[Penninehillbilly]

Hi
I had a billy done last week, when I went to collect him they said I'd asked for the skin, don't remember but OK, But what's the best way of dealing with it, at the moment I've sprinkled more salt on, rolled it in a black plastic sheet, Swiss roll style.
Any advice please?

[Dogwalker]

Are you intending to do it yourself or send it off.

Either way while you think about it, spread it out somewhere dry and out of the way of the animals, greenhouse maybe.
Spread a good layer of salt on it enough to not see any skin.

There's several threads about curing skins, it's hard work to do yourself.

[Anke]

I had a chat with the lady who runs the organic tannery, and she reckoned that goat skins are a lot more difficult to tan, as they grow their winter coat anytime after August (which unlike sheep is a shedding coat) and it means that more often than not it all "slips" off during the treatment, as in the hair all comes out... Also for goat skins you normally get leather  (hairs scraped off) rather than the tanned skins.

But I have also seen it done, but the skin was rather hard/rigid, not the soft like my sheep skins (Shetlands) are.

I am not sure you will get it done by any of the two (or three?) tanneries left in the UK. The oganic one doesn't do goats anymore.

[Penninehillbilly]

Thanks, it's a Boer and he had a lovely thick coat. Tried to ask round locally but no-one knows anywhere, so planning on trying myself, greenhouse is a good idea, it will be in there shortly, trouble is not much time spare just now.
I did do a lambskin years ago,  that's still on bedroom floor   .

[Dogwalker]

Once it's salt dried time isn't critical, I don't think.

How did you treat the lambskin?

The organic tannery still does angora skins afaik, not sent one yet, the abattoir ripped the last one taking it off so I salted it and have it sat awaiting motivation and time.

[Bramblecot]

Give Devonia a ring for advice 01364 643355.  They can do all sorts of skins as a one-off and are very helpful, but also busy. 

For now, get at least a kilo of salt on it, thoroughly rubbing it into any wet patches, even tiny ones, and right out to the edges.  Keep it off the ground and dry, hair side down (a pallet on the tilt is quite good).

When you are ready to post it, when it is much dryer and lighter, double or triple wrap in bin bags, but until then let the air get to it.

[Penninehillbilly]

Thanks i thought id put enough on but I'll get more salt on it. It's draped over some metal shelving
Can't remember how I did lambskin, must be about 30 yr ago, I seem to remember alum, must look it up later, I seem to remember having a book somewhere, but when we were flooded it may have been lost.

[Bionic]

Thanks i thought id put enough on but I'll get more salt on it. It's draped over some metal shelving
Can't remember how I did lambskin, must be about 30 yr ago, I seem to remember alum, must look it up later, I seem to remember having a book somewhere, but when we were flooded it may have been lost.

It isn't a good idea to have it on the metal shelving. Salt and metal don't mix.


The instructions I had when I sent off the lambs skins was to lay them flat on a paper sack and then salt. The paper helps to absorb the liquid

[Penninehillbilly]

. It's draped over some metal shelving

It isn't a good idea to have it on the metal shelving. Salt and metal don't mix.

The instructions I had when I sent off the lambs skins was to lay them flat on a paper sack and then salt. The paper helps to absorb the liquid

Thanks, good point about salt/metal, I'd forgotten that, it will have to wait till morning and I'll find a paper sack.