Well, I did a little reading because the DP story just won't die. This is a little different. Why do you salt? Well I have brought up this question before and well the answer here was "To set the hair" I said this wasn't correct. I thought it was a preservation methed. Well if anyone really cares they can punch this link and read about leather making and facts on leather. Interesting paragraph on how slaughter house treats hides with salt to "PREVENT ROT" HMMMMMM
Tanner then drops them into water to soften for fleshing. I think my theory on salting before pickling was correct it is a step that can be dumped unless you want to store the hide in a dry state. I could go on and on but heres the link.
http://www.tachan.com.tr/leather/making_of_leather.html
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They don"t care if they have slippage, the hair will be taken off anyway. So rot is their only problem because the flesh is still on the hides when they get them.
We use salt to "prevent" the slippage and for a limited storage until the skins are shipped to the tanner, where they will be stored until they get at them.
On nearly every "air dried" skin that I have ever had brought in I have had some slippage, so I insist on salting anything I do. The extra moisture in your fresh hides going directly into your pickle may be enough to prevent the skin from absorbing the pickle solution as quickly as they should. The purpose is to get the pickle "into" the skin not just the skin into the pickle. But they are your hides, do what you want.
1. To promote rapid drying of the flesh and epidermis and thus - set the hair tight!
2. To leach out the unwanted fluids from the skin!
3. To provide some temporary preservation to the skin so it can be safely stored or shipped!
4. To make rehydrating it prior to pickling easier and more complete!
I personally feel all these reasons are correct! And I'm a firm believer that by salting and drying your skins prior to tanning - your odds increase to a 99% success rate! Ask any "successful" fur or hair on Tannery!