Can I use a dryer to break a hide?

Do it by hand. The dryer does not have a big enough drop to break a hide properly.

 

The heat of the dryer will shrink it up and you will never get it broke. Once you do it by hand try it on the wire wheel if you have one.

 

My dryer tumbles on no heat. It helps in drying the hair using cob grit, however, as was said before, you need a big drop and a large capacity to hold a lot of media to break a hide properly. A dryer has neither of those.

 

I sure wouldn't use clean shoes...all kidding aside the dryer idea is good for drying the fur, and works good on birds as well but it will not break a hide, as mentioned above. I am going to send all soft tan items to tannery this year, and everything I mount I will wet tanned at home, time saver and better finished product. If you are busy with mounts then you could spend your day mounting a deer or something instead of breaking a hide for a lot less money. Just my thoughts on it.

 

I think you need something like a 6ft drum with baffles and media to break a hide as far as I recall. Dryers are just a bit too small