bear skin

[hoochiepapa]

I would like some help on removing the felt liner the taxidermist put on so that I can make bags. This hide is thick and nice. I have some Lexol to soften when the felt is removed. The hide is about 20 years old, and starting to crack. :bow:

 

[Twice boom]

I would like some help on removing the felt liner the taxidermist put on so that I can make bags. This hide is thick and nice. I have some Lexol to soften when the felt is removed. The hide is about 20 years old, and starting to crack. :bow:

Just get a pair of tin snips and cut around the edge where its sewn. You can't use that portion of the hide anyway. Just a thought.
Twice.

 

[hoochiepapa]

It's glued. I have no idea what kind of glue he used.

 

[rabjr]

You sure you want tomake a bag from it? I made one and still have some hide left but I didn't care to well for how it came out. I think the hair is just to long for a bag. I really like Buffalo and made a few from that but bear just didn't do anything for me. Not to mention it was a PITA to work with.

 

[Twice boom]

It's glued. I have no idea what kind of glue he used.

Then I would soak it in water for couple of days. I don't think it will hurt the hide.
Just athought.
Twice.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I'm trying to come up with some unique things, and it seems hair-on bags attract a lot of attention. Besides, it's not hanging on the wall anymore(wifey), so I'm trying to think of things to do with it.

 

[hoochiepapa]

TB, I hadn't thought of that. I would just assume water would damage the hide. I'm learning. :thumbsup:

 

[Twice boom]

Brother Mike I do not know either if water will damage your hide(I mean the Bears) :grin: And I would not suggested to if I had not seen a texidermist friend soak with a water hose a deer cape he was working on.
If you let it soak enough to remove the glued on felt . I would stetch to dry ,then when dry I would oil the heck out of .
I'm only going by what I've seen.
Twice.

 

[Birdman]

Mike if I'm following ya right , the hide is already cracking. If it is I would not try to get the felt off but leave it on as a backing to the fur. Bear is a real thin hide n at 20 years of age is very brittle.Trying to get the felt off will only ruin the hide. Make a bag or whatever just take into account the felt as ya make it. The felt may be the only thing holding the hide together. Right now I'm looking to glue a cloth backing to a hunk of griz hide a buddy gave me n use it as a blanket or maybe a wrap of sorts in colder weather. The hide I have is older n dry n cracking here n there even though I put stuff on it to rehydrate n soften it. The cloth will hold it together in one piece n I'll get a few years use out of it. After that I'll have tons of fur n dubbing to tye trout n bass flys with, never let anything go to waste LOL YMHS Birdman

 

[BrownBear]

Can't say about your bear hide, but when I worked for a taxidermist 40 years ago he used Barge rubber cement for gluing felt to hides because it remained flexible. I'm not sure what solvent would work best on old glue without damaging the leather, but water will be about as useful as it is for putting out a gasoline fire.

I'd try the Lexol on a small patch, but be ready to try something else if you don't like the results. There are several others scattered around this page and certainly more from other sources.

 

[BillinOregon]

Mike: Might try asking a couple of taxidermists if they have ideas.

 

[BrownBear]

Mike: Might try asking a couple of taxidermists if they have ideas.

Bingo!

 

[hoochiepapa]

I'll try everything suggested. The taxidermist that mounted this for me is dead. Sucks gettin' old, huh? I'll look in the yellow pages.
But I like the suggestion of leaving the felt on. I'll just cover it with lining.
Thanks, guys!!

 

[Bill Austin]

Try the forums at taxidermy.net

 

[hoochiepapa]

Thanks, Bill.

 

[RwBeV]

Hey Mike, I have a friend that is a retired taxidermist I can give you a call if he has any suggestions. I still have your number.

 

[hoochiepapa]

'preciate it. Thanks.
Did you do any kind of inventory yet?

 

[Bill Hall]

Let us know how this comes out Mike, as I'm kinda curious also. I will add that when I was a teenager, I tried my hand at tanning a beaver hide, and it came out so so. It was a stretched and dried hide, so the first thing I did was soak it in water to soften it up so I could work with it. The water didn't hurt it a bit, but this was not a tanned hide, just dried. If the bear hide was originally tanned, I wonder if the water would cause an adverse reaction, like getting leather wet. Would love to know what the experts say. Bill

 

[hoochiepapa]

Yeah, I'd like to do something with it. Too bad I wasn't into all this at the time.