jouLe
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About jouLe
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Leatherwork Specialty
beginner
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Thanks Bob. It is a 15 mo. old steer hide. I am not interested in anything that involves chemicals, so if I have to take the less durable option and go with veg tanning or brain tanning, I guess that's life. I will review your veg tanning articles. Thanks again, jouLe
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Hey all, I was asking about braintanning earlier, but now I am wondering if brain tanning (hair on) is going to make the hide too soft for chaps? Any ideas? What method would you recommend for the tanning of chap leather?
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Howdy all! I have posted some already, I found the forum when I was up to my elbows in STUFF and had some questions... Now I am ready to introduce myself! I am a young homesteader in central Saskatchewan (Canada) and leather is only one small part of my day to day activities, but about to become a lot more real... I raise chickens, beef and soon to be sheep for all intensive purposes (eggs, meat, fleece, bone tools, sinew, wool, leather, fertilizer and anything else I can think of...). I butchered my first steer last week, and will be tanning some hide and working my OWN leather before too long (okay, maybe spring) I have not done much leather work up to this point, though I made a pair of batwing chaps a number of years ago and that is one thing I plan to do with this hide (hair on chaps). I guess that's all that is particulary relevant to this forum. I also train horses & play guitar, for what it's worth (which varies depending on the compay).
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blood is used in some leather treatments?
jouLe replied to jouLe's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
Ha ha, good one Jim. Does it do the leather any good? I can't really find any more info on it - it seems to be an industrial process. Apparently blood is also used as glue for OSB and all sorts of other unimaginable things, so it could be just a factor of blood used in some commercial leather treatments. I will abandon this train unless someone comes up with something. -
Hey all - I have been reading about the various uses for various by-products of beef (I recently butchered a steer and want to make the best possible use of everything) and I read that blood is used in some leather treatments. Is anyone familiar with this? Can you tell me more?
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Nothing's on yet, still in decision mode... with another Q: If you are going to tan a steer hide with the hair ON, what is it that keeps the hair from slipping? Is there a particular time in the cycle of shedding & hairing up when you DON'T try to keep the hair on, for one reason or another (and what be the reasoning?) If I leave the hair on it will be with the intended purpose of making chaps. I have made batwing chaps with commercial leather, but not sure if the steer (bovine) is the best for hair on chaps or not? How 'bout even pretty good? I did a lot of reading on the braintan.com site and I think if I decide to go hair off I will wait until spring, go up to the cabin at the creek, and buck the hide in wood ash & water, as I can let it rinse in the creek. My water supply here is not one that I can leave running for 48 hours (or even for 2 hours). If I tan it at home I will likely pre-smoke it. I think I will trim the legs off and practice on them so I don't mess up the full hide on my first shot. THAT would be disappointing! THANKS!
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Jump in with both feet? Who, me? Well maybe just a little. I do have all winter, as it turns out. I have all the time I need. Being my own boss is nice that way ) I am dead set on doing it myself, though I am not necessarily dead set on BRAIN tanning, I am dead set on tanning. Or, maybe I'm not. Maybe rawhide would be just as useful. I am not set on keeping the hair on, either, though it might be nice to have black hair on chaps to go with my black horses... hmm... morbid, in a strange sort of way. Anyway, the hide is not my only concern in the processing of this beef, so can I put it in the freezer for a while until I am ready to start? Do I have to salt it before freezing, or just roll it up and freeze it? I am checking out braintan.com in the meantime. ***edit: WOW! Excellent site!! *** Thanks for the tips thus far! Could you point me to the picture tutorial you mentioned?
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Hi all - I am new here, and in short - a young "homesteader" who is about to butcher my first home raised steer. I want to make the most of every bit of this animal, and of course, the hide is on the list of useful items. I have heard of brain tanning but know little about it, including the most efficient means of removing the brain from the skull without the use of power tools. I am seeking any and all tips and advice on this from anyone who has done it. Thank you! jouLe