Process for producing leather

A method for producing leather from skins, comprising the steps of:

• introducing the skins into a mill;
• applying a liquid chrome solution to the skins by introducing the liquid chrome solution into the mill;
• neutralizing the skins by introducing a base into the mill to raise the pH level of the skins to at least approximately 6.0 or greater;
• retanning the skins by introducing a tanning agent into the mill;
• lowering the pH level of the skins to within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5 by introducing an acid into the mill;
• applying a waterproofing agent to the skins by introducing the waterproofing agent into the mill while the pH level of the skins is within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5;
• fixing the waterproofing agent within the skins by introducing an acid into the mill to lower the pH level of the skins to at or below approximately 3.0;
• applying a flame resistant agent to the skins by introducing the flame resistant agent into the mill;
• and
• fixing the flame resistant agent within the skins by reducing the pH level of the skins to within a range of approximately 3.2 to 3.5.

A method for producing leather from pig skins, comprising the steps of:

• introducing wet blue pig skins into a mill containing a float of water, the skins having a weight;
• applying a liquid chrome solution to the skins by introducing the liquid chrome solution into the water and running the mill for at least approximately two hours, the liquid chrome solution having a weight of approximately 13 percent of the weight of the skins;
• neutralizing the skins by introducing a base into the water and running the mill until the pH level of the skins is at least approximately 6.0 or above;
• retanning the skins by introducing a tanning agent into the water and running the mill for at least approximately 40 minutes, the tanning agent having a weight of approximately 8 percent of the weight of the skins;
• lowering the pH level of the skins by introducing an acid into the water and running the mill until the pH level is within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5;
• applying a waterproofing agent to the skins by introducing the waterproofing agent into the water while the pH level of the skins is within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5 and running the mill for at least approximately 20 minutes, the waterproofing agent having a weight of approximately 3 percent of the weight of the skins;
• fixing the waterproofing agent within the skins by introducing an acid into the water and running the mill until the pH level of the skins is at or below approximately 3.0;
• applying a flame resistant agent to the skins by introducing the flame resistant agent into the water and running the mill for at least approximately 1 hour, the flame resistant agent having a weight of approximately 4 percent of the weight of the skins;
• and
• fixing the flame resistant agent within the skins by reducing the pH level of the skins to within a range of approximately 3.2 to 3.5.

A method for producing leather from pig skins, comprising the steps of:

• introducing wet blue pig skins into a mill containing a float of water at approximately 140° F.;
• degreasing the skins by introducing a degreasing agent into the water and running the mill for at least approximately 15 minutes;
• draining the water from the mill and resupplying the mill with water at approximately 100° F.;
• applying a liquid chrome solution to the skins by introducing the liquid chrome solution into the water and running the mill for at least approximately two hours;
• neutralizing the skins by introducing a base into the water and running the mill until the pH level of the skins is at least approximately 6.0 or greater;
• draining the water from the mill and resupplying the mill with water at approximately 100° F.;
• retanning the skins by introducing a tanning agent into the water and running the mill for at least approximately 40 minutes;
• lowering the pH level of the skins by introducing an acid into the water and running the mill until the pH level is within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5;
• draining the water from the mill and resupplying the mill with water at approximately 110° F.;
• applying a waterproofing agent to the skins by introducing the waterproofing agent into the water while the pH level of the skins is within a range of approximately 3.0 to 3.5 and running the mill for at least approximately 20 minutes;
• draining the water from the mill and resupplying the mill with water at approximately 110° F.;
• fixing the waterproofing agent within the skins by introducing an acid into the water and running the mill until the pH level of the skins is at or below approximately 3.0;
• draining the water from the mill and resupplying the mill with water at approximately 130° F.;
• applying a flame resistant agent to the skins by introducing the flame resistant agent into the water and running the mill for at least approximately 1 hour;
• and
• fixing the flame resistant agent within the skins by reducing the pH level of the skins to within a range of approximately 3.2 to 3.5.