Hide Furs
Hide Furs
Tanning a Deer Hide (fur on) without harsh chemicals possible?
I have a deer hide that I'm in the process of tanning (with FUR ON). I've never done this before, and found it senseless to waste the hide. I'm also cheap and stubborn, and also feel it's my responsibility to process the deer myself and not send it out to be tanned (and butchered...). But from reading alot of material, it seems that there aren't any methods of cleaning without using harsh chemicals, such as alum, turpentine, lime, glutaraldehyde, gasoline, and others. Is there any other way to clean/degrease/neutralize this hide without these nasty things? Presently, the hide has been fleshed and salted. Thanks!
As I begin typing, the "SPAM guy" is already gone!
Now where were we? Oh yes. Besides the brain method of tanning, which actually doesn't work very well, is the resins method actually used by most American Indians. They would build a smouldery fire with dried twigs containing resins, and suspend the hide over it like a small tent. The resins would vaporize and get into the leather. The actual purpose of this was to dilute the glue-like substances in rawhide with something which would prevent them from hardening. The smoky smell would easily mostly rinse off, and then double as insect repellent. Modern chemicals like Chromic acid used by most furriers, or dilute battery acid used by woods people after the oils have been dissolved out by gasoline (which really isn't harsh once it is all evaporated) which would prevent penetration of the acid, chemically destroy the glue. After the acids, a baking or laundry soda rinse is mandatory to neutralize the acid. Personally, I plan to experiment when I get around to it, with using a second gasoline soak, containing a bunch of the resins we spoke of, and see if Manzanita resin works, as I have access to some. Whichever process you decide on, expect to screw up the first few attempts, getting it right. Regards, Larry.
H and H Fur Dressing - Tannery Tour
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tanned grey fox furTags: hide, house:decoration, medieval, saxon, thingsiwant