The archives have been a lot of help for how to build tumblers, but I'm wondering how <u>long</u> it takes to dry a damp, oiled, whitetail hide (full-body)? I plan on using a converted dryer and corn-cob grit (for now). Also, do I have to stretch the hide in this process? I want a soft rug.
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The converted dryer won't cut it. The tumbler needs to be at least 8 feet in diameter for the hide to be "broken" properly. Those instructions were for bird tumblers and in my opinion, are a poor excuse for a real tumbler as well.
Do you do rugs? Then how do you do them? Do you own an 8 foot diameter tumbler? Or do you send them off?
Mine will be used for display on a table... I guess it doesn't have to be leather-jacket-velvetty-soft, but definitely smooth and pliable enough to lay flat.
You will have the best reults breaking it by hand using a good tanning oil. I use Knoblochs #1 and WASCO tanning oil, Rittels sells a good oil too.