I have a multi-question/problem I need help with. I tanned a beaver hide and deer hide using Lutan-F. I ran both thru a tumbler for 8 hrs or so. They didn't seem to be be drying so I took them out for drying and I tried breaking them by hand and by running over a metal edge. They are both like cardboard now. Should I have left them in the tumbler? Is it possible the media is moist, therefore the hides won't dry while tumbling? Now that I have these stiff hides, can I re-soften them with oil or try to put them back in the tumbler? Should I use a relaxer? Any help would be appreciated.
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I THINK Bruce Rittel stated that a tumbler drum had to be a minimum of 8 feet in diameter to effectively break a hide. Bird tumblers won't cut it.
To break that hide properly, you're going to need a good oil first. Paint the skin side and keep painting it until the oil puddles. Wipe off the excess, and then roll it up and put it in a dry place overnight. Next day, start hand breaking it. After you complete it, reoil it and do the whole thing over again the next day. After 3 days of this, your hide will be pliable and you'll know exactly why most of us send our flat hides out to be professionally done.