softening the hide

**4V50 Gary** · November 6, 2014, 10:35 AM

I brain tanned a squirrel and left the fur intact. How do I soften the hide? It's been scraped to remove the flesh/fat. Now it's hard like cardboard.

mete · November 6, 2014, 12:42 PM

In the old days they used to use the brains + water and the brains keaded in that .I guess the lanolin in the brains is what was wanted

Roaddog · November 7, 2014, 07:23 AM

Go to braintan.com they will tell ya all ya need to know.
It's the protien in the btains that do the job. You can use eggs will work too.

Pahoo · November 7, 2014, 10:19 AM

Gary,
Back in my BuckSkinner days, I did a couple of squirrels, rabbit and even a Badger. No, the Badger was not from Wisconsin. I used a kit, I believe from Dixie. Now, as a group, we did a number of Whitetails, using the old process. There is a series of six videos on U-Tube that takes you through the process. The young fellas in there, pretty much mirrors what we did. I'll try and get you the link. .....

Be Safe !!!

Barnacle Brad · November 7, 2014, 11:01 AM

You need to break the hide and apply some neets foot oil. You can make a tool or get one from Van Dykes to aid in the process. The idea is to stretch the fibers in the skin to allow oil to penetrate.

Here is a tool used for fleshing and breaking

It may help to soak the hide in plain water to get it into workable condition. Care must be taken when working your hide, due to the thinness of it, that you don't damage it.

Good luck...

Snyper · November 9, 2014, 07:36 PM

You could do like the Eskimos and chew it until it's soft

BerdanSS · November 15, 2014, 06:56 PM

Should a pelt be salted and left in cool weather if you cant get to fleshing it right away?

Roaddog · November 16, 2014, 08:28 AM

Yep salt role up not fold and pit it in the freezer. It should be canning salt not iozized.

November 6, 2014, 10:35 AM	#1
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	softening the hide I brain tanned a squirrel and left the fur intact. How do I soften the hide? It's been scraped to remove the flesh/fat. Now it's hard like cardboard. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 6, 2014, 12:42 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	In the old days they used to use the brains + water and the brains keaded in that .I guess the lanolin in the brains is what was wanted __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

November 7, 2014, 10:19 AM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Taking me back !!! Gary, Back in my BuckSkinner days, I did a couple of squirrels, rabbit and even a Badger. No, the Badger was not from Wisconsin. I used a kit, I believe from Dixie. Now, as a group, we did a number of Whitetails, using the old process. There is a series of six videos on U-Tube that takes you through the process. The young fellas in there, pretty much mirrors what we did. I'll try and get you the link. ..... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

November 7, 2014, 11:01 AM	#5
Barnacle Brad Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2009 Location: Greybull, Wyoming Posts: 416	You need to break the hide and apply some neets foot oil. You can make a tool or get one from Van Dykes to aid in the process. The idea is to stretch the fibers in the skin to allow oil to penetrate. Here is a tool used for fleshing and breaking It may help to soak the hide in plain water to get it into workable condition. Care must be taken when working your hide, due to the thinness of it, that you don't damage it. Good luck... __________________ Brad

November 9, 2014, 07:36 PM	#6
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	You could do like the Eskimos and chew it until it's soft __________________ One shot, one kill

November 7, 2014, 07:23 AM	#3
Roaddog Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2010 Location: East central Minnesota Posts: 202	Go to braintan.com they will tell ya all ya need to know. It's the protien in the btains that do the job. You can use eggs will work too.

November 15, 2014, 06:56 PM	#7
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Location: to close to other houses Posts: 1,176	Should a pelt be salted and left in cool weather if you cant get to fleshing it right away? __________________ One day, Men in tall hats will thump their chests and proclaim..."oh, what a great sea of mud we lived in"--The unalterable fate of billy creek .... "Smoke.....it's what's for dinner"

November 16, 2014, 08:28 AM	#8
Roaddog Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2010 Location: East central Minnesota Posts: 202	Yep salt role up not fold and pit it in the freezer. It should be canning salt not iozized.

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