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RE-Dressing coon and mink hide?

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BowEd:
It really is in my book.I'm close to 65 years old and it still is'nt anything to complain about.

Morgan:

--- Quote from: ksnow on September 19, 2018, 05:29:57 am ---I id a few black squirrels with neatsfoot oil years ago. They turned out beautifully soft and white. I found the key was to keep them VERY stretched, almost to the point of breaking. I also worked them past the point where they felt dry to the touch. After a few unsuccessful braintan attempts, I feel the stretching while drying is vital. And they have to be dry when you are done.

It wouldn't hurt to redress, just rebreak them again also.

Kyle

Oh, I'd rather use eggs or oil. Cooking brains turns my stomach.


--- End quote ---

Kyle, my dad tanned a muskrat with neetsfoot oil when I was little and it was very soft and supple. It laid across the back of our living room chair the whole time I was growing up and was in good shape last time I saw it. I don’t know how he tanned it, just know he said he tanned it with neetsfoot and learned the process in a trapping magazine. I would love to know the process you went through on your skins.

BowEd:
Years ago I saw articles in magazines like Field & Stream/Outdoor Life etc. showing certain tanning procedures.I would like to see the results myself too and the whole process using neats foot oil and water alone.I've used neats foot oil in very small amounts as it is expensive to help soften aluminum sulfate tanned hides before while stretching and working as it will emulsify and mix with water with the water evaporating and leaving the neats foot oil in the leather.
Tanning like many things done the simple way does'nt always mean easy but with experience becomes easier.

Zuma:

--- Quote from: BowEd on September 22, 2018, 09:51:46 am ---It really is in my book.I'm close to 65 years old and it still is'nt anything to complain about.

--- End quote ---
Not to put you on the spot but how long do you think it should take to dress a coon
by hand? And is brain tanning actually brain dressing, even if smoked.  (=) (R

I tried smoking a mink hide once. It took me a month and thirty packs of cigarette
papers. >:D )-w(
Thanks Ed

BowEd:
I like your humor Zuma...Good one!!!I got lucky and quit those cigs years ago.Feel better on account of it.You can rig up your own method of smoking the way you want to do it.
But seriously I've always called a hide that is just only brain tanned being dressed.Smoking is just part of it to keep it resilient to get soft again with just a little scuffing after drying from being wet and to keep bugs away from it also.
If your going to use brains to dress your coon hide I would apply it pretty warm to it.Anything else you'll use also.Leaving the brains on overnight with it rolled up.In a plastic bag is best.
Next day I'd check to see if any stiff spots are there yet not loosened up like the neck mainly.The thickest part.If not loose apply more with more water warm again.The thicker places will be the toughest to get started stretching but they will.
Time wise of completion is pretty self explanatory I think and is determined by how long you work it out in the open air.It can easily be done in a day but not totally necessary.Like I said earlier if you want to take a break put it in a plastic bag twisted shut and get to it later.I would'nt let it sit around for a week though.

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