Fur and Hide Question

[oneshot]

I'm wanting to make some Boots using Coon hides leaving the Fur on the inside.My wife is worried about rubbing the Fur off,but I'm thinking it will feel good.What do you guys think?

Now I have some old Deer Hides that are looking rough because alot of the hair has come off.I wanting to take all the Hair off and just using the Leather.What all do I need to do?

oneshot

 

[Rancocas]

Deer hair is hollow, which makes it brittle when it is dried out. That is why the hair rubs off the tanned hides so easily.
If your deer hide is already tanned then you're not going to get the hair off properly. If you want leather, you must remove the hair first, before it is tanned. After tanning, about all you can do is shave it. You will still have stubble to contend with.
Raccoon hair is fur, just like mink, beaver, fox, etcetera. Fur coats are made from the tanned hides. It holds up fairly well. Delicate rabbit skins are often used to line gloves and boots, so I don't see why raccoon wouldn't work as well.

 

[davemcg]

I think the coon'l be ok, are you going to make a set of mocs to go over them? I would be more concerned about the coon leather being too thin to hold up well. I did this with a goat skin I had, made a pair of sideseam winter mocs out of Elk hide then center seam booties out of the goat to fit inside the Elk, seems to work well that way.

As for dehairing a tanned hide hmmmm? :hmm: Might try making a fleshing beam (I use a piece of 8" PVC pipe about 6' long or so rest one end on a saw horse until it's about waist high, and press the other end into the side of my garage to brace it up) I use my draw knife to scrape with but I suppose a butcher knife might work too but just put the hide over the end of the beam and press into it with your stomach or waist and holding you edged tool perpendicular to the beam press straight down and scrape away from you, avoid any slicing movements which would cut the hide. That's how I grain a hide prior to tanning it, don't know that it'll work after it's tanned but it's worth a try I suppose.
For the sake of your marriage do this outside for crying out loud!
You might also find some ideas at www.braintan.com or call you local taxidermist see what they suggest.