Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

Help tanning please.

<< < (3/4) > >>

aaron:
Like steve said, you can just start with rebraining those. When I had similar problems,  the hides came out awesome the second time around.
How did the color get so splotchy? Did you sew them into a bag and attach a fabric skirt, then suspend over a smouldering punk with a pipe to direct the smoke?

Scottski:
No I put them together over a tripod I made and wrapped a tarp over them to keep the smoke in. Left them in a little too long I left a hole in top so the smoke could flow out. I tried to do two and cut corners. Lesson learned!!!! 1 AT A TIME AND PUT IN ALL THE WORK NEEDED NO CUTTING CORNERS! Will not make that mistake again.

swamp monkey:
Scott,

We have ALL walked the short cut path.  No stones coming from the direction of my swamp!  Best of luck buddy.

Swamp monkey

Pappy:
Also remember when you are doing the final smoke, they need to be dry and no heat from the fire, just smoke ,if you get heat it will cook it not smoke it. :) You can probably rehydrate them and the work until they are dry and smoke again if they weren't just wet rawhide when you smoked them the first time , if they were they probably will never soften up. I always make sure they are soft and dry before I smoke, the some does nothing for that, all the smoke is for is to keep it from drying hard if it gets wet again and maybe keep the bugs out. If you don't smoke it and it gets wet you will have to pull and stretch it until it dries or it will dry hard. Smoking stop's  that, it's a learning curve but as you are doing, the only way to learn is to do it.  :) Lots of work but a big reward when you get your first soft hide. :)
  Pappy

madcrow:
I have done three at a time before but had to work up to it.   I frame them and use a paddle.  15 minutes each and then a 15 minute break.  When you think the hide is dry, wad it up in a large ziploc and freeze it.  If there is any mousture in it, those spots will freeze.  Then you work those spots and freeze it.  Dry buckskin doesnt freeze hard, it just gets cold.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page