Rawhide Recipe

[ncmtmike]

Way back many moons ago, I had 'recipe' for making hair slip on deerskin, etc. with a combination of alum and borax in water (non-metal container) that worked like a dream, but I can't remember the exact amounts I used.

Thanks, folks...this CRS business is for the birds. XD

 

[matt denison]

The alum and borax recipe doesn't make the hair slip. It actually holds it for hair-on rawhide. Alum is a constrictor and causes the hide to sinch up on the hair folicles so they won't fall out. The borax keeps things smelling nice in the meantime.

To make the hair slip you can simply let it sit in water for 1 - 4 days, check it often. I've put it in the creek held down with rocks, after a few days the hair was gone, sluiced down stream. Or you can get the hair on hide good and wet and put it in a plastic garbage bag for a few days but be careful as it will get stinky if you leave it too long.

 

[ncmtmike]

:thumbsup: Thanks Matt!

 

[smo]

I think I remember ashes being used to remove the hair :hmm: :idunno:

 

[Ken Cormier]

Hardwood ashes applided as a thick paste rolled hair in. Let sit a couple days. Hair will scrape right of. Rinse in water then proced with whatsoever you are going to with the hide.

 

[smo]

Thanks KC I thought it was something like that :thumbsup: