Buffalo hide?

[Bulldog lady]

None of us was poking fun, all just heard it was above and beyond the average "just to say I did it project", I been there eg, rough buff horns, nothin to a buff hide!!! and there is a sense of accomnplishment when "I, Me, Myself , did it" ,  we all wish you God Speed and pass the elbow grease,  please take all the humor in the sense it was intended. You got the makins of a true Mt. Man,  spend pics please!

[jeco76]

I know there are a lot of people on here that have tons of usefully knowledge. That's why I look on here and ask a question every now and then. And I usually don't take things the wrong way. I had a really bad day then. And after reading some of the tutorials on brain tanning a buffalo hide. Doing two hides at a time is a lot of work. Like all of you guys and gals said. Not that I didn't believe you all. I am hard head and like to do things people say are hard to do just to prove a point. So on that note I would like to ask How long can you keep a buffalo hide that is salted? I would still like to get two buffalo hides cause of the price.

[William]

If it's wrapped properly and stored in your freezer it will keep for years in that state.  Micanopy for one, would be able to tell you exactly how that is done (hey, I made a rhyme!  ) If the price is that good and you can afford two of them but don't want to tan it yourself, then start looking around and budgeting to have them commercially tanned.  If there aren't any tanneries in your area then talk to local taxidermists.  You might want to think about having one hide done with the hair on and the other without, because there are endless uses for leather no matter what animal it came from.  Using the hair on hide as the first layer of your bedroll is a good idea, then top it with one or two wool blankets depending on the weather.  Wool blankets are a lot easier to roll up and carry than a buff robe, but in this case I'd be willing to do the extra work once it's all said and done.  Keep us informed and good luck with whatever you choose.

[crazell]

i had mine done by the local tannery. i'm very pleased!! my wife and i both do rondy's.. she's always cold . but not when she has that on her bed, i get the blankets.. i'm always hot.. we're looking to get another one later this year.. best thing to keep warm(besides a fire).. take the time to check around. it's worth the money or the time.

[Red Badger]

i had mine done by the local tannery. i'm very pleased!! my wife and i both do rondy's.. she's always cold ....

Is she related to my wife?    I'll see you guys in a month or so after I get out of the doghouse....

[ErikPrice1@msn.com]

I'm suppose to help butcher a couple buffs after I get back to oregon. They are going to give me some meat, the hides and the heads. So it looks like I will be doing the same thing.

[Hawken50]

  Mover over bulldogs the Badgers movin in.Man,too bad ya'll couldnt hear that.,...sounded jest like old Hank.lol

[jeco76]

Well I decided to get two buff hides, one moose and an elk all for under 300. I was talking to my kids last night and was explaining how the tanning process works and all 6 out of 8 kids want to help scrap and work the hides. Then after showing different pics on the internet of what you can make with the finished product they all put in orders for things they want me to make them. lol My oldest who is 9 wants a buffalo hide rug for her room to lay on.

[Micanopy]

If you are going to robe these hides be prepared for the work out of your life. It is a labor of love.
Get the hide as thin as you can by shaving the flesh side down over and over and over. For the hides to come out soft enough to use as robes you will need to shave down to the hair folicals. Be very careful and dont cut the hide, just keep shaving and shaving until they are thin.
You can brain tan them if you strtch them in a very large frame, lace it in good. Mix your brains and rub them into the hide, does this several times until the hide has absorbed all it can. Tighten the lacing so the hide is tight.
Now take a gardners shovel and start breaking down the hide up and down, back and forth, up and down, back and forth. You will need to keep doing this over and over and usually takes about 36 hours give or take. If it is hot and dry the hide will dry quickly, if it dries to quickly you can rub in some more brains and keep working. If it is humid and hot it may take longer than that. Keep tightening the lacing as it gets loose.
Once the hide is dry and soft tighten up the lacing and pumice stone the hide. Then brush out the hair side.
It is possible to do half hides at a time, easier to handle but harder to sew back up the middle.
Historically robes were made from younger cow calves, or younger bull calves, in the buffalo world calves are less than 2 years old, bigger bulls were used for rawhides, older cows were brain tanned for tipi covers.
When wet the hides will usually weigh in over 100 pounds so build an A frame for hoisting.
Fleshing has more than likely already been done since it is being shipped dried already, soak the hide back to soften it in water with salt added and let it get pliable. Hoist it out of the bath and lay it over your fleshing board, using a sharp knife start shaving it down ti an even thickness all the way thru the hide.

[Micanopy]

Continued......
Shave careful as stated above. You need to work quickly as life begins at 40. Meaning that bacteria starts to grow and will start making the hair slip rather quckly, if you have an air conditioned room to work in so much the better. Once you have the hide the same thickness all the way thru it is ready to tan.

You asked about the easiest way, brain tan has been described in my last reply, much harder than LuTanF, vandykes Taxidermy Supply seels a couple of kits. Follow the directions for pickling and tanning. They advise against trying to home tan one, dont listen to them, you can do this but you have to bust yer ass to do it. I dont do them anymore because it kills me. Commercially they use tumblers that are as large as 12 feet in diameter mixed with sawdust and chunks of hard wood and tumbled after they are oiled and dry to a light dampness.
At home you can try this, either one works:
1-make a large frame and lace the hide in, use the gardners shovel and finish like I wrote above about brain tanning.
2-take 2 sheets of plywood and join the together with a 2x4, nail it in well. Now take the damp hide and stretch it out on the boards nailing it in and stretching the heck out of it. I mean TIGHT! lean it against the side of your house leanto fashion. Skin side to the house. As it starts to dry work it continuesly with the gardners shovel until it is dry. Finish it with a pumice stone.
Best of luck.

[Micanopy]

I know there are a lot of people on here that have tons of usefully knowledge. That's why I look on here and ask a question every now and then. And I usually don't take things the wrong way. I had a really bad day then. And after reading some of the tutorials on brain tanning a buffalo hide. Doing two hides at a time is a lot of work. Like all of you guys and gals said. Not that I didn't believe you all. I am hard head and like to do things people say are hard to do just to prove a point. So on that note I would like to ask How long can you keep a buffalo hide that is salted? I would still like to get two buffalo hides cause of the price.

As long as the hide is salted and dried, and stays dry it can last a couple years if kept insect,mouse and rat free. Bugs will reak havoc on it if it gets damp. If you are going to freeze the hides they have to be soaked back until all the salt is out of them, otherwise they wont freeze right and the hair will fall out. I have three of them that have been salted for four years now and they are fine. Just waiting to find the right tannery.

[jeco76]

Thanks that is a lot of info you just wrote. I printed a bunch of stuff about brain tanning buffalo hides off of other sites. I'm all excited can't wait to get started my cause are excited cause they have been learning about Native Americans in school. Then come home and found out that I'm going to be tanning hides here soon and making stuff out of them. So now they want me to show them how. I told them sure but you don't know what your getting yourselves into. My childern know that I won't let them quit till the job is finished.  

[ErikPrice1@msn.com]

 Jeco you have reminded me of what the american spirit is all about. You have also inspired me to give it a try when I get back to oregon. I may be calling on you for advise. Great to get the kids involved . Alot of this stuff is getting lost in the age of tech.

[William]

Well I decided to get two buff hides, one moose and an elk all for under 300. I was talking to my kids last night and was explaining how the tanning process works and all 6 out of 8 kids want to help scrap and work the hides. Then after showing different pics on the internet of what you can make with the finished product they all put in orders for things they want me to make them. lol My oldest who is 9 wants a buffalo hide rug for her room to lay on.

Might I suggest that you get a hair on sheepskin or two in the interim to make the basis of your bedrolls?  Not nearly as large as buff they are quite warm.

[crazell]

hello william. do you know wear to get a sheepskin fairly cheap?