Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

reducing smoke smell in brain tanned leather.

(1/5) > >>

Pat B:
A while back I got 2 brain tanned hides. The hides were smoked and the smoky smell is pretty intense. After I got the hides I hung them out on the cloths line for a few days, still smokey. I then hung them in the attic for the last few months, still pretty smokey. Any thoughts of how I can reduce the smoke smell. Can I wash the hides and with what? Hand or machine wash? Or is there another way to reduce the smoke smell?    (=)

Hawkdancer:
Pat,
You might try to rinse in clear water, if that doesn't do the trick, try a very mild solution of Ivory soap.  You will have to work them after they dry, though.  I understand the smoke sets the oils to allow the hide to stay soft.  The smoke also keeps critters from setting up a home in the hide, and apparently repels mosquitos and gnats, etc.
Hawkdancer

mullet:
Pat, I had to hang three pair of moccasins in my shop for about a month. I bought them when I was working in Canada. They were so strong I could smell them when I got off the elevator down the hall from my hotel room.

Pappy:
It will wear off after a while, I like the smell but Miss Joanie hates it. Also if you wash them you will need to stretch them a bit as they dry.
 Pappy

Pat B:
I don't mind a smoky smell but this is pretty intense. Like Miss Joanie, Marcia doesn't care for it.
 If I wash it how do I go about stretching it to soften it again?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page