skin:skins

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skin:skins [2025/12/21 11:35] – Dave Darbyskin:skins [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Skins & hides+This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]] and [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Skins & hides ======
  
  
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-## What is skin & hide tanning?+===== What is skin & hide tanning? =====
  
 All animals have a skin covering their flesh and fat. Skin is made up of a number of layers, and is predominantly a fibre network of interlocking spiral proteins. Hide tanning is the process by which a raw skin becomes preserved. This means that after the tanning process, the skin should be a stable material, and not rot or be overly attractive to animals and insects. This process generally takes the form of a chemical stage and a physical manipulation with lubricants such as oils. All animals have a skin covering their flesh and fat. Skin is made up of a number of layers, and is predominantly a fibre network of interlocking spiral proteins. Hide tanning is the process by which a raw skin becomes preserved. This means that after the tanning process, the skin should be a stable material, and not rot or be overly attractive to animals and insects. This process generally takes the form of a chemical stage and a physical manipulation with lubricants such as oils.
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 There are a number of other methods, including the use of synthetic chemicals, though often these are neither good for the tanner nor for the environment (see below). There are a number of other methods, including the use of synthetic chemicals, though often these are neither good for the tanner nor for the environment (see below).
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 Hide tanning is an ancient craft. Humans are different to most animals in a number of ways - a significant one being that we don't have much in the way of insulative fur or any protective scales. We require clothes in many climates, to keep warm, safe, shaded, and camouflaged. Archaeological finds suggest that hide tanning was carried out by our ancient ancestors, as far back as 70,000 years ago, through the study of various [flint](/flin/flintknapping) scraping tools. Leather would have been the main 'fabric' for thousands of years. There are wall paintings of tanning in Egypt, and leather clothing, many thousands of years old has been found preserved in peat bogs throughout Europe. Hide tanning is an ancient craft. Humans are different to most animals in a number of ways - a significant one being that we don't have much in the way of insulative fur or any protective scales. We require clothes in many climates, to keep warm, safe, shaded, and camouflaged. Archaeological finds suggest that hide tanning was carried out by our ancient ancestors, as far back as 70,000 years ago, through the study of various [flint](/flin/flintknapping) scraping tools. Leather would have been the main 'fabric' for thousands of years. There are wall paintings of tanning in Egypt, and leather clothing, many thousands of years old has been found preserved in peat bogs throughout Europe.
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 Tanning in Europe was a major occupation, and many traditional tanning techniques have been lost – replaced by industrial chemical processes. There has been a resurgence however – in particular in North America, via the primitive skills movement, and in Scandinavia, learning from traditional Sami techniques. Tanning in Europe was a major occupation, and many traditional tanning techniques have been lost – replaced by industrial chemical processes. There has been a resurgence however – in particular in North America, via the primitive skills movement, and in Scandinavia, learning from traditional Sami techniques.
  
-### What skins can be tanned, and what are they used for?+==== What skins can be tanned, and what are they used for? ====
  
 - Furs (for example rabbit, squirrel or fox) can be brain tanned or bark tanned: great for hats and cold-weather clothing. - Furs (for example rabbit, squirrel or fox) can be brain tanned or bark tanned: great for hats and cold-weather clothing.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Commercial chemical tanning+==== Commercial chemical tanning ====
  
 It's worth mentioning the predominant way most modern leather is tanned – in commercial tanneries, using a chromium solution. The chemicals used in this process are particularly harmful, and when allowed to leach into waterways, cause [problems](https://gizmodo.com/how-leather-is-slowly-killing-the-people-and-places-tha-1572678618) for humans, animals and plant life. Often these tanneries are located in developing countries with more lenient environmental and work safety laws – so they can more easily get away with polluting waterways and harming the health of workers and local residents. It's worth mentioning the predominant way most modern leather is tanned – in commercial tanneries, using a chromium solution. The chemicals used in this process are particularly harmful, and when allowed to leach into waterways, cause [problems](https://gizmodo.com/how-leather-is-slowly-killing-the-people-and-places-tha-1572678618) for humans, animals and plant life. Often these tanneries are located in developing countries with more lenient environmental and work safety laws – so they can more easily get away with polluting waterways and harming the health of workers and local residents.
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-## What are the benefits of hide tanning?+===== What are the benefits of hide tanning? =====
  
 - By tanning in a traditional, natural way you are creating an alternative to the extremely damaging commercial chemical tanning industry. - By tanning in a traditional, natural way you are creating an alternative to the extremely damaging commercial chemical tanning industry.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Hide tanning is a tactile skill which involves paying attention to subtle differences in the skin, and is not easily learnt from a book. You can attend a course in hide tanning; and there are some useful websites and resources on our links page. Hide tanning is a tactile skill which involves paying attention to subtle differences in the skin, and is not easily learnt from a book. You can attend a course in hide tanning; and there are some useful websites and resources on our links page.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Obtaining skins+==== Obtaining skins ====
  
 There are of course some ethical considerations when it comes to obtaining skins, so do ask questions of whoever is supplying your skins. Generally, you can find enough 'waste' skins – that would have otherwise been thrown away, for example: There are of course some ethical considerations when it comes to obtaining skins, so do ask questions of whoever is supplying your skins. Generally, you can find enough 'waste' skins – that would have otherwise been thrown away, for example:
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 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
-### Skinning+==== Skinning ====
  
 Skinning animals is also a useful skill, though you'll often get the skins already off the animal from the butcher or game dealer. It is also a skill best learnt in person rather than online, and as the old saying goes "there is more than one way to skin a cat". There are some good videos on the links page, and here is an excellent one: Skinning animals is also a useful skill, though you'll often get the skins already off the animal from the butcher or game dealer. It is also a skill best learnt in person rather than online, and as the old saying goes "there is more than one way to skin a cat". There are some good videos on the links page, and here is an excellent one:
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Storing skins+==== Storing skins ====
  
 If you can't use a skin immediately, it's important to store it correctly to avoid rotting. Options are: If you can't use a skin immediately, it's important to store it correctly to avoid rotting. Options are:
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). 
 + 
 +It is also in the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]] (Forum: [Bushcraft & Nature](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft)). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Traditional Tanners](https://braintan.com/) - repopularising natural, traditional tanning methods - [Traditional Tanners](https://braintan.com/) - repopularising natural, traditional tanning methods
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[trac:Tracking]] 
 +- [[shep:Sheep]] 
 +- [[game:Game|Game / wild meat]] 
 +- [[alps:Alpacas]] 
 +- [[game:Game|Game / wild meat]] 
 +- [[catl:cattle|Cattle]] 
 +- [[craf:Craft| Craft production]] 
 +- [[bush:bushcraft|Bushcraft]] 
 +- [[livs:livestock|Keeping livestock]] 
 +- [[leat:Leatherwork]] 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • skin/skins.1766316939.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/21 11:35
  • by Dave Darby