Hi:
I was reading Hawbaker's Trapping North American Furbearers, and in it there was a tanning solution for buckskin made up of softsoap and neatsfoot oil. This was for tanning buckskin hair off. Question I have is : Would softsoap and neatsfoot oil work as a tanning formula for hair on pelts such as Red Fox or Mink?
Thanks,
Bob
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The method you describe is one of the "old" time recipes that were simply "stuffing" the skin instead of tanning it. It's similiar to soaking a salt dried skin in glycerine - or rubbing in Baking Soda and Kerosine - and calling it a tanned skin - it isnt!
It is not a method I'd recommend at all - in fact, the first time it gets even slightly damp - you're going to have a messy problem to contend with! Save yourself the frustration! That's "stuffing" not "tanning"! There is no bonding to the fibers involved.
Some of the folks who "braintan" use a mix of soap and oil as a brain substitute. Of course, it does nothing to tan the hide, it just a dressing.
The soap is needed as an emulsifyer, straight oil won't work.
Did Hawbaker mention if the buckskin was then smoked?
I had that book as a kid. Fun reading, but some of the sets mentioned weren't too practical. Did ya see the fox set with the live rooster? There's a method for you longliners! :)