Please can anyone email me as to which Alum (chemically) I need for tanning ?
Thanks
Mel
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Its the old stand by.
All 3 Alums tan! You can use the most commonly used one - Aluminum Sulphate, or Potassium Aluminum Sulphate, or Ammonium Aluminum Sulphate! All 3 are used. Fur Dressers prefer the Ammonium Aluminum Sulphate, and typically a lot of Taxidermists use the Aluminum Sulphate.
As far as shrinkage goes on the finished skin - the Aluminum Sulphate shrinks the least, the Ammonium Aluminum Sulphate shrinks the most, and the Potassium Aluminum Sulphate falls inbetween the 2.
All 3 can be used following the same formula. All 3 produce a white leathered skin.