I'm in the middle of chrome-tanning a freisian cow skin which is taking a long time. Any hints for tanning thick heavy hides so the next one is quicker (I'm doing one for a friend)? The guys at Leidreiters have been very helpful but tell me that skins over 14kgs are not suitable for home tanning, and this thing is at least 20.
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Cow hides are lots of hard work, your friend should help you flesh it.
While in the pickle use a Curriers knife, best on if from Sheffields in England. With the properly turned edge and a strong wooden or fiberglass beam you can beam and thin the hide is about 90 minutes, pickle somemore and flesh again.It going to take time! A very large vat and turnning the hide often will help.
Unless you own a Shaving Machine, know how to use it, and have some very strong arms - I would never recommend doing a cowhide at home! Besides being large and awkward to handle - they require some very good shaving before you can expect a soft skin. And even using a Shaving Machine - it's a lot of very hard work! I'm assuming you are in Australia and using Chrome for tanning (since you mentioned Liedreiter). Chrome will do an excellent job - but again, the shaving is a must - or as John mentioned, you can use a Currier's Knife. But even the knife will take you at least 4-5 hours of hard work if you really good at using one!
My advice would be to buy a Shaving Machine before you tackle the next one!
Mr. Rittel is right! I have shaved litterally hundreds of cow hides in my career. They are not something I look forward to doing, and they have already been fleshed about half way. I dont care where you send it, I would send the next one to a tannery.
I should have mentioned that I'm keeping the hair on. I'm presuming thats what the shaving advice was about, my mistake. It took long enough to flesh it, but it's for a rug so the hair stays on. Thanks for your help; any more advice welcome.
If you want a soft tan, with the hair on, you have to shave the hide thin.
Hi Folks!
I may be out of the game here, but I now have a cowhide rug that is a few years old and in need of some work. The edges are now curling up and a bath would not hurt (or would it). In other words how can I clean this rug and maintain it in good shape?
Any info would be great!
Thanks Johh