tanning a hide
#11
I think the biggest thing everyone seems to have missed here is the actual fleshing. Its important to remove all flesh, tissue, fat from the hide. A fleshing blade is recommended at the least. I suppose you can always hand knife one, but your in for alotta work, and sharpening of your knife!
This post started in 2007?!!!!!
This post started in 2007?!!!!!
#13
i may have done some things wrong, but my hide seems to have turned out okay. i just let the hide sit for a day until it was dry to the touch, and commenced to removing any meat that was still attached. i then made a wooden rack and stretched the hide across it and put spikes in the corners to hold it taught. i put a layer of salt over the whole thing and set the rack at about a 45 degree angle. the next day i scraped off the salt and salted it again and inverted the rack. i did this a few more days, then took a damp towel and wiped away any remaining salt. i then applied a light coat of oil, and massaged it in, then sprayed a degreaser on it, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and rinsed it. after it dried thoroughly, i sanded it to reach the texture i wanted, and reapplied oil, and began rolling and stretching it.
like i said, it worked out okay for me. all the hair stayed in place, and it feels pretty nice. i probably made some major error, but i'm a newb to the whole tanning thing myself.
like i said, it worked out okay for me. all the hair stayed in place, and it feels pretty nice. i probably made some major error, but i'm a newb to the whole tanning thing myself.