I've soaked my buffalo hide fairly well clean of salt to start scraping. It's stretched but probably not as tight as it should be. I gotta construct another frame as the current one snapped a pole after a few days tension. Anyway, how will I know I've scraped it well enough to start braining it? Will be a consistent color, like rawhide or what? Inquiring minds and all that!
You'll be able to tell when there is no slickness to the grain side of the hide. Meaning all the grain is gone. For me it is easier to tell when the hide is wet by feel rather than seeing, but it will be obvious to you. Just picture in your mind a sueded piece of leather versus a nice slick side of leather.
This will be a hair-on tan job, so only the flesh side will be scraped.
Ok, then you will need to shave all the way down to the hair folicals. Dint get speedy, it takes a very long time to wet or dry scrape a buffalo. But the reward is at the end.
So what tools work best for scraping this thing. I've used a couple of different things but nothing has been too satisfactory.
Best scraper I have found is a blade from an ice fishing auger. They are sharp, hold an edge great, and have just the right shape to them for my tastes.
Voy
Ice fishing is not a big sport in North Texas. But thanks for the suggestion.
Try this site...
http://www.braintan.com/
they have just about everything you could need for tanning supplies
I've seen that site and their high dollar tools. I was hoping someone could suggest some alternatives or something I could put together from stuff around the house. Reckon I'll have to invent something myself.
Best thing going is a dry scraping tool from braintan.com, it'll save you many many hours of aggravation. I know this for true. Might cost some money right now but will save much much aggravation in the long run. Not an easy task by any means and the right tool will save you pains.
Of course you could use oyster shells to do it, but you'll wish you hadnt.
Here is a link to fur scrapers,you can do it primitive but these will do a great job in less time. Most of us do not have the time the Native Americans had to do tanning. I have found this company to be very reliable and they also sell tanned furs which some of use in our hobby. http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Fur+Handling/Fleshing/Fleshing+Knives/
http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Fur+Handling/Fleshing/Fleshing+Tools/
They have a fantastic catalog so request it if you order something. ET thmbsup
Thanks Ed,
Another nice site to add to my collection of Wish lists for Christmas.
Well, I ended up building a tool for scraping. I used my old Stanley prybar, which needed replacing anyway. I ground down the angle end and shaped it to where it didn't have any sharp corners. Ground it down to where it could be sharpened then filed it sharp with a triangle file. Works like a dream on the ole buffalo. One problem I've noticed with the hide itself though. The actual hide came from a spring slaughtered calf. In some areas, the skin is very thin and the individual who skinned it made a whole bunch of cuts that are wanting to make holes at the slightest touch.
Use a sharpened tablespoon....
Hold it with your thumb in the bowl...sharpen the outside edge on a belt sander....DON'T remove the burr...
Ta Da !!
Try it, you'll like it...