Natural SHEEPSKIN Tanning

[@ryanworden8556]

OK… I do tanning for living history/American Indian craft work, and also I am a taxidermist. Both brain tan and chemical tan (KrowTan). I might humbly suggest to things to make the process a lot easier for you. First of all… Do your fleshing immediately after skinning the animal. Make a fleshing beam and use either a knife, scalpel, or fleshing knife. (No spoon). The reason that you would do it at this point in the game is that the meat and fat in the membrane will come off super easy, AND with all of that gone, the tanning solution can really soak down into the membrane and layers of the skin itself. That way you are sure to get it completely tanned. Secondly… When it comes to drying/“breaking” the skin… Build a wooden frame and lace the hide up onto the frame. That can be lean against the wall to make it a lot easier. You can use this both as a way to open it up when you are hosing off the alum/salt brine, as well as “breaking“ it to soften it. All of your waste water will just run right off. No risk of it sitting in moisture. Instead of the wooden spoon to break it with when it is in the frame, get yourself an old canoe paddle or make something of a smaller version of it. That will give you enough leverage to lean into the hide and rub it back-and-forth over the surface of the skin. Believe me, it will make your job 10 times easier! Both the fleshing beam as well as the wooden frame can be made at home using scrap materials. As far as a knife, just something that is very sharp will do nicely. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I have seen people use X-Acto knives and they have success. Just a few thoughts from someone who has done this for about eight years.

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

Thank you that is very helpful! 💙

[@jetindersingh8674]

Thanks for the tips! Can a canoe paddle do the job of all the fleshing if I dont have the time/budget to make a fleshing beam?

[@ryanworden8556]

I’m sorry, but no. The canoe paddle is only for breaking/softening. It does not do any of the flashing. That would require a draw knife, hunting knife, or something similar.

[@jetindersingh8674]

@@ryanworden8556 thanks for clarifying that makes sense. I've seen people use egg diluted with water in the process. Is this recommended? Or is salt and alum sufficient enough? How long can I leave a hide salted if I'm unable to tan right away?

[@rubygray7749]

So many problems here, from a bad skinning job, to not fleshing the skin properly (all the membrane has been left on), to using a puny wooden spoon instead of a stout stick for stirring the skin in the solution. No washing soda used to clean the fleece. Hanging the skin over a beam or sawhorse would help to wash, drain and dry it. Alum is not a natural chemical. I use salt, citric acid, washing soda, and an emulsion of grated soap and neatsfoot oil. To break the skin, use a 2 inch wide pry bar with the skin on a table so you can lean on it and push the skin away from you, with all your weight behind it. You will get lovely long wide white lines as the skin stretches more than it possibly can when you hold a little patch with your fingers and dabble it with that ineffectual spoon. You can achieve a far superior result in a fraction of the time, with much less effort, by improving tools and technique a little. To give a perfect finish after the skin is stretched flat, use a sanding block with fine sandpaper, as you sprinkle the skin with cornflour, to whiten it. Then trim those daggy edges from the skin.

[@therenaissancewoman2080]

The information is helpful to understand the process. May I suggest choosing another background music or to have none. It's a bit of a jolt and techno does not go well with a natural setting. One would expect softer or country type music. Just a suggestion for next videos. ;)

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

Polite suggestions are always welcome ☺️

[@timmynormand8082]

I agree on the background music. But a real nice informative vidio I will try on other hides

[@amypayjack6481]

What breed of sheep is that? The wool looks lovely

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

@@amypayjack6481 Shetland sheep. Their wool really is lovely

[@timmynormand8082]

@@nordicshepherdess4764yes beautiful sheepskin

[@gilhayek3879]

wooden spoon for this work is crazy

[@jassamali4984]

Hello dear, can you teach me in detail how to tan the sheepskin to make a beautiful carpet?

[@evanwarren355]

How do you wash these after extended use? Do you wash only the wool side? Have you ever smoked them?

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

You would need to smoke them to wash them. I shake mine out since we get really dusty but that's about all that's needed. Wool stays pretty clean and doesn't need excessive washing. But if you're getting muddy or such where you need to actually wash you'd need to smoke the hide. If you don't smoke the hide and you soak it you'll have to re-tan the hide.

[@Freewarden]

Good video. Question though, with rabbit hide tanning they say to soak in the brine for 7 days before flushing and another 7 days with another round of salts. Why 2 days for sheep hide before flushing? Keep up the good work!

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

Thank you! That's a good comment! I have accidentally done it longer but when I did I couldn't do the fleshing. It becomes honestly inseparable. No matter how you work it it won't come off if it's in the brine for too long. Not sure why it would be different for rabbits but I'm not making that mistake again.

[@amypayjack6481]

Rabbit skin is very fragile so that's likely why it needs longer so it doesn't tear it.

[@jaydendowell1468]

Will it matter much if I used iodised salt?

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

Honestly, no it won't. I've done both and both turned out just fine. When I learned it, it was emphasized to use non iodized salt but I personally haven't seen a difference.

[@jaydendowell1468]

Thank you very much

[@TheodoraLetz]

Thank you for showing how you soften the hide! I like how you combine the washing and brining steps and just use the same liquid. I am not sure that it's necessary to dry the pelt completely before proceeding to the brine - I just held mine wet (cold climate though) with salt on the flesh side and went straight to a scour and fleshing before brining - I think there is a fair amount of leeway in the alum method - BTW garden centers sell 4lbs bags of alum....

[@Resolute900]

Hi, great video. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. May I ask, what could I replace the Alum powder with, if I wanted this entire process to be wholly organic and natural?

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

Honestly, I don't know what you could substitute the alum powder with. If you want to go entirely organic you'll need to use an egg tanning method or brain tanning method.

[@rubygray7749]

Here's an eco-tanning method usiing only non toxic ingredients. After fleshing thoroughly then salting for a few days (to weeks or months), rinse the skin thoroughly to clean dirt out of the fleece. Soak it for 3 days in a pickle of salt and citric acid. Use pH papers to ensure the acidity is down to 1 initially, then not higher than 2. Turn the skin several times a day in this solution, using a strong stick or wooden dowel. Drain and rinse, hanging over a beam. Wash in a washing soda solution to neutralise the acid and clean the fleece. Drain, rinse and allow to get almost dry. Grate pure soap into hot water. Mix neatsfoot oil in. Spread about 2 tablespoons of this emulsion over the skin side. Fold in half, skin to skin. Leave for several days until the emulsion is absorbed. Open out and allow to almost dry. Lay skin side up on a table. Using a pry bar, push the skin away from you with all your weight to stretch and break the fibres. Like magic, the skin will turn white and double in size, when at the correct stage of dryness. Work the outside edges first, then as the centre of the skin dries, continue stretching the whole hide. Sprinkle with cornflour and rub gently with fine sandpaper on a cork block to give a perfect, smooth flat white finish. Trim any rough edges of skin off.

[@4422660]

Is it water proof?

[@nordicshepherdess4764]

I'm not sure actually. Mine are inside my house only and they are perfect for that. I'll have to take one camping and see how it goes.

[@4422660]

Cool. I'd like to know what happens if you do🤗

[@zohaibabbasi-f7y]

very good .

[@shahriariran44]

Excellent work .

[@marcuspoe9353]

very nice miss,, just a thought, if you sanded or abraded the flesh side it would remove the remaining fleshy hangers on :) and really soften just a thought :) , they look very nice!