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

[@user-qn4nk2vl7k]

well done!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Ника Саградян Thank you!

[@eleanoreperry1231]

Soft and comfortable

[@emmabowen4431]

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

[@johnnyutubester]

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

[@darlingxvibez3893]

Great video :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@KillerCrewmate2526]

Aw sheep skin, the dream. 😍 I have a lot of kinds of kind but not sheep.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@mercoexportleathers4498]

Nicevideo

[@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...

[@kellyb5231]

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

[@faithactiongrace5614]

Hi, great video! It looks like a nice life you have! I found this video because I'm looking into how to clean one I bought like yours from a local farm. It's white and starting to grey after many years. Would you suggest brushing it before or after washing? And perhaps just hand wash it with a gentle soap? Thanks in advance for any replies : )

[@WayOutWestx2]

+In Lakech Sandra says don't use soap at all - and just very cool water. But, hey, we wouldn't be experts at all on cleaning!

[@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.

[@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 : - (

[@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.

[@coochie_man8310]

I don’t have a farm or any animal but it was interesting

[@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!

[@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)

[@mamadeebuildsahouse]

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

[@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.

[@user-iu7pq1ns4d]

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

[@emmabowen4431]

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

[@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"

[@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?

[@guigamoretto]

Satsified

[@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.

[@gingerbreadmanC]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@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?

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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.

[@willowdmello6692]

Can you use Oxalic Acid on brown haired pelts? Because I was under the impression that Oxalic Acid could only be used on white haired pelts/skins because of its bleaching affect? Great video, vary informative, thank you so much for sharing!.... Willow

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks, Willow. As you can see, we use it on both brown and white wool..

[@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?

[@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...

[@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?

[@EngrSB]

hello, is there an alternative for oxalic acid?

[@djyul]

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

[@joshuast.patrick426]

can you use this same method for alpaca hides?

[@katsaras1]

Can these be used to make a jacket too?

[@amyf4542]

Hello! I am trying out your method here with a lambskin. I'll let you know how it goes :) I just salted the skin today.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Amy F Good luck Amy!

👍👍

[@Nagasaki54]

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

[@TheVersatileDoc]

Can we add potash alum in place of oxalic acid

[@slytheron]

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

[@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!

[@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?

[@maggiedale9085]

I would love to try this method on my hair sheep skins, but I am curious to know the exact (or aprox.) measurements on the chemicals/supplies. I am also unfamiliar with the ingredients of a washing soda mix. Could you please clarify these issues for me? Thanks!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Maggie Wright Hi Maggie! Have a look at the description under the video - we tried to put lots of info in there, but get back to us if you need more help

[@OmmerSyssel]

After drying out with salt & cleaning you actually can use it as is.. The preservation proces from chemicals isn't necessary in our modern dry & warm housing environment. Traditional people living with animal herding didn't spend this amount of precious time & resources on their hides like we tends to doo.. I've used such 'raw preserved' sheep skins for more than 5 years, untill they were simply outworn from daily use: sleeping, sitting, stepping on. In boat, car, house or travelling..

[@zahed3021]

Can I do it for my goat's skin?, and it has very less(short) hair on it, so for what purpose can I use the skin for? And if I keep the skin in my flat during this process would it stink?

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@zahed3021 Any animal hide can be treated with this method.. Decay is part of natural processes. If you are down to earth & practical it could be done. A refrigerator may be helpful controlling the decay & unavoidable smell. Lots of water & effective drainage is needed as well.. If it fails & become too smelly & messy be ready to throw it all out, before you are... 😎

[@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!

[@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?

[@drakor001]

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!)

[@drakor001]

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

[@WayOutWestx2]

good luck!