Could someone please advise me on how to remove the hair from goat skins without having to give them a haircut and then a shave as one slip with a razor is a sure way to ruin a good skin. Cheers John.
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John, please send us you address and we'll mail or fax you the latest information we have. It will be a tannery method. It will be based on skins that are in the proper salted condition unless you tell us they are flint dried.
Thanks.
John,
If you are not in a hurry and want to save some money, why not use a traditional method. The most simple, and also the most time-consuming way to de-hair a hide is to put is hairside down in running water for 1-3 weeks.
Another, faster method is to use slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). Firs scrape salt and meat of the skin. Make a solution of 30-40g lime/liter water and let the skin soak for 4-8 days. Stir daily. When the hair slips easily take it out and scrape of the hair with a wood stick.
Neutralise the skin first in running water overnight, then in a weakly acid bath.
Good luck!