[Jane & Richard Suffolk]

Hi all
Has anybody done any tanning of sheep skins?
If so were they sucsseful and what technique did you use?
Thanks in advance

[Bionic]

Sorry, didn't tan them myself. Just salted and then sent them off to be done

[macgro7]

Where do you send them? I was looking for some places which do that but couldn't find!

[chrismahon]

We used to salt ours (immediately after slaughter is important) over a period of weeks then send them to Nicki Port in Hereford for organic tanning. www.organicsheepskins.com


Problem was they used to yellow after a year or so and we stopped bothering.


I was told the only tanners available now are in France?

[Backinwellies]

Nicki was still tanning last spring ....so probably still is ..... does a fab job too.

[Bionic]

Nicki Port is where I sent my skins too

[devonlady]

There is a place in Dartington, Devon/

[Slimjim]

I use Devonia Ltd in Buckfastleigh, South Devon. They do an excellent job and are very helpful on the phone to new customers. They have a web site and their no. Is 01364 643355. Basically, they will tell you to lay out the skins inner side up, trim off excess residual fat and straggly bits and spread a kilo of table salt all over it. Leave for 24 hrs and repeat the salt treatment. After a further 24 hrs, fold each skin wet surface to wet surface along the 'spine' line ( or put two skins together) and folc again. Then pack them into waterproof feed bags and send them off.( or take them, depending where you are). On arrival, they will be assessed as to their suitability for processing, so ring them to find out after a couple of days.
Now for the bad news. Because there are so few tanners now, they have a huge backlog. When I rang them yesterday, the waiting time is currently 8 months. But you will be amazed at the transformation from what you send to what you get back.

[macgro7]

Wow! 8 months!

What the cost of tanning?
Would they do other species as well or only sheep?
I have lots of rabbits and they all get wasted usually 

[Fleecewife]

Nicky Port did a deer hide for me once, but it was really too thick, so difficult to tan.
For me it's moles I'd like to do/have done, but I don't know anyone who would do them.  When I tried myself the rats stole them all to line their nests!

[macgro7]

I've read an article about tanning at home once. You can actually buy the right chemicals on ebay. I just never had time to do it. Maybe once I have sheep skins

[Slimjim]

I don't know if they do other species. I have only ever seen sheepskins in the warehouse. Phone them.

[Sbom]

Just bringing this up again....how much was it per skin to have done?

[TheSmilingSheep]

Devonia are about £30 + vat - well, they were last year for shetland size sheep...

[Sbom]

Thanks, I'm waiting for an email back from the organic place. Thinking of getting a few done and maybe selling to friends and family...