# Is there a reason why curing a pelt now requires chemistry 1?

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [January 4, 2021, 5:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625 "2021-01-04T05:19:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![N1Z0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/n1z0/32/7885_2.png) [@N1Z0](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/N1Z0)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 5:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625/1 "2021-01-04T05:19:56Z")

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How am I to even raise the chemistry skill to 1 without reading a book or dosing out points in char creation?

The preparation and use of animal skins is almost as old as the hills themselves, in light of that, a point in chemistry seems like a big ask for something of this nature, its very primitive tech and should remain so.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 6:30am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625/2 "2021-01-04T06:30:00Z")

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It’s applied science, not chemistry as far as I know. You can grind it up by doing Applied Science skill 0 tasks. Namely, getting salt from salty water getting soapy water from soap and … wait for it … water or making makeshift antiseptic by literally pouring ethanol into a bottle (from another bottle).

It’s an autolearned recipe so that’s all you need apart from survival skill 1 which you can use the same trick for (grind level 0 crafts and actions). I think quick butchery of zombie corpses would work. Or make makeshift hammers, sock mitts (put your hands in socks, genius!) etc.

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**Author:** ![N1Z0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/n1z0/32/7885_2.png) [@N1Z0](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/N1Z0)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625/3 "2021-01-04T09:35:38Z")

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Thanks for the informative response. Running a single batch of salt\>salt water worked perfectly to get it to level 1.

As the skill requirements for curing were not immediately apparent in the game, I referred to [Cured pelt (craft) - Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead](https://cdda-trunk.chezzo.com/cured_pelt/craft) (which is where I got the chemistry from)

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Blay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/paul_blay/32/6803_2.png) [@Paul\_Blay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Paul_Blay)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 9:45am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/is-there-a-reason-why-curing-a-pelt-now-requires-chemistry-1/25625/4 "2021-01-04T09:45:27Z")

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> [@N1Z0](#):
>
> (which is where I got the chemistry from)

I think the skills got shuffled around in experimental not long back (Barter skill is no more, for one).