Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
pelts distribute pressure evenly, dissipate moisture, do not wrinkle or chafe,
and prevent ulcers and bedsores. They are also marvelous for babies.
You can do your own tanning by purchasing supplies through catalogs.
To decide whether you should do your tanning at home or have it done at a
tannery, estimate the cost of your materials and the value of your time if you
have little to spare. Weigh this against the cost of shipping and tannery fees
to have your pelts done by a commercial tanner.
When trying any tanning process for the fi rst time, be cautious and do only
one pelt. After you have done it once, you may see ways to do a better job the
second time, or you may prefer to try another process to see if it is easier and
more satisfactory.
Once you have perfected your system of tanning and have done it a few
times, you should fi nd a ready market in local craft shops or decorator shops.
To get a better price, you can sell directly to your customers, or design and
produce wearables or furnishings from the tanned pelts. While the tanning
chemical is dangerous to handle and must be used with care, the results can
be worth the trouble.
PROPER HANDLING OF LIVE SHEEP:
THE KEY TO HIGH-QUALITY PELTS
Timely shearing isn't the only important facet of obtaining a high-
quality pelt. If there are more than two cuts in the middle of a
skin, tanneries suggest that it be discarded. They also note that
many a skin is ruined by improper handling of the sheep while it's
alive: skin separation — when the epidermis is pulled away from
the skin, a defect caused by picking up the animal by the wool
— and stained wool, which is caused by using oil-based markers
on sheep, are both handling problems. Skin separation may take
as long as 2 months to heal; the pelt is worthless if the healing
isn't completed. Several marking crayons, or paints, are prepared
especially for use on sheep. These crayons are made with wax or
lanolin, instead of oil, so they're “scourable.” If you use any mark-
ers, make sure they're labeled for wool.
