deer hides?

[4570tc]

Where do you guys get your tanned deer hides?

 

[John Wasmuth]

I do mine myself, mostly brain tans, commercial tan just dosent cut it.

 

[necchi]

Hair on or buckskin?

 

[BrownBear]

They're not the cheapest source, but Tandy is certainly easy. I'm fond of their Deertan and usually buy that rather than deer.

 

[saber]

if you want to tan them a quick and safe and least messy way is just a lod Alum and Salt tan

 

[4570tc]

NO hair, buck skin

 

[John Wasmuth]

You can get german tan from crazycrow, prolly a couple of other places, closest thing to brain tan, or just brain tan yer own hides. Not to difficult but time consuming. The outcome is worth the effort.

 

[omarick1948]

Let me ask you guys that like to brain tan this!

I know the old theory of using the deer's brain, ie., 1 brain for one hide and it works pretty well for small hides, but I like to use beef or pig brains, but with the "MAD COW' thing. A person can't buy them in my area anymore! So are they STILL AVAILABLE elsewhere regularly?

Rick :idunno:

 

[John Wasmuth]

Its like that everywhere now, hard to even get pig brains anymore from a market. Luckly we kill a lot of pigs here and save the brains, exotic deer brains as well, since the Axis deer hides are usually sent to a broker for rugs, but we use the brains from them as well.

The other option is to "Brain Tan" using tanning oils like Protal or similar types of tanning oils. Any oil that will mix with water will do just as good a job. The important part of course is wringing the luiquid thru the hide so all the fibers get coated and then broken down.

I know a couple of tanners that use cod liver oil, or other fish oils and they put out some very very nice hides.

The only problem using something other than brains is that it costs a little bit of money for the supplies, however it takes the CWD and MCD out of the picture.

 

[necchi]

From this guy; http://www.theleatherguy.org/Auctions.aspx

Kieth and his family used to set-up at local vous', could get some real bargins,
(loved his scrap boxes!)
They set up shop and he still has some of the best prices around, and a personal touch, aims to satisfy!! :thumbsup:

 

[okrhys]

I have been using pig brains for many years. They work great. Locating a shop that has them is the trick. I also use lecithin. It works because all you really need is an emulsified oil. i have the recipe if you are interested.

 

[SSGN_Doc]

We have an actual meat store in our town that sells pigs brains ($1.90 for a one pound tub)

I have also seen raw egg used, as well as mayonaise.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Yep any emulsified oil will work just fine. Several different nations used corn oil lota years ago, fish oils can also be used. As long as the oils can flow into the hide to coat the fibers to keep them from locking up when the hide dries it will work. Egg yolks work well too.