harding leather

[Zemenar]

I have heard that if you soak leather it will dry hard,is this true?
Anyone know of a way to take a piece of hide and harden it?
Thanks

 

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/hl.html

That link will tell you probably more than what you want to know, but I recommend reading it all - "hardening" leather generally only works on bark/veg tan......suggestion - practice on scrap....it's the heat that makes the change and it's something that can go wrong quick!

 

[T.C.Albert]

Under smoked brain tans will turn hard if soaked and left to dry I think, {as will some alum tans or tawed leathers }...they used to write in the mountain man novels and books etc about this problem, and that old leather from the smoke flaps of a tipi was the best stuff to make moccisins and pants from to aviod the hardening and shrinking that would happen if the native brain tanned skins got soaked and dried...from exposure to the elements or trapping streams etc...Sounds reasonable?
T.C.Albert