I wasn't sure if the tanning forum was the correct place to ask a question. I raise sheep and wanted to tan the skins when I butcher lambs this fall. I have shetland sheep which are small sheep, approx 50 lbs live at time of butcher. I am looking at trying to tan the skins so I can make bomber style hat and possibly mittens from the skins to wear in the winter here in northern Michigan. In a book I have "back to basics" there are instructions for alum tanning skins. Is this a very good method or can someone recommend a method that will produce better results. I looked at the WASCO site and saw some tanning kits and other tanning products.
Thanks in advance
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The whole process is a bit more entailed than that. Sheep skin has heavy lanolin that must be removed prior to effective tanning. For a garment tan, alum is not your friend. You need a good chrome or synthetic tan. Then the hide has to be tumbled to be "broken". In the long run, this is more efficiently and effectively done by professionals than anything any of us could do at home or in the shop.