Yup, called ‘breaking’it
stiff beaver hide
- Thread starter Rifleman1776
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
With me it’s just bones and muscle, hides fine
Moyle used to have very reasonable prices, I did a coyote for $15. Try them.
https://www.moyle.net/tanning-services
https://www.moyle.net/tanning-services
Main Question: is it tanned or just stretched and dried? And how old is it?
If just stretched and dried (and if aged) then trying to 'break' it (over a board or cable) will most likely just tear it apart.
If 'tanned' then was it previously soft then got wet and hardened?
Either way I would apply some of Montana Pitch's "Leather Oil and Conditioner" - the liquid in a bottle not the paste. The hide will soak it up and begin to soften almost right away, then you can 'break' it a bit more if preferred without much risk of tearing it apart, especially if it was never tanned to begin with.
https://www.montanapitchblend.com/products
If just stretched and dried (and if aged) then trying to 'break' it (over a board or cable) will most likely just tear it apart.
If 'tanned' then was it previously soft then got wet and hardened?
Either way I would apply some of Montana Pitch's "Leather Oil and Conditioner" - the liquid in a bottle not the paste. The hide will soak it up and begin to soften almost right away, then you can 'break' it a bit more if preferred without much risk of tearing it apart, especially if it was never tanned to begin with.
https://www.montanapitchblend.com/products
