I seem to recall that people saved urine to bleach leather during the
tanning process - apparently, the ammonia is what would turn the leather
white.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Barton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 12:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What kind of list is BP?


Now, there's something I've never wondered about before but now you've got
my curiosity up.  What's saltpeter used for and how is it made?  Inquiring
minds from the countryside want to know.  I think we used it in making
pickles.  Pickles soaked in PISS!! YUCK!!!!!!!!!!  Ruth



At 9:59 AM -0500 11/21/01, Ken Follett wrote:
In a message dated 11/20/01 3:21:39 PM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

I have attempted patinas with adult (or unadulterated) urine without much
success.)





Mark,

This is SO cool. I have never thought of creating patinas w/ urine. This
may account for the legendary habit of one non-BP preservationeer to piss
on license plates. To what effect I'm not sure. I am aware of the use of
urine in the historical production of saltpeter and that in Europe there
were places of public urination for this purpose. I wonder if anyone has
had the benefit to restore these military-industrial pissoirs?

Thanks,
][<en

--
Ruth Barton
[log in to unmask]
Westminster, VT