"Short Float"

[WBB793]

I guess this topic is part of my quest to find out why I get these cowlicks here and there! I said before I do not remember seeing this when I statically tanned skins. I am having trouble seeing why you double up on your chemicals, or stay the same but with less water which is the same thing?? If I am doing a batch in a tank why cant that solution be dumped into the drum and run?? I understand it will do it faster so you shorten your time, but increase chemicals?? I mean they will suck up the same amount in the tank or soak up the same amount in a shorter time in the drum. I dont totally understand the concept. Maybe someone can give me a clearer answer? Thanks a ton

[Bruce Rittel]

You dont increase the chemicals - you simply tan the same weight of wet drained skins but simply only use less water. If you are tanning 4oo Lbs. of skins - why use 200 gls. of water to do it when the same amount of chemicals and 100 Gls. will do it. One Gallon of Water weighs approx. 8.5 Lbs./Gl..

You have to start thinking in terms of the weight of the skins. Not Volume.

[WBB793]

I used to weigh skins then tan. I was trying to simplify and just go with a volume mixture. Maybe I should go back to the weight meas?? But it is the same mixture. I guess with weight you can judge the size of the load and be more economical with your chemicals. I can look at a batch and know how much water I will need in my drum to be just enough to do the trick.

[oldshaver]

Im not realy sure what your asking here? I assume you are talking about TANNING only, and not pickling?

There is no reason to double up on chemicals. On a short float, I would think, you would decrease the salt some, and the tannage would remain the same?

Example: Lets say your static container holds 200 gallons of water. Lets say you are tanning with alum?, and you use 100lbs of salt, and 100lbs of alum, and you are tanning 40 wt capes. Lets also say that this formula, has worked for you in the past?

Now, you want a "short float", in a round drum, of 100 gallons, to tan the same 40 capes? You would decrease the salt, to around 60lbs because the salt consentrations would be too high, with the 200gal formula, and the tannage(alum), would remain the same. NO MATTER what the tannage is, it will still take the same amount of TAN, for 40 capes, no matter if its 200 or 100 gallons.

Is this anything close to what you were asking?

[oldshaver]

Sorry WBB, Bruce already answered your question, while I was taking 30 minutes to give you the long version. I type slow!

[WBB793]

Thanks Bruce, and OS. The whole cowlick thing has me second guessing things that have worked good for years?? I have only been wet drumming for the last 4-5 yrs though.