stiff beaver hide

[Rifleman1776]

I have a nice beaver hide that is stiff as a board. I'm wanting to sell but cannot offer as is. What would be a good way to soften it?

 

[tenngun]

Loose plastic bag, put it in the dryer with a pair of tennis shoes, run about fifteen min, pull out and oil or grease the flesh side repeat a time or two

 

[Brokennock]

I have a nice beaver hide that is stiff as a board. I'm wanting to sell but cannot offer as is. What would be a good way to soften it?

Why can't you sell it as is? The buyer can then figure out what to do with it.

But, I'm glad you asked as I'm curious about the answers you will get.

 

[2 shots]

work it over the edge of a rounded over board. google it up to see pics.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I wrecked a deer hide by tumbling it in a dryer with the heat on. If you use the drier do it on the air setting. You might try soaking it soft in a solution of water and borax and then working it dry. Or, as mentioned, sell it as a dry hide and let the next guy worry about it.

 

[William Sublette]

I have a nice beaver hide that is stiff as a board. I'm wanting to sell but cannot offer as is. What would be a good way to soften it?

Well, we need pics.

That'll help your cause.

 

[Walkingeagle]

You ain’t gonna like this but it’s the way I was taught, and it is WORK!!
Soak it lightly, not soaking wet but more like a light dampness. Work it over a cable that is strung tight between two trees. Only working the skin side so no hair is removed. Objective is only to break apart the fibres. Work it as much as you can then let it dry out of the sun until the next day. Repeat daily until you are happy (likely about a week).
Note: if it gets too soaking wet there is a high likelihood of hair slippage.
Walk

 

[Rifleman1776]

Why can't you sell it as is? The buyer can then figure out what to do with it.

But, I'm glad you asked as I'm curious about the answers you will get.

Thanks all. I'll be trying Tenngun's idea. Can't sell as is, shipping a 3 ft. diameter thing would be difficult and probably expensive.

 

[William Sublette]

Thanks all. I'll be trying Tenngun's idea. Can't sell as is, shipping a 3 ft. diameter thing would be difficult and probably expensive.

Is it tanned, or just skinned and stretched?

 

[Cvkotvkse]

I understand the shipping issue, but otherwise my impression is that the great majority of hides were stretched, then stacked and transported flat. The reason for this is that the commercial worth that fueled the fur trade era was not the use of the hide for leather, it was the fur that was removed, soaked, compacted, and felted for making men's hats. I'm sure a small percentage may have been tanned fur-on, for making women's hand-muffs, etc., but I suspect the majority of hides were discarded as a by-product. My experience has been that it just isn't that strong or durable a hide for leather, a nd it takes a LOT of degreasing to get it ready for taking the tanning solution or paste.
That being said, I don't doubt that one might have encountered one that was tanned,or more likely "stuffed" with some type of oil, but native tanning processes will cause the fur to "slip" with any regular use, just as one gets if you attempt to brain tan deerhide with the hair still on.

 

[Brokennock]

Can't sell as is, shipping a 3 ft. diameter thing would be difficult and probably expensive.

I guess this makes sense

 

[2 shots]

is the dryer thing p.c.???

 

[Rifleman1776]

is the dryer thing p.c.???

My dryer is hand cranked and my wife provides the hot air. Am I in trouble now?

 

[tenngun]

My dryer is hand cranked and my wife provides the hot air. Am I in trouble now?

‘Oh Edna those are unusual earrings’

 

[GYJ]

The only one I've ever bought was still in the willow hoop. Dried only.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

My dryer is hand cranked and my wife provides the hot air. Am I in trouble now?

Well, you could make her do it like a period correct squaw!

 

[user 48679]

My dryer is hand cranked and my wife provides the hot air. Am I in trouble now?

Oooh, Yeah !

 

[nhmoose]

When it is a just dried hide and not tanned anything you do to it other than wetting and freezing or tanning will spoil or ruin the hide.

What is the condition of the hide more info is needed to help you.

 

[William Sublette]

Is it tanned, or just skinned and stretched?

Good question

 

[dr.beav]

Hey, My hide is not stiff!