Leather Tanning Process: How to Tan Leather

The tanning method we are going to discuss here, is referred to as brain tanning and it has been the conventional method of tanning, since stone age. Another method that is used for tanning is 'Tannin tanning' that, as the name suggests, makes the use of tannin. In this method, dung of animals (like dog) is rubbed on the hide. This process of rubbing the dung is called as bating. Then the hide is washed to remove the dung. A mixture of crushed oak bark and water is prepared, and the hide is immersed in this mixture. The hide is soaked for many days and then removed to dry.

Before moving on to the steps of the leather tanning process, lets us first make a list of tools you will need for tanning,

• Leather hide
• Plywood or frame
• Blunt knife
• Grainer
• Tallow/ Egg yolk/ Brains of animal
• Urine/ Quicklime

Leather Tanning: Step 1
Arrange for a hide. The hide can be of any cattle, cow, goat, sheep, pig, horse or you can also order cut hides. The first step of tanning is to make the hide ready for tanning. Use a plywood or frame as a support while performing the steps of tanning. Remove the skin carefully from the dead animal. Take care that only a bit of meat and fleshy part remains on the skin.

Leather Tanning: Step 2
To remove the meat and flesh from the hide, first soak the skin in water for several hours. Later, use a blunt knife and carefully scrap the flesh from it. Avoid using a sharp knife. It may help in quick removal of the meat, but there are chances that you may cut apart the hide. If you want to remove the hair on the hide, apply urine or quicklime on the wet surface and rub the surface. This will make it easy for hair to loosen up and they can be easily removed.

Leather Tanning: Step 3
The hide should be processed to prevent it from getting rottened or stiffened. There are several oil substances that can be used for this purpose, like tallow, egg yolk and brains. The brain of the animal that is used for hide is an agent for tanning. You can use the brain of the animal you have skinned by cooking the brain well in little water and mashing it well, using gloves. This process may be too stinky and buying canned brains can be an option.

Leather Tanning: Step 4
Rub the brain mixture you have prepared, uniformly on the hide and soak the hide in it for 6-8 hours. If you do not want to use the brain mixture, you can use other options (tallow, egg yolk). However, the use of the brain mixture gives the best tanning effect. Now, dip the hide in little water for one whole night. After this step, the hide is ready to tan.

Leather Tanning: Step 5
Take the hide out of the water. Lay the hide on a plywood or a wooden platform. Remove the water from the hide with the help of grainer. Keep on oozing the water out of the hide, until you are sure that there is no water-content left on the hide.

Leather Tanning: Step 6
It is necessary to stretch the hide to avoid stiffening. You can stretch the hide by hand. If the size of the hide is too big, tie it against two trees and move it back and forth, so that it gets stretched properly. Work on every part of the hide by stretching and this will help loosen the leather. The leather will become stiff, if you stop stretching, before the hide goes dry. This step will remove the water completely and prevent the stiffening of the hide.

These days tanning kits are also available and you can use them for tanning leather. A local tannery can help you understand the process of tanning.