The primary function of a tanner is to transform raw animal skins into finished leather.
Understanding the Role of a Tanner
A tanner is a skilled professional whose job is to convert perishable animal hides into durable, flexible, and long-lasting leather. This ancient craft is essential for producing materials used in countless products, from fashion and footwear to furniture and automotive interiors.
The Leather Making Process
The work of a tanner involves several intricate stages to achieve the final leather product. These steps are crucial for preserving the material and preparing it for various applications:
- Preparation of Hides: This initial stage involves cleaning and treating raw animal skins to prevent decomposition. It's a critical foundational step.
- Hair and Flesh Removal: Tanners carefully remove hair or wool from the skins, followed by scraping off any residual flesh or fat from the underside of the hide.
- Tanning: This is the core chemical process where the collagen protein in the skin is stabilized, making it resistant to putrefaction. This preservation stage requires a robust and often unreserved approach to the treatment processes involved.
- Post-Tanning Treatments: After tanning, hides undergo various processes such as drying, thinning, softening, and dyeing to achieve the desired texture, color, and specific properties required for different types of leather.
- Finishing: The final steps involve applying protective coatings or polishing to enhance the leather's appearance, feel, and durability.
Tanners apply their expertise to ensure that raw animal skins are not only preserved but also transformed into high-quality leather that meets specific industry standards and consumer demands.
