As a "reformed" home-tanner, I've only got a couple of words on the subject...Never Again!
Seriously, it's a LOT of HARD work, and even when everything goes right, you still don't have the same quality of leather that a commercial tanner can do for you. The only exception being brain tanning...still a lot of work, but it can be done quite well at home.
Just my tuppence-worth.
Greg