Comments on: Rained out and loving it. http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html A couple of 30-somethings embark on the ultimate roadtrip. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:28:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Michael Lockridge http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html#comment-68 Michael Lockridge Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:26:01 +0000 http://hitekhomeless.net/?p=90#comment-68 Now I recall. The sodium sulfhydrate is what we used to burn the hides. That and lots of water. And liquefied lime. It was thirty years ago, and I hadn't thought on it much in these many years. Anyway, if you can find a commercial tannery still running in this country, you might enjoy the tour. I think the poisonous gas was hydrogen sulfide. Hmmm. Now I am sounding like a reminiscing old man. "Back in '82, it was..." Have fun on the journey. Thanks again for sharing. Now I recall. The sodium sulfhydrate is what we used to burn the hides. That and lots of water. And liquefied lime. It was thirty years ago, and I hadn’t thought on it much in these many years.

Anyway, if you can find a commercial tannery still running in this country, you might enjoy the tour.

I think the poisonous gas was hydrogen sulfide. Hmmm. Now I am sounding like a reminiscing old man. “Back in ‘82, it was…”

Have fun on the journey. Thanks again for sharing.

]]> By: Michael Lockridge http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html#comment-67 Michael Lockridge Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:50:09 +0000 http://hitekhomeless.net/?p=90#comment-67 I worked there many years ago. The place closed about ten years ago or so. I burned off the hair in big mixers using sodium hydrochloride. Nasty stuff. It had to be neutralized before the chrome tanning. Otherwise there would be poisonous gasses. Sodium sulfhydrate, if I recall correctly. The tanning was done with sulfuric acid, and I seem to recall chromium dioxide. Also a lot of corn syrup. I never really understood the process. A deer hide is quite delicate. Cow hides are thick and tough. We did some elk hides through our process, and damaged most of them. As you travel, watch for commercial tanneries. There are small scale chrome tanning plants, and other plants working with more natural processes. Your process is more like the old ways, and has the quality of recapturing an element of human history. I would sometimes write with dip pens by the light of a candle, just to achieve that same sense of history. Reaching back, being a part of that history. I look forward to following your travels. I worked there many years ago. The place closed about ten years ago or so.

I burned off the hair in big mixers using sodium hydrochloride. Nasty stuff. It had to be neutralized before the chrome tanning. Otherwise there would be poisonous gasses. Sodium sulfhydrate, if I recall correctly. The tanning was done with sulfuric acid, and I seem to recall chromium dioxide. Also a lot of corn syrup. I never really understood the process.

A deer hide is quite delicate. Cow hides are thick and tough. We did some elk hides through our process, and damaged most of them.

As you travel, watch for commercial tanneries. There are small scale chrome tanning plants, and other plants working with more natural processes. Your process is more like the old ways, and has the quality of recapturing an element of human history.

I would sometimes write with dip pens by the light of a candle, just to achieve that same sense of history. Reaching back, being a part of that history.

I look forward to following your travels.

]]> By: jenn http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html#comment-65 jenn Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:14:55 +0000 http://hitekhomeless.net/?p=90#comment-65 Rene: Its not that bad. The process is very zen. Its a lot of work, but it has an ataractic effect on me. It is a white tailed deer hide. Soon, it will be a steering wheel cover, a quiver, and who knows what else. <br> <br> <p>Hi, Michael! Thanks for stopping in. I couldn't even begin to imagine what a large scale leather processing plant would be like. They burn the hair off, huh? I soaked mine in water until the hair came off easily. Then I scraped it off. I bet burning is a lot faster. When the scraping and wringing was all done, I bet your hides had a lot less holes in them as well. </p> <br><br> I gotta ask, after that experience, how much leather do you own? <br><br> I am glad that we can be of some help. Best of luck to you in your planning. Its worth it! Its still pretty new to us, and its getting better every day. Rene: Its not that bad. The process is very zen. Its a lot of work, but it has an ataractic effect on me. It is a white tailed deer hide. Soon, it will be a steering wheel cover, a quiver, and who knows what else.

Hi, Michael! Thanks for stopping in.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what a large scale leather processing plant would be like. They burn the hair off, huh? I soaked mine in water until the hair came off easily. Then I scraped it off. I bet burning is a lot faster. When the scraping and wringing was all done, I bet your hides had a lot less holes in them as well.

I gotta ask, after that experience, how much leather do you own?

I am glad that we can be of some help. Best of luck to you in your planning. Its worth it! Its still pretty new to us, and its getting better every day.

]]> By: Michael Lockridge http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html#comment-64 Michael Lockridge Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:21:19 +0000 http://hitekhomeless.net/?p=90#comment-64 Working leather! I worked in a commercial tannery for a little over seven years. All chrome tan. Never did do the brain tan. I burned off hair, operated a wringer, and did finish work. Pretty cool! I found your blog researching full-time rv living. Thanks for sharing the adventure! I am still employed full-time, and only dream of life on the road at this time. However, I am just two years from my target retirement. Bloggers like you help me keep the dream alive. I have only just begun reading your back-story. I look forward to reading the rest. Thanks again. mlockridge01 myspace.com/mlockridge01 shortstoriesbymlockridge.blogspot.com Working leather! I worked in a commercial tannery for a little over seven years. All chrome tan. Never did do the brain tan. I burned off hair, operated a wringer, and did finish work. Pretty cool!

I found your blog researching full-time rv living. Thanks for sharing the adventure! I am still employed full-time, and only dream of life on the road at this time. However, I am just two years from my target retirement. Bloggers like you help me keep the dream alive.

I have only just begun reading your back-story. I look forward to reading the rest.

Thanks again.

mlockridge01
myspace.com/mlockridge01
shortstoriesbymlockridge.blogspot.com

]]> By: Rene http://hitekhomeless.net/2008/06/rained-out-and-loving-it.html#comment-63 Rene Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:10:04 +0000 http://hitekhomeless.net/?p=90#comment-63 Eeewww! You are hardcore! Dare I ask what kind of hide you're talking about? Eeewww! You are hardcore! Dare I ask what kind of hide you’re talking about?

]]>