aurora Report post Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) Hi, I just joined this forum, so I wanted to say some words. I am from Germany and mostly interested in medieval leaterworking for reenactment and medieval-fairs but also intersted in using these techniques on other occasions as well. I am interested in learning how to make leather from skin as well. What I did up to now is participate in a natural tanning workshop where a small group tanned a piece of leather with eggs and a lot of manual labour pulling and squeezing it. It was fun and I need to think of what special item I want to make with my share of the skin. I also made a quiver for archery from scrap leather that I bought, a long bow tube to store a longbow protected from rain. I also made a pair of medieval shoes from soft and harder leather (for the soles) and a couple of pouches to dangle from a belt. Oh and I make a small bag of fur of muskrat that needs to be finished. What I am working on currently is to get skins to try tanning when I have time for it and to make a vest from sheep-fur. My related questions on that (and the reasons I am joining here at this time) are * how to store skins that I may get from a hunter or butcher until I have the time to tan them? May take several months until I get to it. * Are there any good instructions on how to make a sheep-fur vest, like how to cut the pieces with measurements. I think I want the furry side inside because it is soft and comfy. * how to make the surface of leather soft and clean. The sheepskin I have for the vest has a nice fur that is cut to a smooth length, but the other side (which should be outside with the vest) is only roughly prepared. I think the best option would be to make what I believe is called suede (which is kind of a soft and smooth surface). So I would need to find out how to make this. I thought of using sandpaper or something like that, but dont want to ruin the skins. So if anyone can comment on these projects and maybe point me to where I most likely can find some answers, I would be delighted. Many thanks Aurora Attachments: Self-made quiver & image of a (commercial) example of the type of vest I want to make. Edited April 6, 2012 by aurora Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazznow Report post Posted April 6, 2012 Hi und Willkommen im Forum! Welcome to the Forum! In Order to conserve a Hide you have to get rid Off the water in it, by drying it on a really warm Day in the shadow (Never in the Sun, it will Ruin your hide) or by salting it, but you can Ruin the hide if u Take too much or too few Salt too. You should be ok, when u get the ammount of water in the hide to 10 percent of its weight but i have no clue how to Measure this. i dont know if the hides are conserved for a Long Time that Way. All the above is theoretical Knowledge, i learned at the Berufsschule (Profession School?). Never did this myself, so i cant promise anything Greetings Jonathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWL Report post Posted April 6, 2012 Aurora, welcome to the LW forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted April 6, 2012 Aurora, Welcome to the forum. Another way to store the skins till you are ready to work on them is to freeze them. Just make sure they are well wrapped in plastic so they don't end up freezer burned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted April 6, 2012 Welcome to the forum.....nice work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbob Report post Posted April 8, 2012 Hi, I just joined this forum, so I wanted to say some words. I am from Germany and mostly interested in medieval leaterworking for reenactment and medieval-fairs but also intersted in using these techniques on other occasions as well. I am interested in learning how to make leather from skin as well. What I did up to now is participate in a natural tanning workshop where a small group tanned a piece of leather with eggs and a lot of manual labour pulling and squeezing it. It was fun and I need to think of what special item I want to make with my share of the skin. I also made a quiver for archery from scrap leather that I bought, a long bow tube to store a longbow protected from rain. I also made a pair of medieval shoes from soft and harder leather (for the soles) and a couple of pouches to dangle from a belt. Oh and I make a small bag of fur of muskrat that needs to be finished. What I am working on currently is to get skins to try tanning when I have time for it and to make a vest from sheep-fur. My related questions on that (and the reasons I am joining here at this time) are * how to store skins that I may get from a hunter or butcher until I have the time to tan them? May take several months until I get to it. * Are there any good instructions on how to make a sheep-fur vest, like how to cut the pieces with measurements. I think I want the furry side inside because it is soft and comfy. * how to make the surface of leather soft and clean. The sheepskin I have for the vest has a nice fur that is cut to a smooth length, but the other side (which should be outside with the vest) is only roughly prepared. I think the best option would be to make what I believe is called suede (which is kind of a soft and smooth surface). So I would need to find out how to make this. I thought of using sandpaper or something like that, but dont want to ruin the skins. So if anyone can comment on these projects and maybe point me to where I most likely can find some answers, I would be delighted. Many thanks Aurora Attachments: Self-made quiver & image of a (commercial) example of the type of vest I want to make. Willkommen und Hallo aus Virginia....schau dich hier mal um....da hat es lauter tolle Leutchen die immer Rat wissen....echt tolle website!! Gruesse und Aloha.... James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Robert Report post Posted April 8, 2012 Welcome and enjoy the group, I am a newbie also. I heard a long time ago that you can freeze the hides but they must be well protected against freezer burning. If you place them in plastic wrap be sure to wrap it again in aaluminum foil. Plastic allows air through but the aluminum doesn't. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aurora Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Thanks for the welcome and the tips on conservation. Drying sounds good. Maybe best in a box that is fly-proof - where can I search for information on the other topic I am looking for - the finishing of the backside of the fur for the vest? A friend told me to just use sandpaper to get to that "suede" surface, she did some leatherwork but not this kind of work yet, so it is also only a guess.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
