jouLe

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

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?

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).

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?

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!

Thanks Mike! I have just spent the last 4 hours or so on braintan.com! Excellent resource! I think I will freeze this hide for now and try to find some smaller hides for starters. Deer season is coming up here, so I will put the word out. Sure glad I stopped by, you haven't heard the last from me!

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?

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