Sixer Report post Posted September 19, 2012 ...and it's not a good smell!! I'm not really sure how to describe it... but this hide has a strange and somewhat strog odor to it. I'm literally considering throwing about 15 sq feet of veg tan in the dumpster if I can get rid of the smell. If I had to guess... I'd say the smell is from the tannery or tanning process. Even after wet molding, the smell is still there. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions to neutralize the smell?? Cheers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted September 19, 2012 I don't know what would have caused the smell but I think the least invasive way to try and get rid of it would be a baking soda bath. Me, I'd use my tub, warm water, and a LOT of baking soda mixed in and let it dry good and see if that fixed it. It takes away the vinegar smell from vinegaroon so it might work on this. Hope it helps, Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted September 19, 2012 I have used oxalic acid to reduce the smell to a much more tolerable level. Then air out with good circulation around it for a couple days. By the time I was finished tooling and applied a finish, the smell was gone. Don't soak it too much or you will be waiting a long time for it to dry back to a proper cased working level. CTG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HellfireJack Report post Posted September 19, 2012 I had a hide that reeked like dead fish once. I know that fish oil is used in a lot of tanning so I just assumed it was "fresh" off the line. I threw it in the back of my closet and a couple months later the smell was gone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sixer Report post Posted September 20, 2012 Good info! Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted September 21, 2012 I don't know what would have caused the smell but I think the least invasive way to try and get rid of it would be a baking soda bath. Me, I'd use my tub, warm water, and a LOT of baking soda mixed in and let it dry good and see if that fixed it. It takes away the vinegar smell from vinegaroon so it might work on this. Hope it helps, Cheryl Baking Soda will turn the leather brown but you would not see this after vinegaroon . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted September 21, 2012 Oh man I hate when my leather turns brown :-) Oh wait, you mean a darker brown? I'm just kidding, gave the best advice I had. And learned something myself. Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted September 21, 2012 Something else that helps is Fiebings Liquid Saddle Soap. If I remember right, I used the saddle soap first, followed by the oxalic acid. CTG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
