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Do I need to dry the hide before tanning?

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jandersson:
Hey guys,
I have a deer hide that I'm working on that I have a question about. After I cleaned it I pickled it in a vinegar salt pickle, neutralized it and since I didn't have time to work on it I froze it again. This weekend I have some time and want to tan it but do I need to dry it completely before tanning it? For tanning I was gonna use a Neats foot oil mix.
Thanks!
Joakim

Zuma:
I'd hate to see you loose a hide.
I can't really help to much. perhaps other members can.
To late for the weekend.
There are lots of how to threads here. have you searched?
Zuma

Dakota Kid:
Neatsfoot oil is a leather dressing. I don't know if you can tan with it. If you can, I'm not familiar. If it is an oil it won't penetrate into a wet(h2O) hide. Oil and water, don't mix so well.

I assume you don't want to brain tan? I suggest you look up instructions on using ivory soap. The leather is almost white and really soft when your through. You can use egg yolk in place of brains but... the hide gets yellowish and it still needs to be smoked. You can find a local taxidermist if you decide to take the easier less primitive way. They will typically sell you enough chemical for a hide if you ask.

good luck

ps raw hide is an option if you think you may have to toss it. Use it for backing or trade it. It's a desirable commodity around here.

Pappy:
Not sure all I do is Brain tanning and am not familiar with the pickling you are doing. Maybe someone will chime in that chemical tans with an answer.  :)
 Pappy

loon:
Urine tanning? :p
Apparently that's what the Inuit do
I could only find an instructable on urine tanning salmon skins... said it had to be "clean" urine (??), maybe to avoid making the hide too smelly. Don't know if too strong urine would damage the hide or just make it very smelly. Seems to take a pretty long time to tan, sealed
What about wood ash tanning?

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