When Prototypes Go Wrong....

[TexasLady]

That's a good question. The ones that I tanned (salmon and the one shown, of which I've forgotten the name) came out rather stiff, almost like plastic. But when I did research, I found online a description of a 'salmon skin tanning class' where a woman said she loved how soft the tanned salmon skins were. Apparently this softness (or lack of it) depends on the tanning solution that is used. I also found online where an Australian fish skin processing company gave some examples of tanning solutions and their results. (I can't find this one right now.) I used the standard Tandy offering,... the same as what you'd use on cowhide.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/08/05/3818592.htm

This site implies that the softening is done 'after' the tanning.

"...then they are tanned, died, dried, sanded, trimmed, softened and then glazed to give a nice smooth finish."

But this other site gives a slightly different version.

http://www.sealeatherwear.com/mobile_fish-leather-tanning.php

"The special tanning process prevents the fish leather from becoming stiff, once the oils are taken out."

Edited July 13, 2015 by TexasLady