seveneves Report post Posted January 9, 2011 I aquired a great hide from an old skinny cow. I've heard they're the best for making rawhide. Right after I stretched it out the temperature dropped and hasn't come back up for several weeks. Is this going to weaken the hide or does it have any affect at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted January 10, 2011 No affect on it at all. We (and other tree makers) freeze a lot of our rawhide till we are ready to use it. We will freeze fresh hides too until Rod is ready to make rawhide. You don't want to be bending it around a bunch when it is frozen, but once it thaws out, it is good to go. We thaw ours in water, changed twice a day, till it is thawed. That keeps it fresh while the rest is thawing out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curlyjo Report post Posted January 10, 2011 If you have it on some sort of stretcher it won't hurt at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcsaddles Report post Posted January 10, 2011 When I start braiding rawhide, if I have to set it down for a day or more, I will store my rawhide in the freezer. Works great. Just don't let your cased and wet leather freeze. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites