fishskin.md

TANNED FISH SKIN

Tactility & sound impression

Tanned salmon skin without using glycerine as softener (post-treatment), Loes Bogers, 2020

Tanned salmon skin with glycerine applied as softener (post-treatment), Loes Bogers, 2020

Description

Very strong, translucent tanned fish skin that varies from stiff and a little rigid to flexible/soft and malleable when treated with a softener.

Physical form

Surfaces

Color without additives: color of the fish skin

Fabrication time

Preparation time: [number 0-24] Hours

Processing time: [number 0-100] [select unit days/weeks]

Need attention: every [number][select unit: hours/days] to [free text] describe activity e.g. stir, turn, etc]

Final form achieved after: [number 0-99] [select unit days/weeks

Ingredients

• Fresh uncooked fish skins, e.g. salmon skins
  • the amounts below are enough for 1 large fish skin
• Denatured alcohol 96% - 200 ml
  • helps to penetrate the skin
  • optional: substitute part of the alcohol with a mix of alcohol and a natural alcohol-based ink)
• Glycerine - 200 ml
  • acts as an oil
• Dish washing soap (eco) - 5 ml

Tools

1. Big glass jar, with tight fitting lid
   • to fit all the fish skins
2. Blunt scraping tool
   • to remove any fish and fat from the skins
3. Large wooden board
   • to dry and stretch the fish skins on
4. Hammer and nails
   • to nail the fish skins to the board for drying

Yield before processing/drying/curing

Approx. [number] [unit]

Method

1. Preparing the fish skins

   • Scrape all the meat, fat and membrane off the fish skins with a blunt scraping tool. Really clean it all off, the skin can take some handling.
   • Wash the fish skins thoroughly with cold soapy water (some say to leave it for a day to remove slime)
   • Rinse the fish skins with cold tap water

2. Prepare the tanning liquid

   • Put the glycerine and the alcohol in a glass jar
   • Sumberge the fish skin in it and shake vigourously for 1 min
   • Put a little weight on top if the skin is not submerged (take out before shaking!)

3. Tanning process

   • Keep the fish skins in the jar for 3 days
   • Shake the jar vigourously for 1 min every few hours, (or at least once a day)

4. Drying process

   • After three days, take out the skins (keep the tanning liquid for next time)
   • Optional: rinse the fish in cold soapy water, and rub some additional glycerine onto the fish (both sides), for a soft, flexible fish leather.
   • Nail the skins to the wooden board. This prevents them from curling and shrinking. Don't make it too tight (it can tear at the nails).
   • Leave the board to dry outside, on a balcony or near an open window.
   • When completely dry, take them off the board.

Drying/curing/growth process

Drying the skins with the scales facing down (towards the wood), results in a smoother surface.

• Mold depth: N/A
• Shrinkage thickness 0-5%
• Shrinkage width/length 0-5%

Shrinkage and deformation control

Nailing them to a wooden board stretches them and prevents shrinkage and curling.

Curing agents and release agents

N/A

Minimum wait time before releasing from mold A week to dry and reduce the fishy smell.