Things to do with rawhide?

[Dunelm]

I've aquired a red deer rawhide, approximately 6 foot long by 4 foot across.

Now that I've got it I don't know what to do with it.

Will rawhide take dye and/or tooling like leather or is it too brittle and tough?

Any ideas on craft projects or items that can be fashioned from raw-hide greatly appreciated.

 

[big_swede]

The only thing I can think of is making a tight loop with a wet piece of raw-hide around someones head and place them in an ant hill. Make sure that the person is somebody you don't like. Might be illegal though.

Seriously, no ideas except a sail makers glove and chewing bones for the dog.

 

[jojo]

Well:

Needles cases
lamp shades
Knife sheaths
drum heads
bow strings
ropes
moccassins soles
bindings
parfleche cases :http://www.jasontylergallery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=22

Thin rawhide can be used to back bows.

I think I probably missed a few....

The stuff is too useful to give to the dogs

And if you fancy making a war chariot, you can bind the whole things together with rawhide.

Can also makes shields.

 

[Eric_Methven]

'Head em up, move em out'

Eric

 

[Buckshot]

Is it possible to tan raw hide and make into something like 'normal' leather?
Just wondering

Mark

 

[spamel]

Make yourself a bull whip, you should have it done in time for Indy 4 being released next year!

 

[Eric_Methven]

I've aquired a red deer rawhide, approximately 6 foot long by 4 foot across.

You should be able to make a couple of decent drums from that.

Eric

 

[sam_acw]

cut it into strips and use it as babiche lacing - like tradtional snowshoes, snowshoe furniture or pack frames.I'm jealous - your a lucky guy (the only green smiley!)

 

[Mike Ameling]

Rawhide is just that - the raw un-tanned hide. If you tan it, it becomes leather.

Other possible options:

Parchment - the traditional old stuff - usually made from raw sheep skin

Or use some as a cover for an old fashioned parchment book

(check out a book on early book/paper making to see how this was done)

Sew it up into a knife/axe sheath, wet it, and "mold" it around your knife/axe for a very close and tough fit

Window pane - allows in some light, but keeps out the weather

Lacing for a "caned" chair seat - much like lacing up traditional snowshoes

I also stitched a sheet of deer rawhide around the seat of a chair instead of weaving a seat from reed, hickory bark, or oak strips. It actually looks and works pretty good, but don't stretch it too tight when sewing it on as it will shrink while drying.

Stitch/sew/lace it around a light wood or cardboard box to make it stronger and more water resistant - like a cigar box.

Ditto around a goard or a glass bottle - to more safely carry it.

Just a few more humble ideas to consider.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
(who's done all of the above plus many more things with rawhide)