Stitch holes in tanned hide

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Eterry

75 Cal.
Staff member
Moderator
MLF Supporter
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
5,353
Reaction score
5,106
Location
Between Red River Station and Doans Crossing, Tx.
Finally decided to try tanning a deer hide. A small doe I took this weekend.
Fleshing the hide I got a few small holes in the hide.
When should I try to stitch the holes?
Now, or after I finish fleshing? Im guessing after salting it's too late.

Thanks.

Btw, I'm using a salt/alum mix, neatsfoot for lube.
 
I did a fair amount of hide tanning as a teenager...if i remember correctly, i stitched a hole once with dental floss very thorougjly before i tanned it. I know it worked out well...my thoughts were, on these hides, i dont care how good you are, the skin will never be as soft and pliable as it is, now, before it's tanned...that is the time to close up the hole...
 
Tenngun said that you can fix the holes after you tan it.
If you were to use brain tan, repair the holes before tanning.
If that's not what he meant, I'll go sit down.
That’s what I was saying. Brain tan depends on stretching as it dries. So a hole would just get bagger
On a salt alum tan you don’t need to close the hole first.
 
If you are intending to make any kind of garment with leather don't stitch the hole before tanning.
For a truly authentic look patch the hole after it's tanned by placing a piece of the same leather behind the hole and lacing it in place with a leather strip of the same leather.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top