The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bywaters on July 26, 2023, 06:41:41 pm
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Not sure if this is the right place
I have searched but not found what I am looking for
Is there anywhere on here regarding how to cure (if that is the right word) fresh sheepskins please?
Many thanks
Alex
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I think most folk lack the stamina! There are various posts somewhere about how to salt skins prior to sending them off for tanning and that is all I have ever done. There is a woman on the Welsh border, Nicky Port, who set up an organic 'tannery', and she was happy to share her method, also advice on how to get skins back from the slaughterhouse. That was some years ago so I don't know if that information is still out there.
Perhaps someone who has actually tanned skins themselves will pop up.
The only skins I tried to work myself were a dozen moleskins. I salted them and laid them out while the salt worked, only for them all to disappear. Somewhere under the concrete floor of my barn were some luxurious rat nests, lined with moleskins :love:
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I did one, using a K-tan brand tanning kit (enough to do at least two skins, IIRC).
It really wasn't difficult, and turned out fine. The skin is a bit tougher than a commercial sheepskin, but it worked, and was a worthwhile project.
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many thanks both
Getting the skins from the abbatoir was dead easy
Just get the licence from Health
Thanks again