Tanning hides

[dreadi]

I've heard you can break the hide by putting them In the dryer on no heat with some tennis balls

Tried that when the Ms. wasn’t home. Didn’t work for me.

thanks,. Everytime I told the Mrs I was going to do that she gave me the LOOK.

Don't add the heat. We did that once and the hide came out looking like a little fawn hide. Although it turned out nice it really shrunk.  opps

No heat when I tumbled a spike blacktail hide. How long did you tumble yours and how big was it?

[duckmen1]

 The one we did was a mature blacktail doe. We fleshed with a pressure washer which was awesome and super easy. Came out really clean. Did an aluminum alumn type soak. Then it was put in on a low heat on the dryer. It did help break the hide way easier then by hand. I can't remember how long we left it in the dryer. It shrunk a lot. Some due to tanning solution,  but mostly due to added heat. Came out fairly nice though. But can't come close to professional tanning. Still fun to play around and test different things though. Usually use hides that others are not gonna keep. I always send mine in professionally.

[Oh Mah]

I tan all hides,I make pillows,Back covers for couches,Blankets,and bear wall rug with no head or legs.Coyote,Bear and deer hide.

20 coyotes for blanket,A lot of sewing.

I use the borax solution. 

You really tanned and sewed 20 coyotes to make a blanket?  Damn thats a lot of work.  Care to post a pic?

Sorry just got back from Silver Wood.Yes i sewed all the hides no tails to a white comforter.I don't have it any more but it looked like this one here just a little smaller.I cut head and legs off cut into rectangles all the same size them sewed them all together with an industrial sewing machine i had up until about 2 years ago when it gave out on me.  (looking for another one that doesn't cost too much).

[pup0025]

 Dang. That looks awesome....I should take my 2 raccoon hides and make a coon skin thong..or banana hammock!

[Alchase]

I tan all hides,I make pillows,Back covers for couches,Blankets,and bear wall rug with no head or legs.Coyote,Bear and deer hide.

20 coyotes for blanket,A lot of sewing.

I use the borax solution. 

You really tanned and sewed 20 coyotes to make a blanket?  Damn thats a lot of work.  Care to post a pic?

Sorry just got back from Silver Wood.Yes i sewed all the hides no tails to a white comforter.I don't have it any more but it looked like this one here just a little smaller.I cut head and legs off cut into rectangles all the same size them sewed them all together with an industrial sewing machine i had up until about 2 years ago when it gave out on me.  (looking for another one that doesn't cost too much).

Wow, that is impressive!

[DeerSkin]

I have been tanning hides for 8 years now and have used many different methods.Through trial and error I have found that McKenzie tan works best for me. . They always come out really nice and soft.

[Oh Mah]

Those look very nice and clean,They look very soft. 

[DeerSkin]

Those look very nice and clean,They look very soft. 

Thanks, it’s very time consuming and a lot of manual labor. Sometimes I wonder why I always take on so many tanning projects in the winter. It took a long time to figure out how to make them so nice. When I first started tanning they turned out horrible.

[The Marquis]

Those look very nice and clean,They look very soft. 

Thanks, it’s very time consuming and a lot of manual labor. Sometimes I wonder why I always take on so many tanning projects in the winter. It took a long time to figure out how to make them so nice. When I first started tanning they turned out horrible.

That's great to know, because my first go on a deer hide was embarrassing.  I've just got it rolled up because I don't figure there is any real use for the hide with such a trash job done. 

[ELKBURGER]

I have been tanning hides for 8 years now and have used many different methods.Through trial and error I have found that McKenzie tan works best for me. . They always come out really nice and soft.

Those look amazing, do you tan professionally?

[DeerSkin]

I have been tanning hides for 8 years now and have used many different methods.Through trial and error I have found that McKenzie tan works best for me. . They always come out really nice and soft.

Those look amazing, do you tan professionally?

Nope, just a little backyard tanning hobby I learned to do over the years.