Home tanning, a cheep leather source

[Slowhand Bob]

Guys I am thinking about doing some home tanning.  This may prove to be a bit thin and ragged as a leather source, what do you guys think.  By the way Maggie does not think to much of the idea, guess which one is Maggie?  This was taken about eight years ago and the project is still waiting on her approval!

[Ozark Tracker]

I wouldn't go so far as to discourage anybody, but having tanned some hides in my time, deer, coyote, fox, beaver  about anything I've killed,  it takes time and space.  around here there are a few independent skinners who kill and skin cows & calf's to be taken to the butcher,  if you can find someone like this, you can get green hides reasonablely priced, but then you have to have a place to store them cool if your not starting work on it right then,  then an area large enough to spread it out and salt it and  get all the meat off the skin, which is harder than it sounds,  it needs to be pretty clean to get a good leather.
the easy way to remove the meat right now is high powered water pressure,  works a lot faster than doing it by hand,  but it'll take around 3500#  pressure to peel it off.  but you can do it by hand, then when you get to that point, you'll need a container to put the hide in to tan it.  after the tanning you'll need to stretch it and dry it and work it a little to  keep it from being too stiff.

these are just a few of the things to think about,  but like I said,  get a hide and give it a try.  it's fun.

[Ace Lungger]

I have thought about this a lot, not me doing any tanning, but the price of leather! The hide buyers are paying hardly nothing for them compaired to 10 years ago. My friend who owned and ran a meat locker plant, seen the time when hides were bringing $100.00, now I think they give $20.00 tops! But it was explained to me that since the EPA stepped in and shut down a lot of small tanneries, it has killed the American market, and made the importation buisness good! As things are going know, it won't be to long before to have to have a permit to buy leather!!! Our Big Man in Power is purposing if your family makes less than $33,000.00 a year, you will be charged $900.00 if you don't have health care! I want to know how a family that gross's $33,000.00 a year can afford to pay $6,000.00 in medical ins.

 Sorry about getting off the topic! I had a kid that I know was going to brain tan deer hides last winter. I told him if the price was fair I wanted to buy some to make some clothes! I never heard back from him??

Later
ACE

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[Slowhand Bob]

Here is another shot of my favorite little girl dawg in the whole world.  I told the guys over on the WIRE that the guy holding her was Tom Selleck, what yall thank?  Oh, just to keep this on topic I will point out the nice set of Slim Jims that I am wearing.  As you all can see, I need to order xxxlarge water bufferlow hides out of deepest darkest Africa fer belt making!

[Ozark Tracker]

looks like a close relative of my dog Marvin  and litl roosters, pup  Killer

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

            I think we need to get back on topic, the direction this going and with the title, folks are going get the idea that you two are going to TAN Maggie and Marvin.....


                                       Regards

                                tEN wOLVES 

[GunClick Rick]

http://www.braintan.com