Author Topic: hydrated lime?  (Read 20348 times)

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Offline deersled

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hydrated lime?
« on: February 09, 2009, 01:43:37 am »
What is it? First attempt at tanning a deer hide. Got the book....can't find lye...or potassium hydroxide. I'm not sure if hydrated lime is something in concrete mix or regular powdered garden lime. Can you get it at a home depot or lowes? No one seems to know what "hydrated lime" is?

Offline Pat B

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2009, 10:45:25 am »
Hardwood ash and water will do the same, I believe.
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Offline DanaM

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2009, 11:36:14 am »
Everything ya ever wanted to know about hydrated lime :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_hydroxide

Check with your local water treatment plant, if it is a softening plant they will have tons of the stuff
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Offline JackCrafty

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2009, 12:15:32 pm »
The kind of hydrated lime that I use is the garden (soil additive) variety.  I got mine from ace hardware.  I mix about a pound of it in a 15 gallon bin with about 10 gallons of water.  I wash the hide with dish soap and then throw it into the lime/water mix with a little bleach (to keep down the bacteria).  It takes a couple days for it to work but I've left it up to a week in the solution in order to be sure the lime reaches all parts of the hide.  Stirring every day helps a lot.  Try pulling on the hair to see if its slipping.  When it comes off REALLY easy, it's ready to be scraped.
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

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Dave Dellinger

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2009, 10:15:54 pm »
I used pickling lime from the grocery store.

Offline deersled

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2009, 06:44:36 pm »
finally found sound hydrated lime. the book i got says 2# for 10 gallons of water. did that. Should I put something on it to totally submerge the hide?

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2009, 07:02:46 pm »
Yep, put a rock on it if you like....but you'll have to remove the rock when you stir it, and then replace it.  Makes the whole thing a little messier.

I don't submerge the hides, personally.  I just make sure they are well stirred.

What book are you reading?
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline jamie

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2009, 11:52:16 pm »
wood ash is a tough mix, lime cant be screwed up because the water will only absorb so much . just check and stir daily
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Offline El Destructo

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2009, 12:57:23 am »
I used pickling lime from the grocery store.

                              Ditto that....I have been saying for years....this works better....because it dissolves better
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Offline deersled

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2009, 06:31:54 am »
"deerskins to buckskins" by Matt Richards. alright then, got it soaking and totally submerged. let yall know what happens.

Offline deersled

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2009, 12:21:21 pm »
the lime worked great. soaked in a mild vinegar solution for a day. finally got it in the egg solution. wringed it out good and egged it some more. spent yesterday hand stretching until dry. don't think I got the whole thing completely dry. today it is the consistency of paper. not real stiff, but not really soft. can I sand it lightly and re-egg it? probably need to build a frame to stretch and dry it in. that hand stretching takes FOREVER. what cha think?

Offline El Destructo

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2009, 12:32:36 pm »
Do You have a good Vise mounted?? If so....clamp You a Piece of Wood in it....and Pull the Hide across it to soften it up well....Probably doesn't need to be egged again....and if this doesn't soften it...you can always re-egg it.....But I bet the Stretching across the Board will do it for you....then you have to Smoke it to really get it soft...
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Offline deersled

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2009, 02:55:57 pm »
ok. I'll try that first. I've heard people refer to "breaking" a hide? I guess that's kind of what you're talking about. thanks

Offline El Destructo

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2009, 03:13:41 pm »
Thats exactly what it does....and you will be surprised how soft it will make it....
As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another.Why do you think we invented politics and religion.
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Offline deersled

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Re: hydrated lime?
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2009, 11:31:29 pm »
will a metal cable do the same thing?