I've been trying to tan a bison hide using the Alum tan method. We cleaned it & tanned it for about 3 weeks. For the most part the fur staying very well. We worked it a bit - including running over the hide in a car, but its still very stiff. We have put some oil into it.
I am hoping to cut it up into smaller pieces to make into rather rough vests for some young nephews.
The hide is quite large (no surprise - its a bison!) and is hard to deal with.
Any suggestions.
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But with animals this big, driving over them with a car is not the answer. Sending them out to be professionally tanned IS. Especially when a soft garment tan is your desire. The hide MUST be "broken" in order to be usable and you don't have the equipment to do that on an animal this size obviously. Send it to the tannery and have it tanned.
it needs to be shaved very thin for it to be soft. Cleaning the hide very well isn't going to cut it. I tan deer and smaller but I will not attempt a bison. Send it out. WAAAY to much work involved especially without the right equipment.
If it is a garment tan, It should have been done with chrome, NOT alum! Joe
My most recent buffalo tanning was done in a freezing garage. I watched the ph constantly and shaved the many square foots of hide every two-three days: being in the pickel about 20 days and Tan about 3 days. Total shavinig was about 7-9 times.... 5-6 times in the pickel and 2-3 times in the tan...any more would been cause for wife to divorce...(much time consumed and sweat)
I used RITTLES products and really liked the OIL. I applied the OIL with a WIRE BRUSH...using only the slightest amount to where no "over OILING" was noticed. The hide was nailed out and WIRED BRUSHED every day and covered with a tarp. OILING took place about 5-6 times or (oiling was every third bruching).....3-4 times on the sides and 5-6 times on the 'backside'in about 20 days.
Final wire bruchings were with TALAC. This took out any excess oil and reallyy fluffed up the hide. Also brought out the nice white color.
Did I drive the family car over it? NO, and no actual breaking took place. Had I wanted VEST Quality i may have beemed the hide softer, but i am very satisfied with the results this method achieved.
I bet you are proud of your hard work. I commend you on the patience and determination. That sounds too cool for school! LOL! I have alot of patience but not that much! Geez!
I think you could still nail out the hide and wire brush oil into the hide. Do this several times. I have TALAC for you if you need some.
PS: Please watch out for the nail heads, ie., (nuckle biters) and avoid getting your blood on the hide. Clean out the wire brush of hair and oil when needed.
You could oil heavy the first time or two and get the hide softened up (use hot oil) and shave it several times doing the best you can. Then nail out and oil and wire brush several times.
The talac will do its magic too on the final 'coat'.
Thank you all for your responses. You are right, I didn't want to hear how much work it will likely take. What is "TALAC", I can not find it as spelled anyway in my web searching efforts....