tanning with oil

Hello,

Im an old braintanner, and brains are getting harder to find around here. Ive been trying to use Sulfonated Neatsfoot oil in place of brains....seems to be working good so far. Much of the process is the same....mix the oil with warm water, soak the hide in the solution, and work soft once the hide begins to dry out.

Does any one out there have ANY experience in tanning with just Sulfonated Neatsfoot oil?

Would love to hear some replys,
CN

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Cecil's having the same problem

The part about finding a brain, that is.

I'm not familiar with sulfonated Neat's Foot Oil, but I know that regular Neat's Foot Oil is a leather DRESSING and not a tan. The "sulfonated" is a bad word for tanning as that goes right back to the alum tans or tans that produce leather with its own built in self destruction device. I never had much faith in brain tanning anyway, but let me ask a dumber question: If you get a hide to be tanned, didn't it come off an animal that had a brain to begin with? Seems like one source would satisfy both needs.

From butcher

Dear CN:
I have found most butchers will save cow brains if you pay 2-3 dollars for them.I have used ivory soap it works but dont have that braintanned feel.Also people have used egg yoaks hide has yellow color,still needs to be smoked. Hope this helps.
Sincerely
Tom B

Brain material is better! Much better!

The combination of the Brain material and the Tallow it also supplies is what does brain tanning. Using only an oil simply not enough to effect a "tan". You are simply stuffing it with the oil.

The Brain material is important because chemically it changes, due to heat and exposure as its rubbed in. Chemists have told me it actually produces a mild aldehyde tannage. Of course the tallow provides lubrication for it to maintain softness.

A Sulphonated Oil because its been exposed to Sulphuric acid which breaks its chemical bonds and makes it more reactive when applied, does have the ability to bond to the skin making it difficult to easily remove - but - again its simply "stuffed" in the fibers and unless something else is used to stable the skins protein, it may deteriorate over time.

My advice - stick to the brains if you pursue brain tanning.

Good Advice

Your right on Bruce.I have used many things.There is no substitute for brains.Nothing feels better than braintanned deer skin.People who bead with its says it is so much easier to work with.Ther are many benifits to this true buckskin. Thanks.
Sincerel
Tom B

Neatsfoot Oil and Thanks

Thanks so much for the replys.I have found several sources for beef brains just today from butcher shops. One of the fellows said he had heard it is agains the law in some locales to seel brains anymore. What a pity.

I admit, using just sulfonated neatsfoot oil doenst give exactly the same results as brains. Makes a for a heavier hide I believe,..and as Bruce stated, over time it may need to be replentished. Plus it darkens the hide, while brains tend to slightly bleach it.

Say, Im foriegn to chemical tans, whats a good easy way for me to tan my "dry scraped hides" with a chemical tan ? (Hides normally prepared for braining..ie,scraped on flesh and hair side to a felt like texture, all membrane and epidermis is removed and sanded smooth)

Is there some chemical like this EZ Tan powder that I could mix in a bucket and soak a hide in? And then of course oil it, and work dry ? I know its not the same as using brains, but Im eager to try all sorts of things.

Thanks again folks, and happy tanning.
CN

braintanning

Never thought I'd disagree with Bruce, but I can tan a hide with brains and one with egg yolks, and there is no difference in the finished product. IMO, it is the emulsifyed oil that is important.

Also, the woodsmoke is what provides a mild aldehyde tannage. If the hide is not smoked, it is not technically tanned at all-- do not get it wet! As it is basically worked rawhide prior to smoking, and will harden.
Most braintanners do not rub brains into a hide,( with the exception of buffalo) we soak the hide in a brain/water mix. I do work air bubbles through the hide fibers to help the oils penetrate.
Having said all that I do agree, forget the Neatsfoot oil, and brains seem to dress a hide easier for me, altho' I have tanned 50 or so with egg yolks, with the same finished result.
If you're having trouble finding brains, have a store order pork brains. I get them by the case-about $20 worth does a lot of hides.