just to stick a massive spanner in the works - we sent our boys off in May (@16 months old), we did the curing and tanning ourselves and now have three beautiful Portland Sheep skin rugs
Oh, please share how you did the tanning and curing? It always sounds so complicated and time-consuming... is it?
I got my Castlemilk Moorit fleeces from the abattoir when I sent the boys away end Oct, and salted straight away. I drained and salted, drained and salted... well it's so moist in these parts, they've never dried out, weigh a tonne, and I've never yet packed them up and sent them off. They're hanging over a line in a shed, not losing any weight... Ideas anyone?
Plus, even if I do send them off, the tannery won't process the legs which are still in the round (not split lengthways), and I really love the idea of making mobile phone holders or something out of them!
<< I got my Castlemilk Moorit fleeces from the abattoir >>
Skins?
It is best to be salting them during a cold dry spell, when they will give up their moisture in as little as a week. If the weather is damper, then covering the lot loosely with a polythene sheet has worked for me (prevents too much atmospheric moisture wetting the salt).
For salting, they should be laid out on a flat board which is on a slight slope. You really do need to open out the legs and tail (and purse) to get the salt well rubbed in. I put a layer about1cm thick over the whole skin, unfurling the edges to make sure every last bit is salted. When pink starts to show through the salt I add more. If the whole salt covering shows pink I would shake it off and put on a new layer of fresh salt - once salt is wet it won't take any more moisture.
Once the ooze stops, I shake, reapply a thin layer of fresh salt, roll the skins, pack them up and send them off to the tanners. I have no desire or strength to tan them myself - although I admire those of you who do.
Sally, I think you have hung yours up too soon - the salt can't stick to them if they are vertical
They don't go crispy dry with salting, just lose enough moisture to keep postage charges down, stop any deterioration until they get to the tanners, and prevent everyone else's parcels being soaked with yuk while in transit.