I have a hide that has laid out for a month in low temps. I just put it in the kids wading pool with enough water to cover it along with 16 pounds of salt and 2 pounds of Borax soap. The hide had dried enough for me to be able to move it, but now that it's wet, it is more like a permanent structure. Is the solution good enough to ready the hide for scraping? There is no smell coming off it and when I prod it to get air bubbles out, no hair seems to be coming off. How long before I have to do something serious with it?
Thanks,
Terry
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but most likely not the way you want it. im going to assume you dont have a fleshing machine. if not, you've got some work ahead of you. ive done one without my machine and had at least 20 hours of shaving, and that wasnt perfect. if you still want to try, i would pickle it in saftee acid for 5 days, flesh alittle, put it back in the pickle for another 3, flesh, and so on untill its nice and then, and most likely, 20 or so hole by accident. then tan, but the hardest part is breaking the hide. i would recomend a small army to help, or just leave it stiff.
Jon,
I'm just trying to buy time. I don't have any saftee acid. Is there something I can buy locally that will work? Is the salt/borax solution going to keep it? Would it be better to haul it out and salt it good and dry it? My main project it extracting the skeleton. Since the hide came with the Buffalo, I thought it would be nice to try and save it. Right now, I'm trying to de-flesh the bones before the carcass starts a neighborhood rebellion. I don't have a fleshing machine, whatever that is. The skin is 1/4 to 3/8 inches thick, so there's plenty of racing room. It could replace Kevlar!
Terry
Rittel's can have Saftee Acid shipped to you via UPS within 1-5 days depending on where you are in the USA. You might not have it today, but you can have it by April 2. Get on over there and order some.
You are taking on a big project here to tan this yourself. I would check the archives here and also Bruce Rittels website for more information before starting.
Mike,
This is revealing itself to be a big project, but the fat's in the fire, so to speak. The hide is here and the weather is warming. I suppose most people would plan something like this. For me, the hide is a secondary issue. I have contacted Bruce Rittels and He is guiding me for now. I appreciate the input.
Thanks,
Terry