At first glance, the addition of tallow seems relatively innocent, especially to one not familiar with just what the hell it's supposed to be.
According to Wikipedia:
Spoiler
Show
Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration to prevent decomposition, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation.
Industrially, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton fat. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, including its melting point. It is common for commercial tallow to contain fat derived from other animals, such as lard from pigs, or even from plant sources.
Previously, I'd been aware of it's uses as a kind of lard. But it's Industrial Applications are what really shoved a creeper in my skull.
Once again, according to Wikipedia:
Spoiler
Show
Uses
LubricationTallow is used in animal feed, to make soap, shoe polish, for cooking, and as a bird food. It can be used as a raw material for the production of biodiesel and other oleochemicals. Historically, it was used to make tallow candles, which were a cheaper alternative to wax candles.
MedicinalEarly in the development of steam-driven piston engines the hot vapors and liquids washed away most lubricants very quickly. It was soon found that tallow was quite resistant to this washing. Tallow, and compounds including tallow were widely used to lubricate locomotive and steamship engines at least until the 1950's. Tallow is used in the steel rolling industry to provide the required lubrication as the sheet steel is compressed through the steel rollers.
FoodIn Germany, deer tallow ("Hirschtalg") is commonly used as a base ingredient in salves.
Other usesBefore switching to pure vegetable oil in 1990, the McDonald's corporation cooked its french fries in a mixture of 93% beef tallow and 7% cottonseed oil.
Tallow can also be used as flux for soldering.
It is also the primary ingredient in some leather conditioners.
It is at this point that I would encourage discussion to commence. Now that its real-world applications are known, how might they be applied to the various additions this mod already provides, and what brand new mechanisms might its early inclusion herald?
I'll start us off with something I don't think anyone has mentioned yet. Conditioned Leather anyone? Maybe a different avenue of production towards Tanned Leather, sans the Mill Stone?
[By the way, I would be more than happy to accumulate a comprehensive list of what has already been speculated by the many great patrons of this forum, if requested. =D ]
