i could find nothing in the archives on this problem. i just bought some commercially tanned bobcat hides. i rehydrated them. the hides themselves have real good stretch but when i try to stretch the legs and feet they just rip, i am not trying to stretch them to far because they are not stretching at all. they are actually twice as long as the legs on the form so i know they need stetched to shorten them up. its so bad that when i try to sew the rips up they just tear more. what would cause this or has someone had this problem, is there a solution or are they garbage. thanks
Return to Tanning Category Menu
I have seen this problem on some mammal hides that have been tanned for a long time. I believe they were 6 or 7 years old.
KS had it right! The age of the tanned skin has a lot to do with it, and of course, if it contains a lot of acid, as it ages the Sulphates left active in the skin, form Sulphuric Acid again, and it weakens. This is typical of the old Acid Tanning methods and Alum tans. A very good example is Fur Coats. Even with the best of care - if they were Alum tanned - after 12-14 years you can easily tear them like a piece of paper! I see them at Flea Markets here in New England!
The legs skin is veyr thin and would not get the streach if they are acid swelled. This would be only on newer tanned skins. You should soak them in a salt water mixture of about half a pound of salt per gallon to get the skin to return to normal.
IF they are older comercial skins, you may not be bale ot do much with them, other than maybe supper glueing the seams if you can get the skin to streach properly.