Brain Tanning Questions...?

[richardhperry]

Howdy,


I know this is a professional taxidermists' site, but I've read some pretty knowledgeable info spanning the scope of tanning on the forum here. So I thought I'd ask a couple of questions.

I am brain tanning a bunch (20) white tail deer hides in the primitive/traditional hair-on manner using pig brains and smoke. They are coming out suede soft to the touch on the flesh side, but stiff almost like raw hide on the hair side. HELP! !

I fleshed them, then put them in heated pureed pig brain solution overnight. Then air dried them and worked them as they dried. They feel very supple right up until they are actually dry and then they just start getting hard on me. I've only smoked one so far and it turned a pretty gold but maintained the same stiff texture.


Questions:

1) Do I need to reapply brain solution and try again?

2) Also, I'm doing some white tail hides hair-off buckskin style. I'm using hardwood ash. How much ash do I need per gallon, and how many days should I soak the hides.

Thanks VERY MUCH! and Happy Holidays!

PS, I am doing this method because I am writing and directing a short film set in the Late Neolithic and these are hopefully for costumes and props... This whole experience is informative to my film. Thanks again!

[msbraintan]

Smoke, rebrain, resoften.

[richardhperry]

Thanks msbraintan! So it's ok to smoke them before I rebrain, and resoften?

I read somewhere that smoking 'seals them and ends the tanning process'? There is so much contrary info out there.

[cyclone]

http://www.amazon.com/Deerskins-Into-Buckskins-Materials-Gatherers/dp/0965867242

[Plowboy]

Which side are you working while the hide is in the rack?  I not an expert by any means but it sounds like one of two things.
1) Hide is not being worked till completly dry causing it to have hard spots.  3) The epidermal layer hasn't beem completly removed.

I soak my hides in brain for 15 Minutes then wring them out (wring almost to the point where you think it will break).  Then i stretch and pull on them for a bit anf throw them back in the brain for 15 minutes and again wring them out.  Right after that string them up in a rack and work the entire hide with a hickory axe handle. Depending on the temp it may take all day to dry completly.  Usually i work the hide for 15 minutes or so then take a break for 10 and then work it again, continuing until  the hide is completly dry.  Once they are dry your good to go.  If you have hard spots re-brain and rework before you smoke them.

I try to get 8 or 10 done before i smoke them, that way i can make a day smokng hides.

hope this helps

Plowboy