CHROME GOAT AND SHEEP 167 



In finishing off the skins may be fluffed if desired, and 

 are then " cleared " by sponging with 10 per cent, lactic 

 or acetic acid. They are then seasoned and glazed after 

 some drying. This is repeated until the required gloss 

 has been obtained. They are finally oiled lightly with a 

 mixture of Unseed and mineral oils. On finishing dull 

 kid a heavier fat liquor is given, in which degras is used, 

 and the skins are not seasoned and glazed, but are ironed 

 and oiled. In finishing for coloured glace, the skins are 

 mordanted before dyeing by the use of dyewood extracts, 

 antimony and titanium salts being used as fixing agents. 

 The fat liquor should contain less soap and more egg yolk, 

 and for fancy shades even egg yolk only is sometimes used. 



The production of chrome glace sheep follows the same 

 general lines as glace goat. There is less difficulty in 

 obtaining smooth grain, so that " striking " is perhaps 

 less prominent, and drum tannages are preferred, whether 

 one bath or two bath. The skins are received after fell- 

 mongering (see Part II., Section IV.) and need thorough 

 puering to remove scud, and may be then rinsed through 

 boric acid. Pickling is very common with these goods. 

 In the pickled state they are often sorted out before 

 tanning. The pickling is usually a one-bath process in 

 which vitriol and salt or else alum and salt are used, but 

 sometimes all three substances. The skins may indeed 

 be received in a pickled state. They may be depickled 

 by paddling with salt and borax, bicarbonate, or basic 

 alum solution. They may also be tanned without de- 

 pickling if the composition of the pickle be allowed for in 

 the first chroming liquor. A commonly used pickle consists 

 of 3 per cent, aluminium sulphate and 9 per cent. salt. 

 If these goods are to be dried out, flour also may be used 

 with the pickle, which thus becomes practically a light 

 preliminary alum tannage (see Part IV., Section I.). A 

 commonly used acid pickle is of 5 per cent, commercial 

 sulphuric acid and 25 per cent. salt. 



The delimed or depickled stock may be tanned as now 

 described. The two-bath process may be used with drums. 



