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Outline
of Processes Used in Leather
Production
Before
Tanning
- Flaying
(removal of hide from animal)
- Curing (to preserve
skins for transport- e.g. salting)
- Washing wet salted
material or soaking back dry material (to restore hides
to a hydrated "natural" condition)
- Liming (to loosen
hair, fat, etc. and "plump" skin to ready for tanning)
- Unhairing (removal
of hair)
- Fleshing (remove
unwanted flesh and fat)
- Deliming (to
neutralize basicity from Liming process)
- Bating (soften
and clean skins)
- Pickling, Drenching
or Souring (to bring the skins to the proper pH for tannage) Pickled
skins may be preserved at this stage
Tanning
Hides or skins
are tanned by the appropriate method...
After
Tanning
Sole, Saddlery and
Belt Leathers
- Washing or Scouring
(removes excess tanning extract)
- Setting Out
(sets fibers, removes wrinkles and flattens out leather)
- Oiling (to make
grain flexible and produce good color)
- Stuffing (impregnate
with oil and fat to make "waterproof" or mechanical leather)
- Drying
- Rolling (compresses
leather to make it firm and flat)
Lighter Leathers
(e.g. shoe upper leathers, bag & case leather)
- Shaving or Splitting
(to achieve uniform thickness)
- Washing (to
remove excess tanning agents, e.g. chrome salts)
- Neutralizing
(to bring leather to neutral pH)
- Dyeing
- Fatliquoring
(a method of applying oil to achieve "handle" or "hand")
- Drying
- Staking (to
soften the skin by flexing)
- Finishing or
Seasoning (to improve appearance)
Source:Siegel of California
Email: siegel@siegelofca.com
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