does ambient temperature affect pickle/tan?

[shunaphil]

I do all my pickling and tanning in an outside (covered) area.  Where i am (west coast of scotland) winter temperatures rarely get colder than 5 degrees centigrade at night.  I was just wondering if bath/air temperature will make a difference to the length of time required for salting/pickling/tanning to work effectively?  I haven't experienced any problems so far, but was wondering now that winter was coming on whether i should move tanning operations indoors to get a higher temperature.  I know that pH is (slightly) affected by temperature.  I am using citric acid pickles with Lutan F.

Cold weather tightens our own (human) skin, so would it affect a mammals skin making it more difficult for tanning and pickling chemicals to penetrate the cell structure?


Many thanks
Phil

[cold trapper]

Hi Phil, yes temp also makes a difference in that salt will tend to fall out of solution. so stiring every day is a must in colder temps. and some enzymes that you should be adding to the pickel will work slower too.
 

[Bruce Rittel]

When you pickle or tan, I prefer to keep the temps above 60 degrees Fahrenhiet - or you will begin to see problems. Below 60 F. Cold Trapper mentioned the fact that the Salt will begin to precipitate out of solution, so you begin to lose the protection it provides. And in the Tan - the colder temp will begin to slow down the chemical bonding. Keep in mind that chemical reactions require the higher temps - and the temp should be consistent. Dont tan in an area where you have temps above 60 F. - and then turn off the heat when you leave. Otherwise the Suppliers instructions on the length of time required to pickle or tan do not apply.

The best rule of thumb is to pickle or tan using the same temps that you personally feel comfortable in. 

[cyclone]

I seem to remember a post in the old forum where someone suggested using a plastic container with a waterbed heater underneath. 

[oldterryr]

tan in my gargage year round (down to 10 f) - no problems yet

[clifftax]

Cold will slow down the absorption rate and will prevent the salt from dissolving properly. Cold hides stiffen up also in cold solutions which will allow a slower pickle and tanning rate and sometimes completely shut off absorption. It gets below 0 F alot here in CNY during winter and I have a lot of experience, with tanning in cold weather. Bottom line is, try to keep the solution at around 60 degree's F if at possible. The only good thing about cold vats is bacteria has a hard time growing.