Rawhide tutorial

[rgerbitz]

Here's how I did it. This is about my 9th or 10th time I've done this and I still have quite a bit of room for improvement. Hope this helps anyone thinking they may want to try this. And if there are any thoughts on what I might have done diffferent or better I would be happy to hear them.

First I purchased the hide from the local meat locker for $40 and was able to start working with it within 3 hours of the last heart beat.

All of the excess fat and meat was removed first

It is a great way to get some peace and quite, cause nobody wants to be around for that.

Next, drop the whole works in a barrel of water with a coffee can of barn lime mixed in. I have found that starting with warm water seems to speed up the process alot. (Thank you KAW for that)

After 3 days in the lime the hair was ready to slip or push off, I layed a 2x6 between 2 barrels and pulled the hide over that.

It's best to do this in a shady spot, so as not to get the hide sunburned.

If everything has gone according to plan the hair should come off fairly easy, it did this time but I have had to wait close to 2 weeks before the hair would slip. I think it was because it was in the fall and it was to cold.

After I get the hair all scrapped off I rinse the hide with the garden hose trying to get as much of the lime and hair off as possible.

Then it's back into the barrel for 24 hours with a gallon of vinagar and enough water to cover the whole hide.

(continued on nex thread)

[rgerbitz]

After pulling the hide from the vinegar and water I rinsed it again, but you will see later that I didn't get a good job done of that.

Then it was layed out and strethed on a frame made of some old fence posts.

The hair left on the hide is there because I was running short on time and had to quit on it.

After the hide had dried completely I was able to remove the remaining hair with a knife held perpendicular to the surface the hide and scrapped it off. I scrapped all the hair off the first hide this way, I don't recommend it, it really sucks.

After finishing up on the hair I took a home made compass that can mark out up to a 3 foot circle, and layed out the cirlces I could cut out trying my best to avoid any weak spots in the hide that might make for some junk string later. I then used a pair of tin snips to cut those circles out while the hide was still dry.

I will later soak those circles in water for an hour or so then temper for the better part of a day then cut a skive into string to be braided with. Maybe I can make a tutorial of that someday.

You can kinda of see in the last picture some chalky areas on the hide, I think I either didn't leave it in the vinagar long enough or I didn't do a good job of rinsing it out that last time.

Please feel free to question or critique anything I have done, like I said earlier I know I have some room for improvement.

If there is something that isn't clear please let me know, there are a few more pictures that might help.

Have a good one

Rob

[Timothy]

Thank you Rob,

I've been wanting to try this, and the pictures really help.

I do have a couple of questions.

About what size is your frame?

Just out of curiosity, was the big circle the butt? I haven't worked with many large pieces so I can' tell.

Timothy

[rgerbitz]

Hello Timothy,

Glad you like it. The frame is 7 1/2 foot square and it could be a bit bigger, maybe 8 x 8. But this one works just good enough that I can't bring myself to change.

The big cirlce was from the neck, usually I can't cut across the whole neck like that cause of bug damage to the top line but this one was in really good shape.

Hope this helps

Rob

[carr52]

Great tutorial. Thank you. I wont be happy till I try it now.

Thanks again, Tom

[Timothy]

Thank you Rob.

I'm going to build one and try to find a hide locally.

Timothy

[pavilionpony]

Oh wow Rob. Thank you for posting. I wish I knew this before we butchered (and buried the hides of- the shame of it!!!) two cows last month. I'm always late and never win on a lottery ticket either! Darn. I will definatley hang on to this info!

[rawhider]

Great post! Thats how i've done most of my hides, but I love seeing how other folks do it. I always learn something new.

Question: What is the purpose of soaking the hide in a water/vinegar mix after you've slicked the hair?

[rgerbitz]

The vinegar helps to nuetrilize the effects of the lime and dissolve what may be remaining off. I have had hides that I did not leave in the vinegar long enough turn out with a kind of chalky film on them in places.

Rob

[Hennessy]

The vinegar helps to nuetrilize the effects of the lime and dissolve what may be remaining off. I have had hides that I did not leave in the vinegar long enough turn out with a kind of chalky film on them in places.

Rob

rob an old tree maker from n z told me he slipped hair by laying hide over a rapid in a fast running creek.lay a few rocks on it as an anchor,move rocks around every day or so hide will enlarge n hair will slip.whats left is rawhide ,make sure you drink from creek above rapid adios peter john