I want to know if anyone has a good method of softening already tanned hide? I just recieved a buffalo hide and the edges are a little hard. Any Ideas
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You can rub the leather side on the edge of a hard wood board mounted in a vise or on the edge of something that does not move. Don't wet it or anything drastic. The rubbing is probably the safest way to soften it. Be careful not to rip it because you have to put quite a bit of elbow into it if it is real stiff.
you can also try lightly sanding the flesh side with coarse sand paper, then breaking the hide over the edge of a piece of metal such as an old disc blade in a vise, or an axe head in a vise. good luck, Troy.
Most commercial tanners would rather pay shipping and fix the problem, rather than loose a customer.