now what ????

[captkody]

so someone brought he a deer hide today. was cured with salt so it is stiff as a board. my doggs think it's a chew toy.
i want to try to made a bag out of it. fur still on.
so i guess my question is how do i get it soft where it will bend and i can cut out the pattern.
i want to keep the fur on it when it is done
so now what?

[pilgrim]

don't know much about tanning, but have been in several tanneries that delt with sheep skins.  The hides were usually packed in salt when they got them.  After that they processed the hides in a solution bath then tumble dried them and then worked the leather on a wheel to soften the hide.  Is the hide cured or raw with salt to keep from spoiling?

[Rev]

Deer is hollow hair. Every one I have ever seen sheds...

[captkody]

the hide is cured

[Dogshirt]

Deer is hollow hair. Every one I have ever seen sheds...

And will contnue to shed until it's bald. And all that hair gets into everything!

[Red Badger]

Soak it in water rinse and repeat until you get the salt out of it, about 5 to 6 repititions.... scrape the hide until you can see the hair folicles then brain or egg tan the hide.  It will last a couple of years until the hairs fall out.

I personally would just scrape the fur off the hide and do a brain tan bag.  It will last for years and can be beaded or quilled for decoration.  Other skins work better for hair on applications

[captkody]

thanks a lot guys.
i cann't do anything with it untill i go to the woods
i will be moving the tin teepee on the 12th
bow season starts on the 17th

[stingerbob]

Hello,

I have been tanning for some time and while the hide may be preserved, you cannot do the same to the hair. It is about the hair itself which is hollow and the worst type to try and keep on the hide, it is more about the follicles that the hairs are planted in and grow from. If it was tanned and hung and never or hardly ever moved (like a mounted head) or rubbed on etc. it would have it's best chance (with luck) at staying on the hide.

You may consider putting a portion of it on the flap or something such as a design or ? Search on YouTube and there is a good variety of clips on skinning, preserving, tanning, de-hairing, making lye and tannin for tanning etc. ,even making tools on the subject. While easy, but long to explain it is best to see an example being done on film. There are also many books on the subject..

Best of luck,

Bob (Swift Beaver) Sepulveda
Ripon,Ca