I would like to hear more about low ph in a long pickle to produce soft skins. I am refering to the message a couple of days ago about the person who accidently produced a very soft skin from a low ph and long pickle. One response claimed the process of low ph is used to break down alligator skins and could also be used to break down animal skins? Are there any other additives to the pickle and etc?
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Please read that Post again! It does not say "also use it for animal skins"! You may have misinterpeted that. Muriatic Acid (a dilute form of Hydrochloric Acid) and Hydrochloric Acid are very harsh on the epidermal layer of skin - it is not recommended you use them for furs or hair-ons. It is however, used for Alligator and Croc skins because it softens and breaks down the
Sorry - I hit the button prematurely! Anyway - it breaks down the Calcium in the skin and makes working with the hornback part of the skin easier.
The actual pH is not necessarily the factor in producing the soft skin. The particular acid may have other effects on the skin that are not specifically caused by the low pH.
AS Bruce said the trade-off often leaves you with a negative, either in harmful effects on the hair, or on you for that matter.