A professional who operates rotary drum containing tanning solution to convert hides and skins into leather, according to specifications. Respnsibilities include:

• Weighs tanning agents, such as metal salts and sodium formate, following tanning formula.
• Loads agents and hides or skins into drum.
• Turns valve to fill drum with water, turns steam valve to heat water to specified temperature.
• Verifies temperature, using thermometer.
• Locks drum door and moves lever to rotate drum for specified period of time.
• Removes drum door, replaces door with grating, and rotates drum to drain tanning solution through grating.
• May boil sample of tanned hide or skin in water to determine thoroughness of tanning.
• May be designated according to type of tanning solution used as bark tanner; chestnut tanner; chrome-tanning-drum operator; oak tanner; quebracho tanner; sumac tanner.