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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 4520 Location: carms in wales
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46220 Location: yes
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 5:31 am Post subject: |
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Thats very true, but brain tanning tends to be a smelly process, that many people in urban homes couldn't do, and also given that most of the animals that we can obtain with hides will have been shot in the head- the brains are rarely available. Alum tawing may use a small amount of a manufactured mineral salt, but its mostly done with common salt, so I believe it doesn't pose a huge risk if the left over solution is disposed of carefully.
Do you tan with brains? It would be interesting to compare notes on how it differs and whether you've found a way to keep the smell down, pus any tips you may have on extracting said brains in the first place! All the deer available to me are culled from park herds and are shot in the head to try to ensure a swift departure, we've never had the heads available, so I don't think I could use the brains from those ones. I do have a book on tanning buckskin using fats though, which we do intend trying |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46220 Location: yes
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 05 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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brains can be smelly if the drying is slow ,plenty of ventilation ,or cold smoking speed the process which reduces odour ....a low odour method that works uses equal volumes of rough salt and tea leaves rubbed well into the inside of the skin , rolled , wrapped in newspaper (against insect attack) ,store in a cool place for two days ,unwrap and shake , wind dry as fast as possible ,work skin in hands to soften (this is hard work but leather dressing makes it easier)this method also works to make organic cat toys from rabbit feet or ears . whatever method you use .these hides are robust and long lasting.i feel the speed of drying is what is important , think biltong rather than corpse if you see what you i mean .. with bse and scrapie i think there may be sensible care taken with brain tanning but it works ace with smallish critters. it isnt much use to try it after a high velocity head shot though.if you need leather that is water resistant neats foot oil is really good (cheap too if you can get it from a tripe shop or renderers but costly in shoe and saddle shops).i dought these two,methods produce machine washable skins though |
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Bermite
Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Vermont, USA
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46220 Location: yes
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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 4520 Location: carms in wales
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Bugs
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 10744
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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 4520 Location: carms in wales
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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 4520 Location: carms in wales
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Bugs
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 10744
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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 4520 Location: carms in wales
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46220 Location: yes
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