Rawhide Canteen

[PA.1740]

Has anyone made a canteen out of rawhide instead of leather? Have a large peace of rawhide ,saw a bullet canteen, and thought I could make a water canteen the same way only bigger course and line it with bees wax. just wondering if it would work? :idunno:
Have Fun
Phil

 

[Elnathan]

Hard to say without trying it, but you will need to do a very good job on the seams, and you will have to waterproof it very well, as rawhide is not waterproof and softens when soaked.

Folks used to make containers for liquids out of "jacked" leather - it might be a good idea to look at how they did it.

 

[Black Hand]

I tried with little success. Ugly, leaky thing when I was done.

I prefer leather - Easier to work, doesn't shrink when it dries and is easily penetrated by the waterproofing medium (beeswax in the case of the ones I make).

 

[PA.1740]

What kind of leather do you use?
Have Fun
Phil

 

[Black Hand]

Usually, 6-7oz Top-grain vegetable tan.

 

[Birdman]

the way I understand it a rawhide water bag is supposed to weep over time. The evaporation supposedly has a cooling effect on the water inside. Only place I've heard of them used has been real hot arid areas, desert type places. They were also usually made fairly big not really for personal carry but for carry by an animal(horse, mule, camel)from pictures I saw long ago they often had a wool outer cover to protect the rawhide(?) and I would hazard a guess to aid in the evaporation. Now this is all supposition so please don't take it as fact just MHO--YMHS Birdman

 

[PA.1740]

OK! How with leather I do the same,soak it in water,fill with wet send,let dry.Right?
Have Fun
Phil

 

[PA.1740]

That was NOW
Have Fun
Phil

 

[Rifleman1776]

the way I understand it a rawhide water bag is supposed to weep over time. The evaporation supposedly has a cooling effect on the water inside. Only place I've heard of them used has been real hot arid areas, desert type places. They were also usually made fairly big not really for personal carry but for carry by an animal(horse, mule, camel)from pictures I saw long ago they often had a wool outer cover to protect the rawhide(?) and I would hazard a guess to aid in the evaporation. Now this is all supposition so please don't take it as fact just MHO--YMHS Birdman

Rawhide will start stinking if kept wet too long. And, it will start disintegrating also. Icky stuff. :barf: That is why tanning was invented. I wouldn't drink anything out of a rawhide container.

 

I wouldn't drink anything out of a rawhide container.

Nor I, sounds nasty.

Might also suggest using airsoft pellets instead of packing it with sand. They're plentiful and cheap and will be far easier to remove than sand.

 

[rjwingo]

Has anyone made a canteen out of rawhide instead of leather? Have a large peace of rawhide ,saw a bullet canteen, and thought I could make a water canteen the same way only bigger course and line it with bees wax. just wondering if it would work? :idunno:
Have Fun
Phil

YES, I HAVE. maybe 4 or 5 of them. make a pattern, cut your rawhide big enough for the pattern. cut 2 pieces. soak rawhide till very pliable, shed a little water, lay flat. draw patt. onto RH. cut out 2 pieces 99 % the same. may half to soak from time to time to keep manageable. punch holes, exactly the same on both pieces. use a saddle stitch, ( keep damp till stitching is complete. using VERY FINE FINE SANS, fill the canteen and use a round wooden dowel to pack sand to your dimensions. me, i pack till both sides bulge out. plug mouth spout with a plug to keep the shape. set aside, 1 to 2 days, or till completely dry. ( LEAVE SAND IN ). heat up oven ( VERY LOW ). HEAT UP BEESWAX,. 2 PANS. bottom pan 1 qt. of water. + or -. bring to a boile. no.2 pan, sits in bott. pan to heat up your wax. i use beeswax. melt wax NO HIGHER THAN 170 DEGREE. put canteen in oven, no longer than a min. warms up leather, taakee out, using a paint brush brush on wax. 1 side at a time. back in oven out, paint opposite side. MAKE SURE, you coat the seams good. may half to do this process till your sure wax has sank into leather. let COOL, maybe a day or so. pore out sand, ( COMPLETELY ) may put beebs in inside and shake around. heat up wax again. 170 no higher. using a funnel, wearing gloves ( up to you ). pore in a good quanity of wax. shake well ( seams ) pore out right away. do this 2 or 3 times. when happy, set aside for a day. NOW, water test for leaks. no leaks, your happy, little leak, mark area. heat wax, a LITTLE IN, pore right out. hope your happy with my instructions. rendezvous, mt. man R.J. = TP, camp name. 08/18/2020

 

[nhmoose]

I'd use Brewers pitch

https://www.townsends.us/products/brewers-pitch-bp293-p-373

 

[Bighorserider]

I've made a gourd canteen covered with rawhide. That made a great liner for the rawhide.