Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

"Brain" tanning a dog chew

(1/3) > >>

DC:
I have a piece of dog chew rawhide that's been kicking around for a couple of years. It's a bit less than 1/16" thick and bone dry. It's too short for a backing so I thought I might try "brain" tanning it for handle wraps. I've heard that I can use eggs or mayo cause I don't have any brains(I'll leave that open for comments :D) Do you think it would work or is it too thick? Should I leave it dry before I smear whatever on it or should I soak it in water first to soften it a bit. Any other things I should be concerned with?

lebhuntfish:
Interesting idea,  I'll leave the instructions to the more experienced guy's. Ill be watching this one.

Patrick 

Zuma:
LOL at first I just saw "tanning a dog" I will post a photo I just recently digitalized.
Your question is interesting and I wonder how it would apply to some of my more crinkly
recent hide preps with eggs and lectithin soy oil granules.
I don't see why soaking them again with oil or eggs should do any harm. Not sure about
if it would help loosen them up or not. I haven't tried brains yet but if I do another hide it
wiil be brains. Yuck and Yep Buttercup as Bob calls me. lol Any old road kill should suit
your purpose for brains though DC. 
Zuma
Oh btw back in the day in NJ a friend bought a house and there was a cool St. Bernard
rug in the attic. He put it in front of his coffee table head and all.

Hawkdancer:
Like Patrick, the more experienced tanner should speak, but I would think the "brains" solution would absorbed better by a more flexible " hide".  Keep us posted, and show a "tan a long"!  I think you want to make sure it doesn't have any lye left in it.
Hawkdancer

Pat B:
I think you have to hydrate the rawhide first.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page