Author Topic: Solution strength for bark tanning  (Read 5258 times)

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Offline WhistlingBadger

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Solution strength for bark tanning
« on: September 28, 2023, 09:46:20 pm »
OK, guys, I'm frustrated.  Everybody on the net says don't make your tannin solution too weak or too strong.  Everybody says use a hydrometer (or something called a barkometer, which is a hydrometer that costs three times as much).  I have a normal hydrometer, so I'm using that.  But nobody will tell me what the specific gravity/hydrometer reading should be. 

I found one site that said that your best overall bet is to keep the solution around 10 barkometers.  Another site said, if I understand correctly, that that should be about 1.01 on a normal hydrometer.  But it seems like no matter how much chestnut tannin I add, the SG doesn't change.  Does anybody know?  How the heck to you know if your solution is too weak or too strong?  If somebody else tells me to use trial and error, I'm going to say to heck with it.  I get one elk skin to work with every few years, to trial and error isn't a great option.  And if anybody else tells me to start weak and gradually make it stronger, with no guidance on what exactly that means, I might become irrational.   :o :o :o

Can anybody tell me how the heck to do this?
Thomas
Lander, Wyoming
"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.
Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for."
~Louis L'Amour

Offline Pappy

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Re: Solution strength for bark tanning
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2023, 07:05:17 am »
Wished I could help, I always use brains, simple 1 brain 1 hide. Good luck , maybe someone in the know will chime in. :)
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good

Offline GlisGlis

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Re: Solution strength for bark tanning
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2023, 06:51:47 am »
I have not tried yet so cant give you advices but if you havent already done check both skillcult blog and youtube channel.
Plenty of useful information there for bark tanning

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Solution strength for bark tanning
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2023, 10:12:53 am »
Clay Hays just put a bark tanning video on his youtube channel, he doesn't mention the strength of the solution.