Thread: Alum

Anyone know where I can get Alum for curing skins (Aluminium potassium sulphate)? or have any other recipes for curing?

Try Farmlands

Cheers
Pete

I had a recipe years back. It used alum or Chrome alum, the chrome alum meant the finished skins were machine washable. A deer skin I tanned in 1992 is still looking good (except where the Jack Russell had a chew...).
I bought the chrome alum from the chemist, it came in 500g tubs. The recipe included flour and olive oil, and I think salt. The flour was to turn it into a paste, oil would have been as an emulsifier.

i need some chrome alum, i have had great results with it in the past but now i cant seem to track any down.

Pool floc is potassium aluminum sulphate ( alum)

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Pool floc is potassium aluminum sulphate ( alum)

@Marty Henry. Is that a particular brand you are talking about? From what I have seen Floc is just Aluminium sulphate, not Alum (no potassium or ammonia).
I think I will give it a try though as it is cheap.

I just ask the local chemist to order some for me. Easy

Originally Posted by Chicken

I just ask the local chemist to order some for me. Easy

Ok. I asked at two chemists (pharmacies) and they weren't at all helpful.
How much did you pay for it @Chicken?

Google just gave me this;

Alum Powder - NZ Chemical Suppliers

Originally Posted by SiB

Google just gave me this;

Alum Powder - NZ Chemical Suppliers

Thanks @SiB. Contacted a number of those suppliers are have had some success, albeit not cheap.

Not sure what it cost now was a few years ago. I'll try and find the bottle tomorrow, see if there's a price on it. Pretty sure I used kero and baking soda with it, did a hare skin and a slinky. Was heaps left over I think. Actually did one skin, scraped the brew off, soften with more kero and did the next one.

I take it you aren't considering using a product like Leders or similar?

Tanning Products - Hunting and Outdoor Supplies

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

I take it you aren't considering using a product like Leders or similar?

Tanning Products - Hunting and Outdoor Supplies

No. More interested in "home brew". (as you probably know)

Originally Posted by Shearer

@Marty Henry. Is that a particular brand you are talking about? From what I have seen Floc is just Aluminium sulphate, not Alum (no potassium or ammonia).
I think I will give it a try though as it is cheap.

Bit late as others have answered but post brands I have seen or used are pot alum. Aluminum sulphate would also work, its more acidic and will coagulate the proteins in the hide pretty well, but as with alum the final cured hide is not waterproof.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Ok. I asked at two chemists (pharmacies) and they weren't at all helpful.
How much did you pay for it @Chicken?

@Shearer

Try an industrial chemist, not the local snake oil salesmen

https://www.clarkproducts.co.nz/

Cheers
Pete