Tannery hides troutdale trial#

During this curing period, approximately 15% of the weight is lost as water drains from the hide. It must remain salted, cool, and moist during the initial curing period, which can last up to six months. The tanning process begins when the hide is removed from the animal, as it is salted as soon as possible. It is also less expensive to produce leather in this way. Chrome Tanning uses metal chromium rather than organic tannins and, as a result, it takes far less time.

In years past, it could take up to a year for each individual hide to be processed, but modern vegetable tanning takes between one and three months. Though Vegetable Tanning is perhaps the oldest method of tanning, using tannins from organic matter such as tree bark, leaves, and nuts, it is now a specialty type of tanning. There are two main types of tanning - vegetable tanning and chrome tanning.

Tannery hides troutdale trial#

The chemistry of tanning is very complex, and the process was actually discovered by accident and refined through trial and error over thousands of years. Tanning is the process of combining a substance called Tannin with the hide fibers, allowing the resulting leather to be dried, yet remain flexible. While historic methods of softening and preserving leather utilize such naturally occurring materials as smoke, animal viscera, and vegetable solutions, modern day tanning and hide processing is chemically controlled throughout the United States and Europe, regardless of the type of chemicals or ingredients used in the tanning process. Variations of this process, known as tanning, have been used to produce better quality material throughout history. Whether by accident or by trial and error, man discovered methods of softening and preserving leather by treating animal skins with natural resources.

For this reason, attempts to produce leather that was stronger and more flexible eventually began. In the early days of leather usage, unfortunately, animal skins would rot when left wet or in higher temperatures, and if they were allowed to dry or stored at lower temperatures, they would lose their ability to flex and have limited use. From animal hides, man has crafted footwear, clothing, belts, containers, weapons, transportation devices, and even armor. In its various formats, leather and animal hides have provided for one of the most basic human needs - protection. Since the dawn of time, leather has played a vital role in the development of civilization.