Brain Tan # 2

Red Badger · September 01, 2009, 04:46:27 PM

Ok the weather is supposed to be cool for a week so I am off to try this again! got my hide soaking to loosen up again after storing in a plastic bag full of salt... Now am going to soak it in wood ash for a day or to until it is ready...

Pictures to follow....

Micanopy · September 01, 2009, 11:20:04 PM

We know you'll do good on it. STIR IT EVERY DAY AT LEAST TWICE A DAY!

Red Badger · September 02, 2009, 04:59:39 PM

Stirred it twice yesterday and once already today....

how long should it take in Hardwood (Blackjack Oak) ash? I look at the hide just before I stir to see if the hair is ready.. I know if would have been faster to use lime but I'm broke after getting the bucking bench material...(Been a hard month and this one doesn't look to be any better...) and i have all this blackjack here and thought would a trapper out in the woods always have lime...

Micanopy · September 02, 2009, 08:55:57 PM

In this heat brother it should start slippin rather quickly, maybeso two, three days. Check it by just pulling on some hairs or rubbing your hand against the hair. I know what ya mean about having a hard month, I have been having 30 of them, LOL! Ouch, kinda sucky. But we survive. Lime is good, hard wood ash is good, either work. Lota people use lime simply because it tends to be cleaner to work with, no black chunks. The ash will break down the glysogens quickly I would think.

Red Badger · September 03, 2009, 03:46:16 AM

We are getting lucky... High here in Tulsa has only been 80 for the last week and forecasted to continue thru the weekend.... Mornings are running 50-60 so it has been a good time to start this...

Hair are just starting to slip... picked it up tonight by a hunk of hair and got a dozen or so in my hand when it pulled loose... got the bucking station set up and will try tomorrow morning and see if I can get anyplace...

Micanopy · September 03, 2009, 01:29:11 PM

Take your time, make sure you get every bit of grain off the hide. I will resoak the hide after about 10 minutes of graining so it stays plump and the dull edge grabs better.

Red Badger · September 03, 2009, 02:14:03 PM

Will do, Do I use fresh clean water to resoak or put it back in the ash solution? or does it matter as long as i keep it wet and plump

Micanopy · September 03, 2009, 09:24:20 PM

I just drop it back in the ash solution, handy enough.

Red Badger · September 04, 2009, 03:47:55 AM

Ok i'm sober again... kind of... went out today at 9:00 am and started this here project... by 3 pm I was drenched wit sweat, dehydrated, had consumed about 2/3 a bottle of Jack!, and have a reasonably clean skin hangin on the lattice work I decided to use as a stretching frame... I have rawhide now and will resoak it and tan it tomorrow if the rain doesn't come in... I'll post the pictures from todays event when I get a minute... probably tomorrow morning...

Micanopy · September 04, 2009, 12:27:58 PM

Super. after you brain it WRING WRING WRING>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Key to the whole thing. Wring it brain it wring it brain it, kinda like wax on wax off. I have had some good luck when it is a bit humid, slower drying time, but if it is to hunid it gets to be ho hum my work aint done!