acid/alum free tanning rabbit, possible?

[Piper]

Lead was used in the Roman aqueducts, and to sweeten wine. Benjamin Franklin posted an editorial, about lead poisoning. Yet, lead can still be found in some imported pottery. Very little, since the US seems to have finally wised up.
- I will not use aluminum, because I do have an reaction to it, externally and internally. The only way I would be able to wear something tanned this way, would be to have it lined, and I would like to make some leather jewelry.
- Reference "Aluminum intoxication" and aluminum antiperspirants. Mother Earth, also used battery acid which should wash off, it can depend on the level, of the item, that triggers a reaction. Some people have not reaction, to poison ivy for years, and then have enough in their system, that they start having reactions. Depends on the person - I do not intend to use aluminum.
- Will keep you updated. Intending to breed later today, I need some skins, before I can experiment.

 

[MaggieJ]

This is an old GardenWeb thread but it might give some useful ideas:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 15.html?17

A whole forum on tanning including an egg tanning recipe:
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/ ... FCbOa4pMzk

 

[Stormy]

Lead was used in the Roman aqueducts, and to sweeten wine. Benjamin Franklin posted an editorial, about lead poisoning. Yet, lead can still be found in some imported pottery. Very little, since the US seems to have finally wised up.
- I will not use aluminum, because I do have an reaction to it, externally and internally. The only way I would be able to wear something tanned this way, would be to have it lined, and I would like to make some leather jewelry.
- Reference "Aluminum intoxication" and aluminum antiperspirants. Mother Earth, also used battery acid which should wash off, it can depend on the level, of the item, that triggers a reaction. Some people have not reaction, to poison ivy for years, and then have enough in their system, that they start having reactions. Depends on the person - I do not intend to use aluminum.
- Will keep you updated. Intending to breed later today, I need some skins, before I can experiment.

Hi Piper
Thanks for breaking it down - I didn't really think about that - having aluminum left in the skins that would rub on my skin! I don't have an aluminum allergy but I do avoid Aluminum in products I use too. I don't know that I would wear skins close against my skin anyways, but its a good point just in case.

crap. back to the drawing board, and I got a bunch of skins I need to get out of my freezer!<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:36 am __________<br /><br />Thanks Maggie for that thread - lots of good info in there though many of the processes were for de-furred hides. What was mentioned however was the use of Naptha soap - something I used to tan my furs 25 years ago when I experimented as a kid. I still have the furs and they are in great shape I am wondering if anyone knows the toxicity on Naptha.
I'd be game to try the brain tanning on my next batch - but these hides are in the freezer already and the brains long gone.

 

[Piper]

The brains were primarily for the oil. Brains of any animal (including human) is over 60 to 70 percent fats / lipids. Without the brains, you will need another source for the fat/oil that the skin will require.
If you read this thread from the beginning, there are several links, to natural tanning.

 

[MaggieJ]

I was intrigued by the idea of egg tanning. Sometimes we get more eggs than we can use but not enough to sell. I give some to friends, but if they'd work for tanning it might be interesting to try.

 

[Evvie]

I am really interested in egg tanning, it sounds like it might not stain as much as other methods? Also, an excuse to get another duck!

 

[Stormy]

From what I've read with the egg & brain tanning is the smoking step intimidates me. One has to sew on a canvas skirt onto the hide, funneling the smoke into the hide (fur out) which hangs over a tripod over a smoking (no flames) fire. I can see doing a large animals hide like that but here I am with 15 rabbit skins going OMG that would be labor intensive!!
I'd love to hear from anyone who tries it.

Here's the link to that part of the article http://www.braintan.com/articles/furs/george4.html

And here's the two articles on tanning fur using these old methods, up at top. Do note the other articles and books are all on making buckskin or furless leather. http://www.braintan.com/articles/

 

[dragonladyleanne]

. . . What was mentioned however was the use of Naptha soap - something I used to tan my furs 25 years ago when I experimented as a kid. I still have the furs and they are in great shape I am wondering if anyone knows the toxicity on Naptha.
. . .

EEK!! I read that and my brain jogged me with "didn't they yank Naptha Crimson acrylic paint off the market due to toxicity?", so I googled it, in case it was a different word, (my memory is not the best), and here's the scoop:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha#He ... iderations

Soooo, probably not the best method to use! Or at least be very careful when using it.

 

[Piper]

From what I've read with the egg & brain tanning is the smoking step intimidates me. One has to sew on a canvas skirt onto the hide, funneling the smoke into the hide (fur out) which hangs over a tripod over a smoking (no flames) fire. I can see doing a large animals hide like that but here I am with 15 rabbit skins going OMG that would be labor intensive!!
I'd love to hear from anyone who tries it.

Here's the link to that part of the article http://www.braintan.com/articles/furs/george4.html

And here's the two articles on tanning fur using these old methods, up at top. Do note the other articles and books are all on making buckskin or furless leather. http://www.braintan.com/articles/

for "dragonladyleanne'
Fels-Naptha®, is the brand name.
http://www.felsnaptha.com/
Ingredients: Available Size

5.5 oz. bar

Ingredients

Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, cocnut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titatium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350)

*contains one or more of these ingredients

 

[dragonladyleanne]

for "dragonladyleanne'
Fels-Naptha®, is the brand name.
http://www.felsnaptha.com/

Thanks! Some brandnames are unfortunate: like the Chevy Nova not selling well in Hispanic countries because it meant "No go", and the bread I saw a few days ago labeled "Bimbo Bread"! Though my personal favorite was a restaurant called "Aroma of Mandarin", because my first encounter with the word "mandarin" was in the meaning of a Chinese official, so essentially I read the sign as "Stink of old man"!

 

[Piper]

Though my personal favorite was a restaurant called "Aroma of Mandarin", because my first encounter with the word "mandarin" was in the meaning of a Chinese official, so essentially I read the sign as "Stink of old man"!

:rotfl: