Pelt care??

[Sundowner]

Just got a reindeer pelt of ebay. Now i wonder how to store it, carry it (in a rucksack liner?) and generally look after it?
Any pointers gratefully received!
Thanks

 

[66jj99]

Shake out often. Very often.

Hang it on a line often.

Allow air to get to the skin side too (don't keep it on the floor inside)

Roll it up hairy side in to carry. Simples

Definately store it unbagged, somewhere it can breathe.

 

[Sundowner]

Shake out often. Very often.

Hang it on a line often.

Allow air to get to the skin side too (don't keep it on the floor inside)

Roll it up hairy side in to carry. Simples

Definately store it unbagged, somewhere it can breathe.

Roll it up, hair inside and carry it lashed on to rucksack? In the rain?

 

[66jj99]

If it's that dry rain, you'll be absolutely fine.

 

[Sundowner]

If it's that dry rain, you'll be absolutely fine.

Even the dry stuff is wet nowadays

 

[Toddy]

Keep it cold, keep it as cold as you can. They'll shed anyway, but keeping them cold seems to help.

 

[Toddy]

If it's that dry rain, you'll be absolutely fine.

 

[Janne]

Did the seller indicate if the pelt is for outdoor or indoor use?
Pelts for outdoor use have had the skinside treated with a water repelling agent.
Assuming this has NOT been done, carry it in a waterpoof bag ( binliner) and avoid it getting wet ( very heavy when wet).
Back home, dry out slowly in room temp, store in room temp, loosely rolled up but ideally on a flat. If kept on a floor, use one of those anti slide mats you have under an area rug on a wooden floor.

This because you can easily get condensation under the pelt, which will make the hairs fall out more.

I got the above info from a Swedish (Sami) company that specializes in tanning/ curing reindeer hides.
http://gealtan.se/produkter/renskinn.html

 

[Sundowner]

Just watched a video where a nice young girl advocates NOT to buy hides from tourist shops but from people who only scraped and sundried the pelts. She proves this by grapping a few fingers of fur and pulls quite hard and no fur comes away

 

[Janne]

Those need to be dried very carefully after each outing.
Or they rot.
Better to buy a properly treated hide.
Somebody like the company in my previous post, or from a reputable shop.

 

[Tengu]

An uncured pelt would only be practical in constant subzero or at least very cold, dry conditions, yes?

 

[Sundowner]

Just like Janne said, it'd probably rot when wet. But, if you sit at the source????

 

[Sundowner]

I've got mine of flea bay, cheapish!! I guess I just use it and see what will happen. Sure, if i can help prolong its life, I would!! Seems you need a degree in reindeer hide science though. Thank you for all the pointers. Much appreciated and quite an interesting subject

 

[Janne]

You can impregnate (‘waterproof’) the leather side using one of those sprays made for that soft, matt leather used in shoes.
( what do you call it in english - chamois?

The Sami I knew, all used cured skins that were fat infused.

 

[Mr Morris777]

I have put some Neatsfoot oil applied with a brush on the skin side of my pelts. Just more wheatherproof in damp conditions and I found mine getting very very dry.
Hope that helps.