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Author Topic: How do you braintan with the fur on?  (Read 5476 times)

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Offline WolfPupTee

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How do you braintan with the fur on?
« on: April 10, 2012, 12:13:43 am »
1) Is it okay to get the brain solution on the fur?
2) Do you still stretch and wring the hide?

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Offline hatcha

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2012, 03:18:26 pm »
Not sure but it might be handier to work the brain into the flesh side of the hide, keeping it away from the hair side.  I don't have access to brains here in Ireland but I've thought about doing that with egg & water.  I personally wouldn't want the job of trying to brush out all the bits of brain for weeks and weeks afterwards  ;D :P

Stretching?  I'd say sure.  Wringing might have an affect with some of the hair.  Worth a shot to see what happens though.
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Offline WolfPupTee

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2012, 12:39:03 pm »
That's what I'm thinking hatcha. I just want to know the best way to keep the brain from thee fur side and how I would go about letting it sit overnight.
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Offline PaulLovesJamie

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2012, 05:16:36 pm »
Quote from: hatcha on April 10, 2012, 03:18:26 pm
I don't have access to brains here in Ireland

Ok, thats funny!    :laugh:  :laugh:
Yes I know what you meant, but its still funny  :laugh:
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Offline PaulLovesJamie

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2012, 05:25:20 pm »
You definitely want to work the brain (or egg) into the flesh side, not the fur side. Not a problem if you get it into the fur though, it washes out.

Yes you still need to work the hide to break the fibers, otherwise the finished product will be stiff.  The process is not really that much different tanning with the fur on vs off.
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Offline arthur_the_great

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2012, 03:07:01 pm »
what do you mean egg? can you tan a hide with egg or something? ??? ???
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Offline hatcha

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2012, 05:26:58 pm »
Quote from: arthur_the_great on April 22, 2012, 03:07:01 pm
what do you mean egg? can you tan a hide with egg or something? ??? ???

Yup.  Beat a dozen eggs in some water - it homogenises the enzymes/proteins and the water helps to "carry" them into the hide where they do their work.

Check out "Deerskins to Buckskins" by Matt Richards - a good instructional book/dvd set that covers all areas of working a hide.

Don't forget pictures whan you've done it!! :)
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Offline WolfPupTee

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2012, 01:06:15 pm »
Thanks for the info guys!
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Offline aaron

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2012, 11:04:31 pm »
here's what i do:
lay the scraped hide fur side down
apply brain or egg mixture to the flesh side
cover with a towel which is wet with the solution
leave overnight
squeegee off any excess solution, possibly repeat
i soften on a "staker"- it's a wooden stake set in the ground vertically with the tip at waist level- the tip has the look of a rounded chisel.
I use eggs and olive oil, lately.
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Offline WolfPupTee

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2012, 11:00:04 am »
aaron, a towel! That's the idea that I was missing. I was thinking put the solution on and cover with something... lol thanks.  Couldn't quite think of towel.  ::)
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Offline WolfPupTee

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Re: How do you braintan with the fur on?
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2012, 11:03:29 am »
When you use the egg and olive oil, how much oil do you use with respect to the eggs?
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