A professional who operates equipment to color and soften hides. Respnsibilities include:

• Weighs and mixes specified ingredients with water to prepare coloring solution.
• Pours solution into tray or drum and adds oil (softening agent).
• Pulls hide through tray until specified color is obtained or places hides in drum and starts machine to tumble hides in solution for specified time.
• Adds ingredients, such as bicarbonate of soda, formic acid, or oil to solution at specified intervals.
• May be designated according to specialty as drum leather softener.