Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Pat B on October 14, 2019, 09:36:08 pm
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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? (=)
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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
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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.
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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
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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?
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Pat,
just use your tanning stake or a rope, like you are finishing a hide.
Hawkdancer
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Never done one Jerry. ???
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You can round off a stump or post top, smooth it up and start stretching, or round off about 14-18" of then of a 2x4 and clamp it to your work bench and go for it. I have both, but bolted a vise onto the workbench, now I got to find another place to clamp the stretching stake! (lol)
Jerry
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pat, unless you are going to use it soon I'd just hang it outside for awhile.
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I've been keeping them on a cloths line in the unheated portion of the attic where it's hot in the summer and cold in the winter but good air flow.
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I hang stinky clothes from a ceiling fan blade under my covered deck, shirts just back from a big indoor fish fry and such. It surprises me how everything smells like fresh washed sheets that have been dried on a clothesline in a few days. I think the night air with about 100% humidity absorbs the stink and releases it when the item dries during the day.
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Pat have you tried something like febreze? Ed
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Ed, I haven't but I have thought about it. Will it work without affecting the leather?
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Ed, I haven't but I have thought about it. Will it work without affecting the leather?
Pat I have never tried it, sorry I don’t know if it will affect leather. I like the smoke smell in my quiver, for cover up. Wife likes it in the house too, lol. Ed
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I got a bow one time from a guy who was a heavy smoker, no amount of washing could remove that putrid stale smoke smell, it was imbedded in the finish. I had to strip the finish off and refinish it to stand to be around the bow.
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Pat if they are smoked good it won't take a lot to get the soft again, just dry them a bit after washing and stretch them across your lap, pulling in all directions.That is what the smoke does, water prof to a certain extent where when they get wet they don't dry stiff, UN smoked ,they will dry stiff if they get wet but the creosote in the smoke gets between the fibers and keep them from binding back together. Some think you smoke for color but the main reason is to water prof.
Pappy
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Thanks, Pappy.
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I smell your pain Pat..haha.. I just smoked 2 hides and whoa.... its strong... I wonder if those odor eliminating bags put in a garbage bag would help... I got them at the shop till daughter leaves ..haha.. I like it but seems she doesnt...
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For softening: I've wondered if you could tumble them for a few hours in a no-heat dryer with a few old shoes or a bunch of those wool dryer balls. Would that work?
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Can't resist! Nah! They come out smelling like old shoes! Maybe throw in a fabric softener. Sheet or two might work. I prefer the smoke smell myself! But I'm young and set in my ways >:D (lol)! Neat thread, though!
Hawkdancer
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personally I like the smell... 2 weeks in warehouse and they have lost the strong odor but smoke smell remains... I'm gonna just let them be.. got to smoke a few more soon... going to warehouse for a few weeks.. haha.... gut
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I've kept the hides in the vented section of our attic since I posted this. I checked them the other day and the smell has decreased. I don't mind the smell per se but Marcia doesn't want it in the house. I'll give them a bit longer and see what happens.