Tanning hides

[flandersander]

Hey all. Just wondering if this is a method to tan hides. I don't need a real supple tan for right now, as I am going to attempt to make some type of footwear out of my deer. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1983-01-01/How-To-Tan-Rabbit-Hides.aspx I already did a search on here and found no tanning threads, but sorry if I missed it. I also want to try and make a hat, you know the kind with ear flaps.http://www.i-fur.com/images/russian_fur_hat_mens_mink_002.jpg

[tim]

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/blog.php?b=71

[trax]

There's just one thing in Beo's post. Every animal's brain, I've been told over and over anyway, is exactly the right amount to brain tan that animal. Beo mentioned "if you don't have enough brain material" but then maybe he meant the person doing the tanning, lol.

Anyway, both are good for the hides they describe tanning flander. Muskrat and beaver are both excellent choices for the hat you're talking about. I had a beaver hat like that years ago, but it went by the wayside somewhere along the way. Warmest head cover I've ever had in my life. The ear flaps were wide enough to cover most of the sides of my face when I had them down, it was awesome. Good luck.

[tim]

well i know a few peppl who dont have enough brain to tan thar hide:)

[klkak]

Here is my tried and true method of tanning a hide.

1. Take hide to taxidermist
2. Wait for taxidermist to call me
3. Take taxidermist money
4. Take tanned hide home

Some day I'll share my handmade footwear secret.

[flandersander]

ah, thats the primitive method. I'm talking about using chemicals. that sounds kinda bad, but I would rather wear some gloves and be careful than mess with brains. lol.

[red lake]

I did some research on this recently and found it to be a crap load of work. Not a weekend job at all.

[flandersander]

yeah, thats what I hear. but I think rabbit mitts would be really warm. and a muskrat hat. warm too.

[trax]

Here is my tried and true method of tanning a hide.

1. Take hide to taxidermist
2. Wait for taxidermist to call me
3. Take taxidermist money
4. Take tanned hide home

Some day I'll share my handmade footwear secret.

Ooo, ooo, ooo, bet I know! ask me! ask me!

[FVR]

Go to www.braintan.com

Good place to start.

I have two deer hides in the freezer just waiting to be tanned. Don't know if I'm going to use brains this time, we'll see.

[flandersander]

Thanks FVR, i apprecitate the link,

[crashdive123]

Don't know if I'm going to use brains this time, we'll see.

So.......how do you know if you're doing it right?:D

[klkak]

Ooo, ooo, ooo, bet I know! ask me! ask me!

OK Trax you can answer this one.

[crashdive123]

Hmmmmm....I'm predicting Trax's answer will involve a handmade footware store....he's smart like that.

[RBB]

I've done some brain tan. My grandfather taught me. It is more of a "cure" than an actual tan. You have to be careful, with brain tan, that you never get the leather wet or you'll be "breaking" the hide all over again.

When I was young, we used to go to the local hardware and get "chrome tan." Not sure how available this is anymore.

I have a keg of some kind of tanning preparation that works as well as anything I've ever tried. Gives a brain tan look to the hide, but I can't remember the name of the stuff (I'm at work).

The tanning is not the problem with working a hide, it is the breaking. I've tried old clothes dryers with rocks inside them - and a number of other supposed solutions, but two guys pulling the hide over a taut rope is still the best thing I know. If you can just find someone dumb enough to do it with you...

When breaking the hide, when you start with a damp hide - you absolutely have to keep at it until the hide is dry. You can cheat a bit by throwing it in the freezer if it's not dry, but you are best off just going until it is dry or your hide will be stiff.

Best thing to make out of rabbit skins is a rabbit blanket. Cut the green skins into one inch strips (cutting round and round the skin). Hang strips on a pole in the wind - they will twirl into a fluffy cord. Weave cords into squares (you can make a small loom - if you're handy). Sew squares together until you have a blanket sized robe. Ojibwe answer to the cold before Hudson Bay blankets were available. Very warm.

[RBB]

I've done some brain tan. My grandfather taught me. It is more of a "cure" than an actual tan. You have to be careful, with brain tan, that you never get the leather wet or you'll be "breaking" the hide all over again.

When I was young, we used to go to the local hardware and get "chrome tan." Not sure how available this is anymore.

I have a keg of some kind of tanning preparation that works as well as anything I've ever tried. Gives a brain tan look to the hide (if you scrape off the grain), but I can't remember the name of the stuff (I'm at work).

The tanning is not the problem with working a hide, it is the breaking. I've tried old clothes dryers with rocks inside them - and a number of other supposed solutions, but two guys pulling the hide over a taut rope is still the best thing I know. If you can just find someone dumb enough to do it with you...

When breaking the hide, when you start with a damp hide - you absolutely have to keep at it until the hide is dry. You can cheat a bit by throwing it in the freezer if it's not dry, but you are best off just going until it is dry or your hide will be stiff.

Best thing to make out of rabbit skins is a rabbit blanket. Cut the green skins into one inch strips (cutting round and round the skin). Hang strips on a pole in the wind - they will twirl into a fluffy cord. Weave cords into squares (you can make a small loom - if you're handy). Sew squares together until you have a blanket sized robe. Ojibwe answer to the cold before Hudson Bay blankets were available. Very warm.

[flandersander]

yeah, see I would rather just dip 'er in chemicals then worry about breaking, rather than mess with brains. But the tanning process is easy and the breaking part is hard. So I see. hmm. Anybody got any info or recipes on chemical tanning? Wheather using alum or acid or whatever.

[FVR]

I use to use alum alot when I could purchase from Eckerds. They no longer carry it. I used it when I wanted to tan hides stiff for stuff like quivers.

Google, google, google. You can use cod liver oil, veg. oil, eggs, acorns, a bunch of stuff.

But to be affective, ya have to smoke it.

[wildWoman]

yeah, see I would rather just dip 'er in chemicals then worry about breaking, rather than mess with brains. But the tanning process is easy and the breaking part is hard. So I see. hmm. Anybody got any info or recipes on chemical tanning? Wheather using alum or acid or whatever.

here is the product that I've used successfully for tanning: "Trapper's hide tanning formula" from Desert Capital. I don't know if they have a website but their phone # is (702) 248-9690. Up here, the trapper's association carries it and Halford Hide and Leather in Edmonton also has it. One bottle will do one deer hide and gives you a softly tanned hide similar to brain tanning. Instructions on the bottle, it's pretty straightforward (and yes, lots of elbow grease).

[flandersander]

FVR, can you get a softer tan using alum?

[FVR]

Fland.,

Don't really know as I've only used alum when I want the stiff stuff with the hair left on.

To get it soft, ya just have to work it, and work it, and work it some more.

[flandersander]

Oh, so just find some way to tan it, then stretch the heck out of it? That seems simple. And just stretch it in every direction and work the snot out of it?

[Gray Wolf]

I agree with FVR, Go to www.braintan.com!

[flandersander]

Well I don't want to braintan. I checked it out, but they mainly give links for stuff to buy. Nor do they give step by step instructions on how to chemical tan or kinds of household things you can use for tanning. Or i didn't find it.

[Jericho117]

I once made little sandle/semi-open summer shoes out of woodchuck hides using thier sinew to tie. Back in Connecticut. I didn't brain tan those hides, like my others, but I worked them with a stone until supple. Are you looking for survival footwear or material that will take some time and materials to make? Never made boots so I shouldn't even be here telling you this-----pointless.

[Gray Wolf]

Here, this may help.

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/pdfs/tanninghides.pdf

http://www.paleotechnics.com/Articles/PDFs/Briefoverview.PDF

http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/jur/2002/richter-dettloff.pdf

[flandersander]

Thanks Grey Wolf

[catfish10101]

I remember when I was a kid and my daddy used to tan my hide.........oooops, that aint what we talkin bout here is it? LOL

[flandersander]

somehow i visualize your avatar when I read that post...

[tacmedic]

Here is a link to a site that talks about chrome tanning. I did it once when I was a teenager. I still have a scar on my leg from where some of the lime solution splashed onto my leg. http://www.lksd.org/nunapitchuk/tanning.htm

You still have to use plenty of elbow grease with chrome tanning to get the hide soft. Brain tanning is the method for me. No dangerous chemicals and the hide still turns out buttery soft.

[Stairman]

Another vote here for braintan.I have a deer hide I tanned many years ago using a pickeling solution of 1lb.alum and two pounds of salt but lost my alum connection.I worked it until it was dry and it is very soft.I can get hog brains for $1.69 a lb.and thats plenty for a deer hide.A deer hide with hair on will always shed no matter the method.Not to the extent of bald spots but just a little.

[flandersander]

Hmm, you guys may have persuaided me into brain tanning. What kind of process for that? I looked at braintan.com and didn't really find any recipes

[Gray Wolf]

If you read the links I gave you, you would know. For starters just check out the first link, it gives different recipes, and for the Brain tanning recipe, read page 5.

[flandersander]

I did read them, but didn't go all the way down on the first one. Thanks GW

[FVR]

Wow, braintan dot com has gone commercial. It use to be a site where you could get instructions and how to for free. They did sell supplies.

Try paleoplanet, google it.

[Gray Wolf]

FVR, if he just reads the links (PDF files) on brain tanning that I gave him he will have his answers.

[flandersander]

Grey wolf, you already gave me the answers, i just made a rookie mistake and didn't read carefully.

[laughing beetle]

Here, this may help.

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/pdfs/tanninghides.pdf

http://www.paleotechnics.com/Articles/PDFs/Briefoverview.PDF

http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/jur/2002/richter-dettloff.pdf

awesome sites Gray Wolf!! Thank you very much for the info.:)

[Gray Wolf]

Grey wolf, you already gave me the answers, i just made a rookie mistake and didn't read carefully.

If you need more info on Brain Tanning, Just let me know. I find Brain Tanning the easiest, least hazardous and least expensive way of tanning.

[flandersander]

I will be sure to do so.