I have heard that large tanneries agitate the solutions in thier tanning vats. I was planning on using a submersable pump and hose to circulate the solution from bottom to top. Can any one tell me how long and how often the tanneries "stir" thier solution?, and is this going to change the length of time the skins need to be in the solution?
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Yes - you can use that system - but - you will have to use twice the amount of Water, just like in Static tanning. 2 Quarts of water per each 1 Lb. of wet drained skin weight. Otherwise it will not turn over well.
If you use a Wet Drum instead - you use what is called a "short float" of water. Only 1 quart of water per each 1 Lb. of wet drained skin weight. The action of the Drum will perform the agitation. It has a baffle in it that lifts the skins and turns them over.
If you would like to see a Tannery grade wet drum - the kind we sell - e-mail me and I will attach a photo for you. Each 1500 Gallon Drum will hold 375 Gallons of tanning solution - thats enough to tan 1500 Lbs. of skins at a time. If you figure an average WT Deerskin weighs 7 Lbs. wet - thats 214 skins!
And yes - agitation dramatically reduces the time required to tan. A wet drum typically will give you a complete tan in 4 hours. But the agitation required must be geared to the type of tan you use.