Tan my hide

[Pignut]

It is likely that I am going to have a "Raw" deer hide in my possetion at the end of april, I would like the hide tanning (With hair on) is there anyone who can do this for me (Commercial or otherwise) or is it viable to do it myself, having never done anything like this before?

Cheers

 

[Eric_Methven]

It is likely that I am going to have a "Raw" deer hide in my possetion at the end of april, I would like the hide tanning (With hair on) is there anyone who can do this for me (Commercial or otherwise) or is it viable to do it myself, having never done anything like this before?

Cheers

If it's your first time, check out Braintan.com. There's lots of advice on tanning deer skin with hair on and also to make buckskin and they sell tanning kits if you don't want to brain tan it.

Also visit Paleo Planet. It's a forum much like this and there's a whole heap of people over there who do tanning, flint knapping and other cool paleo skills.

Eric

 

[Pignut]

Is there a commercial tanners?

 

[leon-1]

Yes there are commercial tanners in the UK, but they are fast diminishing.

Fenland Sheepskin Company I think is the name of the one that I visited in Bridgwater, but that is a way down the country from you. I can't remember the exact cost, but I think it was about £20 IIRC.

Despite it saying it is sheepskin they do other beasties as well and having had a tour around the place it's pretty amazing.

 

[Pignut]

Eric you have pm

 

[Trevody]

Hi Pignut, have you decided what you are going to do with the deer skin, Irecently had a go at veg taning some rabbit skins with a bit of success, picked up one or two tips you may be interested in, if so give me a shout.

Trev

 

[spoony]

hi trev i have a deer skin in the freezer, fancy helping do that?

 

[Toddy]

I know I've mentioned this before but it's possible to diy a deerskin relatively easily using the washing machine.

1) Scrape off the visceral tissues from the flesh side of the skin.

2) wash using biological washing liquid on cold in the washing machine.

3) Wash again, on cold, with no soap but a very healthy dose of fabric conditioner.

4) Pull out skin and stretch over a frame and put it somewhere cool but airy to begin drying......a cloudly breezy day is ideal.

5) As it dries begin to rub in masses of hand cream on the flesh side. The more you rub, and the more you rub in, the better the skin will be.

6) Ta ra, one diy modern equivalent of a braintanned skin

The first one I did like this, nearly ten years ago now, is still sound and has kept it's pelt.

copied from modern Inuit, whose people have to be among some of the most capable hunters mankind has ever produced.

cheers,
Toddy

p.s. it works on rabbit too

 

[spoony]

I know I've mentioned this before but it's possible to diy a deerskin relatively easily using the washing machine.

1) Scrape off the visceral tissues from the flesh side of the skin.

2) wash using biological washing liquid on cold in the washing machine.

3) Wash again, on cold, with no soap but a very healthy dose of fabric conditioner.

4) Pull out skin and stretch over a frame and put it somewhere cool but airy to begin drying......a cloudly breezy day is ideal.

5) As it dries begin to rub in masses of hand cream on the flesh side. The more you rub, and the more you rub in, the better the skin will be.

6) Ta ra, one diy modern equivalent of a braintanned skin

The first one I did like this, nearly ten years ago now, is still sound and has kept it's pelt.

copied from modern Inuit, whose people have to be among some of the most capable hunters mankind has ever produced.

cheers,
Toddy

p.s. it works on rabbit too

bloomin exellent info Toddy thanks for that, will it be ok after being in the freezer?
just didnt have time to tan it, by the time i have skinned and buthchered the meat i had to get back out, so i just popped it in the freezer, and its been there since(didnt have time to scrape it either.

 

[Toddy]

Now that I don't know about, I've never frozen a skin and then used it. Can't see why not though, they freeze in Alaska
It really does need a lot of handcream (poundstore stuff is fine, Avon's skin so soft leaves it very supple but peculiarly perfumed ) and a lot of rubbing and stretching as it dries if you want a supple skin.

Oh, and the washing machine cleans up fine with an empty, hot, wash afterwards I don't know how well it would cope with a skin that's slipping it's pelt thpugh, I could see that clogging the pipes

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Pignut]

Hi Pignut, have you decided what you are going to do with the deer skin, Irecently had a go at veg taning some rabbit skins with a bit of success, picked up one or two tips you may be interested in, if so give me a shout.

Trev

Probably gonna be getting a few mate!

Fancy a scout project?

Toddy,

Thanks for that!

Brillinat!