Tanning Leather for Moccasins- Part 3

Once the hide has been prepared, there are three methods that can be used to turn it into leather. A hide can be made into leather by tanning, chamoising, or tawing, and while these processes all differ, they are called "tanning". Tanning gets its name from the tannins that are present in all vegetable matter, and these tannins are used to tan raw hides. This is also why tanned leather is sometimes more specifically referred to as vegetable tanned leather.

Commerical tanning practices place the hides in rotating barrels full of water and tannins for several days. There are also many variations of tanning, each tailored to the specific products the leather being treated will eventually become. Boots, for example, have a slightly different tanning process than wallets.

It usually takes approximately 3 weeks for the tanning material to completely penetrate. The hide is then wrung and is set out to smooth and dry.
Leather can be dried in 5 methods depending on the tanning factories equipment.
One of the most common is air drying where hides are hung and the air circulates around the hide. Related to this is drying by tumbling or air circulating through screens. Two last methods require more sophisticated equipment. In vacuum drying, the leather is spread out with the grain side down on a smooth surface and heat is applied. A vacuum hood is placed over the surface and a vacuum is applied to help in drying the leather. High frequency drying involves the use of a high frequency electromagnetic field to dry the leather.

Quote of the Day:

"Opportunities always look bigger going than coming."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins - Part 2

From pre-tanning to finishing, conventional leather tanning requires about 15 steps, which produces enormous amounts of waste water and pollutants. The first steps of leather tanning is referred to as the beamhouse operation which includes trimming, soaking, fleshing, and taking the hair off the hide. The next step is the tanyard process which includes bating, pickling, tanning, wringing and splitting. The final steps includes staking, dry milling, buffing, spraying finishing, and plating. Environmental rules are strictly enforced due to chemicals used and other pollutants.

Today, most animal hides are shipped from slaughter houses to tanneries, and so they must almost always be cured after slaughtering to stop the hide from putrefying. Usually the hides are coated with salt and other chemicals. When the hides reach the tanners, they are stiff, hard and rough. At the tannery, soaking the hide in water for up to two days starts the process of cleaning the hide, to remove all impurities such as flesh and fat, and, if necessary, the last remnants of curing agents, such as salt. It also makes handling the hide easier. After soaking, to avoid errors, modern tanneries use machines with blunt blades to scrape away the hair and flesh/fat/inside skin. This is called "fleshing".

While the hides are still wet, tanning factories shave the hides by pushing them against an ever-revolving band knife. The hide can be split by this process into two useful sheets which gives the correct thickness for tanning. This is called "skiving". Softening compounds are chemical rather than natural ( urine), and the last bath of sulfuric acid and common salt, is designed to remove the any traces of chemicals which is helpful in the tanning process to follow.

Quote for the Day:

"No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes."

Tanning Leather for Moccasins- Part 1

Before you can make a pair of moccasins, you need tanned leather. What is invoved in this process? What is the difference between a dried animal skin and a piece of leather?

In reference to the latter question, skins refers specifically to the skin of a smaller animal, such as a calf, while the term hide refers to the skin of a larger animal, such as a cow. The process for both skins and hides are similar. Raw hides or skins, when not tanned, are rough, dry and hard due to tightly compacted collagen, the natural moisturizer of skin. When exposed to water, dry hide/skin usually begins to putrefy and rot. Yet, when exposed to hot water, glue or sizing can be made from it. However, hides/skins have the ability to absorb tannic acid and other chemical substances that prevent them from decaying, make them resistance to water and keeping them soft and supple. The 3 types of hides and skins most often used in leather manufacturing are cattle, sheep and pig. Other hides can be used from horses, moose, deer, elk, bison, seals and walruses. The process of turning skins/hides into leather is called tanning. The process for skins and hides are similar. For our purposes, we will use the term "hide" in the rest of the article.

Quote of the Day:

"Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques."

Tips for making moccasins

After you have selected a moccasin pattern, there are a few tips to make the process easier.

1. The working surface must be flat and secure. Placing a cutting board or a rubber mat under the pattern will prevent tools becoming dull as well as protecting the working surface.
2. Use metal measuring tools which can also be used as a straight edge when cutting leather.
3. Mark the pattern on the leather using a felt tip pen or dark lead pencil.
4. Choose a leather that is free of oil, dirt and other residues. This will keep your pattern clean as well making the leather easier to work.
5. When cutting the leather , use a leather shears or a sharp razor knife. Think safety when cutting.
6. For sewing pieces together, use leather craft sewing needles. For thread, a waxed linen thread or artificial sinew(will not stretch) is perhaps the best for holding the leather together.
7. When punching holes in the moccasin leather, use a stitching awl. Remember safety first.

Hopefully these few tips will make your chore easier. Good luck.

Quote of the day:

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversations as a dog does."--Christopher Morley

Going Bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Quote of the Day:

* My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance .

One Hundred Years Ago!

?? THE YEAR 1907??
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine! The year is 1907. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1907 :
************************************
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
Of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1907 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas , Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
Hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Eighteen percent of households had at least
One full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !

Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND!

Quote of the Day:

"Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a
mistake when you make it again."

How Big is Wal-Mart?

1. At Wal-Mart, Americans spend $36,000,000 every hour of every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.

4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.

5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private employer.

6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the World.

7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger & Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years.

8. During this same period, 31 Supermarket chains sought bankruptcy (including Winn-Dixie).

9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.

10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are SuperCenters; this is 1,000 more than it had 5 years ago.

11. This year, 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at a Wal-Mart store. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 billion).

Quote of the Day:

"If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried
before."

Controlling Blood Pressure

If you have a checkup at your doctor's office, no doubt he/she will take your blood pressure. Ideally your blood pressure goal should be below 140/90. If it isn't, here are a few tips in leveling it off.

1. Get Going: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity of physical activity each day of the week.
2. Happy hour: Limit your intake of alcohol. Three or more drinks raises the blood pressure.
3. Earn your salt: Limit your intake of salt. Health professionals state people, particularly in N.America, take more salt than is recommended.
4. Starbucks: Limit your intake of any beverage(coffee,tea,coke) containing caffeine. Drink more water.
5. Eat smart : Eat a diet rich in fibre, fruits, and vegetables, and low fat or nonfat dairy products. Your body will thank you for it.
6. Work as a team: If your doctor prescribes medication, take as directed and do not stop unless you consult with your doctor.
7. Latest Research: Keep up with the latest news. For example, the latest is abdominal obesity not only increases chances of developing high blood pressure but heart diseases and diabetes.
8. Get checked: Know your numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. You will find that your doctor is more than willing to share these numbers with you. Take your doctor's advice to lower "high " numbers.

Good Luck with your journey .

Quote of the Day:

"A day without sunshine is like night."

Dinosaur Find

An exciting dinosaur find was displayed this week in Australia- a place where dinosaur bones are hard to find.

The dinosaur find was in the state of Queensland and is the largest complete skeleton ever found . Only partial skeletons have been found until this time.

The bones belong to the TITANOSAURUS which is gigantic in size. When living, it measured 12-18m (40-60ft) long, 3m(10ft) at the hip and weighed 14,700kg (about 31/2 elephants.) . The Titanosaurus lived in the Cretaceous period which is about 65-83 million years ago.

The several bones are on displayed at the Queensland Museum and were found on the farm of the Mackenzie family. The largest of the bones measures 1.5 metres long and weighs 100kg.

Quote of the Day:

"Don't think that the way you are today is the way you'll always be."
Vince Dooley
College football coach

MILEAGE

A 2006 study found that the average Canadian walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found that Canadians drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
That means, on average, Canadians get about 41 miles per gallon."
Not bad and much better than a truck.

Quote for the day:
"Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one." -- Thomas Carlyle

A Senior Moment!

The following appeared on my email. I thought it might be of interest since it supposedly happened in Florida.

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her bags and drew her handgun from her bag, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car! The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

Then the lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she couldn't get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried and then realized why. It was for the same reason why there was a football, a Frisbee, and two 12 packs of beer in the front seat.

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.

She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The sergeant to whom she story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad elderly women described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

Moral of the story?
If you are going to have a senior moment...make it memorable.

Quote of the Day:
"There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don't respond with encores."--Anonymous