Salmon Leather (Russia Leather Style)

[Birchee]

I have been making Salmon leather on and off for 4-5 years now, I always make it in very similar fashion as Russia leather was made. I believe I am the only one that makes Salmon leather in this way. The result is a very durable and wear resistant leather which is highly resistant to water, saltwater, molds, fungus, bacteria, and pests.

After scraping and descaling the skins are soaked in a lime bath for 24 hours, followed by a vinegar bath for a few hours to bring the PH back to 5.5-6. They are then started in a 10:1 tea (inner bark of birch), tea is swapped out for full strength tea in small amounts as needed for seven days. They are then put in full strength tea for three days.

Than they are partially dried and oiled either with mix of coconut oil and birch tar, or jojoba and birch tar, worked by hand until fully dry to keep them from stiffening up.

They need to be hung for 3-4 weeks to allow the birch tar smell to mellow out. That smoky smell will persist for up to a year.

 

This is the lime bath

 

Bringing the PH back down in vinegar bath:

 

Into the 10:1 birch tanning tea:

 

Out of full strength tea and drying:

 

Flesh side oiled and drying:

 

Oiled and being worked until dry:

 

Fully dried and oiled, hanging to air dry for a few weeks to let that smoky smell mellow out:

 

Hope some of you find it interesting, a fair chunk of work but really enjoyable taking something that ends up in the garbage and making something useful from it. 

Oh and a bonus, me trying to tear it 😄

 

 

 

[dikman]

A lot of work but an interesting result. I'm all in favour of not wasting stuff where possible.

[bvdv]

Very nice 👍  I love the colour and method you use. I am investigating the Russian method myself but unfortunately I don't have the time to experiment. Can you also show off what you make from the skins? 
Greetings from Belgium

[kgg]

23 hours ago, Birchee said:

I have been making Salmon leather on and off for 4-5 years now

Very interesting. What products have you made with the skins?

kgg

[Birchee]

@bvdv @kgg

I don't make anything from them yet, but I am planning to start this winter.

I have some locals who have seen the leathers and have asked if I can make wallets and rifle slings.

Here is a wallet a guy I know made with some of the leather, wallets about 4 years old here:

 

 

[bvdv]

Looks in perfect condition 👌

[kgg]

2 hours ago, Birchee said:

Here is a wallet a guy I know made with some of the leather, wallets about 4 years old here:

As a inlay it looks really good and is standing the test of time.

How thick is the salmon leather? 1, 2, 3mm?

kgg

[bvdv]

2 hours ago, kgg said:

As a inlay it looks really good and is standing the test of time.

How thick is the salmon leather? 1, 2, 3mm?

kgg

As far as I know Salmon leather is thin, less than 1mm around 0.7mm but I could be wrong
Greetings

[Birchee]

It is about 1mm, it thickens up a little some during the tanning process so the finished skin is a little more than the original.

It is very durable and has high wear resistance. Tensile strength is anywhere from 4 to 8 times regular leather due to the crosshatched fibers.

[Birchee]

 

Here are some farmed salmon leathers. Canadian dime is 1.2mm thick. The wild salmon are a bit thicker, but it is rare I get my hands on those here in the east.