Second Stretching
Second Stretching
After the natural drying process of a few months’ time, the housings are now ready to be worked further and to proceed in the Tefillin manufacturing process. The hide is dampened with water thus allowing for the stretching process to resume.
In the picture depicted on the right we see how flat pieces of steel are inserted into the bulges and are carefully pounded into place, thus forming the inside cavities needed for the head housing. Once the pieces of metal are inserted, without damaging the hide, they are placed into a mold which is inserted into a hydraulic press and pressed into the hide. The housing are then allowed to air dry once again.
