Removal of salt and excess grease from pigskins, sheepskins, etc by drumming stock in a liquor containing kerosene and slat, gasoline, or similar hydrocarbons, before tanning. Patent leather is freque [..]

The addition of oils or fatliquors to the leather to make the leather soft. The more fatliquor that is added, the softer the leather becomes.

The removal of the hair from the skin. This is usually achieved using sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfide.

The underlying layer of a hide or skin, known as the “flesh”. In the preparation of the skin for tanning, the adipose tissue is thoroughly removed by the fleshing operation in the beamhouse.

Hides cured by exposure of the flesh side to mild rays of the sun until they are dry: usually the hides are tensioned by lacing into a square wooden frame.

Leather that has been through-dyed and then finished with transparent finishing chemicals so as to retain the natural beauty of the leather. No opaque finishing chemicals are used in the finishing for [..]

The main portion of a raw hide, obtained by first cutting the hide longitudinally along the backbone, then trimming off head and belly, leaving a “bend” and shoulder.

Deteriorative effects on hides, skins or leather caused by bacteria.

A special hydrometer used in tanneries to test the strength of tanning liquids by specific density.

Usually the first finish coat that is applied to the leather surface.