RVM45 Report post Posted July 8, 2009 When I worked in the slaughter houses; every once and awhile they'd skin out a fairly large red hog. The hair was a beautiful color, and I wondered if it could be tanned hair on, to make a leather jacket? I'm deliberately trying to avoid the word "Fur"; because hog bristles don't exactly fit that description... In fact, I have also wondered if the stiffness of the bristles wouldn't make a leather pigskin a bit uncomfortable to wear... Then again, perhaps the hair could be relaxed; coditioned; broken down a wee bit... If nothing else, it would make a bang-up novelty football... Anyway, anyone ever seen or tried it? .....RVM45 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mike59 Report post Posted April 19, 2010 Yes Sir, I sure 'nuff have, on several occasions. They was fairly securely wrapped around most every pig I ever encountered, and if my memory serves right, I'm thinkin' they all contained hair. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pancho47 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 That's funny ,I always wondered what happened to Jethro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WyomingSlick Report post Posted April 22, 2010 The reason you don't see "pig furs" is because the hairs (bristles) go completely through the skin and the follicles are actually anchored in the fatty layer underneath the skin. So when you remove the hide and then flesh it - that is scrape off the fatty connective tissue; you are removing the layer that anchors the bristles - thus, there is nothing to hold the bristles in. This is the same reason that pigskin is more breathable than most leather types - the holes, where the bristles were, go all the way through pigskin leather. This is also why you seldom see heavy pigskin like you do cowhide - the usable layer is not very heavy in most of the market pigs slaughtered each year which are animals running 200 lbs and down. PS. By the way, footballs are actually made with cowhide. The term comes from the early days when the ball was made from a pig bladder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrampaJoel Report post Posted April 27, 2010 WyomingSlick The reason you don't see "pig furs" is because the hairs (bristles) go completely through the skin and the follicles are actually anchored in the fatty layer underneath the skin. So when you remove the hide and then flesh it - that is scrape off the fatty connective tissue; you are removing the layer that anchors the bristles - thus, there is nothing to hold the bristles in. This is the same reason that pigskin is more breathable than most leather types - the holes, where the bristles were, go all the way through pigskin leather. This is also why you seldom see heavy pigskin like you do cowhide - the usable layer is not very heavy in most of the market pigs slaughtered each year which are animals running 200 lbs and down. PS. By the way, footballs are actually made with cowhide. The term comes from the early days when the ball was made from a pig bladder. What a kind and wonderful answer. You sir are a fine person! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unicornleather Report post Posted October 10, 2010 We still use pigskin (without bristles) on saddle seats as it is so hard wearing . Old harness makers taught us to use a hog's bristle when hand stitching very long fixed loops on harness as the awls were too short and not pliable enough to bend through the loops, still use that technique today as nothing has ever been found that is better! Oz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.A. Kabatoff Report post Posted October 10, 2010 Oz, do you know of a supplier of quality pigskin who would ship small quantities (three or four hides) to North America? I have been wanting to use it for inlaid seats on western saddles but it has become impossible to find here. Darcy We still use pigskin (without bristles) on saddle seats as it is so hard wearing . Old harness makers taught us to use a hog's bristle when hand stitching very long fixed loops on harness as the awls were too short and not pliable enough to bend through the loops, still use that technique today as nothing has ever been found that is better! Oz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unicornleather Report post Posted October 10, 2010 Hello, Have you tried my main supplier abbeysaddlery.co.uk ? They sell it from £2.40 per square foot plus postage plus the dreaded vat (Very Annoying Tax !) in 7 colours too OR one of my other suppliers is Leprevo.co.uk here is pasted below a few bits off of their site This pigskin is intended to be used on the leather side but is often clean enough to be used as a suede. Order Code Type Colours Substance mm Hide Size ft² Price / ft² 087 pigskin natural, brown black 0.8 - 1.0 10 to 15 £1.28 Pigskin suede comes in larger pieces than sheep nappa and has a wonderful drape. It is suitable for all fashion garments. Order Code Type Colours Hide Size ft² Price / ft² 021 Pigskin suede click here 10 to 15 £1.84 102 Pigskin suede click here 10 to 15 £1.46 If you are really brave and want a saddle to stand out try this!!!!!!!!!! This is made by a process which bonds metal foil to a pigskin base. It is a suitable weight for clothing but it is a luxury material not guaranteed to be dry cleanable and not machine washable. It is stocked in the following colours Gold, Silver, Old Gold, Old Silver, Turquoise and Fuchsia. Order Code Type Colours Hide Size ft² Price / ft² 024 Metallic foiled pigskin click here 8 to 12 £2.46 Hope this helps?? Oz Oz, do you know of a supplier of quality pigskin who would ship small quantities (three or four hides) to North America? I have been wanting to use it for inlaid seats on western saddles but it has become impossible to find here. Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
