stripping
1. The process of removing dirt, grease, or uneven
tan deposition from the grain of a newly tanned
leather by drumming the skins in a solution of
warm water (40° C.) and a small amount of milk
alkali, e.g., 1 by weight of the stock of soda
ash, borax, or sodium bicarbonate. Too vigorous or
prolonged stripping is to be avoided as it can
seriously de-tan the leather. If heavy stripping
is carried out, or if the original tannage was not
satisfactory for the leather required, it is
possible to retan the skins at this stage. 2 A
term used mainly in library binding to indicate GUARDING . (306 )