When making coat racks/book shelves out of deer feet do I need to cure them first?
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The easy way and one that does last. Inject them with formaldahdye
Use goggles, glove and a form. filtered mask.
I inject them until it runs out, I mean every nook and cranny, between the toes, behind etc, has to be shotup with form.
Then I bend and tie them into place with twine, I use twine because its strong enough and big enough to not leave a crease.
Let them dry about 4-6 weeks. cut the leg to length, use a large drill bit and drill out the marrow, it will be greasy, but drill into the joint. Rinse with lacquer thinner several time, use a paper towel to see if you got the crap out. Once clean and dry, I set a piece of all thread rod, with Epo-Grip #30 the slow set, I should interject I use a long tube to get the epoxy into the joint knuckle.
Next I sand the hoof with 200 grit wet or dry Wet sand. Run a bit of lacquer thinner over the hoove and polish it with plastic rouge and a flannel wheel on my bench grinder.
ONce you get a good shine going on the hooves, dont over buff as you can burn them.
I have hooves I did back in the late 1960's and they really are as good today as they were nack then. I discovered this system and for me its easy and best way.
i cant believe it is you saying this! is this the real john c? LOL
You're gonna need it!
I grew up in the suburbs & my father didn't hunt. However I remember how Dad & his brothers argued over only one item when grandma died, and that was over the dear hide with the family signatures on it. Now I live in the country with my husband who forgot how his grandfather prepared a hide for curing. I found on the internet how you cure or tan a hide but not how to prepare it. Thank you for the information we have three children & three hides so no one will be left out at least for one generation. V.Pack