So I was able to complete 4 hides last year, and 1 had to go in the garbage. Please note: if you are not rambo, you are probably not strong enough to take the membrane of a sheep skin.
Anyway, the whole tanning process wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Remember that you will have hands that smell like lamb dinner for a while! To begin with, you need to clean the hides. This requires that you place them in running water for about half a day, or until the water runs clean. I used a large tupperware and a hose, but a river is the best option. Make sure to anchor the hide in the river At this stage, if you leave it in the river too long, the fish will begin to eat it!
Once rinsed, it's time to do some slimy work, remember this is raw meat and proper sanitation is important at this point! I used a tree and a 2x6 and wedged the hide, slime side up, onto the board, with the top between the trees. Once this is done, grab your scrapper (a double handled cheese cutter works great) and "de-slime" hide by scraping off the mucus and first layer. Don't go too deep yet, it's not worth it. When your done, the hide should grip your hand when rubbed. If it feels slippery anywhere, your not done!
Now it's on to the lye solution. You need to make sure you have the right pH or it will not work. Also if making your own lye, try not to get any black chunkys, they discolour the hid a bit (not too much).
The hid then soaks in this for about 3-5 days, or until the hair wipes off with your hand. The hide will also loose any other colour it had, sorta looking like the colour of a dead body floating in water in any hollywood movie. Unfortunatly, those cute spots that some hides have are on the epidermis layer and will be scraped off :(
Take off all the hair. Be careful, any tool makes on this side of the hide will show permanently! As well, the epidermis layer must come off as the hide won't tan anywhere it is left on. This is tricky as you need to scrape this side firmly, but delicately. I can only say you'll get better with practice, but expect the first dozen to have some tool marks when done. Thankfully if you use the leather instead of selling the hide, you can just cut around the bad spots.
Once again, it's back to the tub, but with clean water again. The hide needs to be rinsed fully, which amounts to about 2 days in the running water. This will change depending on the water source and speeed it runs. The hide, which swelled up from the lye, must return to it's normal thickness and not feel spongy anyewhere.
Once the hide is back to normal, it's back to the scraping block again. Your scraping the back again (non fur side) The mambranes have been loosened by the lye and now come off easier. (this is in relation to before and should not really be considered "easy" even at this point) The amount you take off will determine the thickness of the final product. I have taken off all of the "body" of the hide on a few, they ended up the thickness of paper and the back is smooth. One I left a fair amount on and it is the weight of an average piece of deerskin and the back is soft. Again this is a trial and error, until you get the right feel for it!
Now it's tea time!!!
Not quite what you think the tea, I assume, is toxic, as sumac trees are toxic. Brew a large garbage bag of sumac leaves in the soaker tub you are using, for about 15 minutes. Pour off the tea into a storage bottle. (this is your liquid gold) Rebrew leaves and repeat. Rebrew a 3rd time. This third tea is fairly weak and the one you want first. Once it is cooled completely, place hide(s) in it. You need to swish for 10 minutes, then for 1 minute every 30minutes for 2 hours. It will stay in the tea for about 3 days, swishing every time you think of it.
Take out and switch to 2nd brewing and repeat.
Take out and switch to 1st brewing and repeat.
Once Check the leather for dryness by squeezing a crease with your fingers. If you squeeze a crease and it stays creased when you release, and looks dry, your done!
Remove and squeeze out as much water as possible, do NOT wring!!!
Sew up any holes. If you have a large frame and multiple hides, you can stitch them together and stretch as one piece. Stretch until dry, working the leather regularly. Once dry apply mink oil and VOILA!
You have leather!!!
