Anyone have an easy way to tan rabbit skins?

[UKRay]

Does anyone have a simple but effective tanning method that might work for rabbit skins. I have a group of scouts to teach later this year and I'd like to get them onto something like this. I'm slightly concerned that materials may not be available over here so I'm keen to get a long 'lead time' on this. Any help gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance...

[tashabear]

Does anyone have a simple but effective tanning method that might work for rabbit skins. I have a group of scouts to teach later this year and I'd like to get them onto something like this. I'm slightly concerned that materials may not be available over here so I'm keen to get a long 'lead time' on this. Any help gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance...

I found this: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Home...bbit-Hides.aspxAre you planning on tanning the hides with the Scouts, or doing them yourself so the kids have something to work with? I've long wanted to teach pioneer skills, though there are a lot that I don't know myself yet.

Edited January 12, 2009 by tashabear

[celticleather]

Does anyone have a simple but effective tanning method that might work for rabbit skins. I have a group of scouts to teach later this year and I'd like to get them onto something like this. I'm slightly concerned that materials may not be available over here so I'm keen to get a long 'lead time' on this. Any help gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance...

If you're looking for easy and quick, then alum tanning may be a route to follow. The resulting leather is probably not as long-lasting as some, but the tanning process can be condensed into a few days. There's a website here http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/dressrab.htm

that explains the method.

Another alternative could be brain tanning, but if your Scouts are inclined to queasiness they may find this difficult to stomach!

http://www.braintan.com/articles/furs/george2.html

[UKRay]

I found this: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Home...bbit-Hides.aspxAre you planning on tanning the hides with the Scouts, or doing them yourself so the kids have something to work with? I've long wanted to teach pioneer skills, though there are a lot that I don't know myself yet.

I was planning on getting the kids to do the job themselves - having explored the task in depth in advance. I have a source of good fresh rabbits and i thought it might be an idea to get them to skin the bunny, eat the rabbit and tan the skin... am I being ambitious? Maybe, but they are pretty good kids and I think they would think hard about what they are doing and talk about this for years.

This will be part of a woodland skills weekend that is intended to teach them something more useful than carving their names on the trees in the local park... We have all kinds of good people offering to help and I was asked to do something with leather. yes, i could have done tooled keyfobs, but this is a lot more fun!

Thanks for the link, Tasha. I'll let you know how I get on...

[UKRay]

If you're looking for easy and quick, then alum tanning may be a route to follow. The resulting leather is probably not as long-lasting as some, but the tanning process can be condensed into a few days. There's a website here http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/dressrab.htm

that explains the method.

Another alternative could be brain tanning, but if your Scouts are inclined to queasiness they may find this difficult to stomach!

http://www.braintan.com/articles/furs/george2.html

It's ought to be the brains, Terry <grin!>

However, I agree that, in this instance, the alum soak would be the best and safest option. I dunno about queasy though - this lot are pretty bombproof and have you seen what kids eat these days... it's enough to make you shudder!

Thanks for the links guys. If nyone has any more hints I'd be very pleased to hear them.

Ray

[Kevin]

Tandy has Tannit solution. Catalog says it does 20lbs., hair on only.

Or, you could make them into rawhide, cut into lace and make some really cool lanyards.

Kevin

[MADMAX22]

Man that sounds really cool, I hope you can pull it off as that would be outstanding to do.