If im going to soft tan a deer hide, after i tan and i apply the oil do i let the skin dry hard or do i work it when its drying or do i work it after its dried and after i rehydrate it to keep it soft?
J.C.
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pull it after it dryes a little bit, mostly around the edges. Pull some more as it turns color to a white/dry state. Keep pulling every day or twice a day until completely dry. Then work over a corner of a table for the finishing touch about 2-3 days later.
Dan K
after it dries and before applying oil I rhydrate a little bitt with soap suds use ivory because it is 100% soap and then hot oil I use protol from Van Dykes I get good results I don't work the skin over a table I tumble mine in heavy sawdust if you don't have a tumbler you can make one out of an old GAS cloth dryer remove the heating element and plug the wholes with bondo and presto you have a tumbler saves a lot of work I tumble 3 times in a day for an hour for two days breaks the skin real good ( an old cloth dryer will cost you $50 bucks to $80)