Does Anyone Make Their Own Leather?

[mandyregal]

I'm curious if anyone on here makes their own leather. I'm interested in turning a cowhide into tool-able leather at home. I've searched and didn't find anything. Just looking for info. I'm proficient at the braintan buckskin process, but I've never tried any cow hides. Thanks in advance

Mandy

[Cyberthrasher]

I've never heard of anybody doing tooling leather themselves. This sounds similar to the little bit I've read on the subject. Just the fact that it says you need enough bark to equal twice the weight of the hide is enough to turn me away.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8513326_vegetable-tan-leather.html

[TwinOaks]

I suggest reading the "foxfire" books...there's some information in there about tanning leather...the OLD way.

If you decide to do it, you'll need a big vat, a lot of bark, and a lot of time.

[Chief31794]

I suggest reading the "foxfire" books...there's some information in there about tanning leather...the OLD way.

If you decide to do it, you'll need a big vat, a lot of bark, and a lot of time.

And you still won't as nice a side of leather than what you would get from suppliers. I think that you would have to do a lot of them to make it cost effective and you may never reach the break even point. I equate it to making your own bowling ball at home, you could probably do it but is the "juice worth the squeeze?"

Chief

[cem]

I looked into it awhile ago as one of my relatives runs a large wholesale butcher and has their own beef slaughted and I could of got all the hides I wanted but the time it takes just wouldn't of made it worthwhile. Takes at least six months and I didn't want to wait that long and it to be unusable also uses a lot of water and I don't think my local council would of liked me tanning leather in my tiny backyard.

This site goes into a bit more detail than the e how http://www.braintan.com/barktan/1basics.htm

Cheers,

Clair

Edited February 6, 2013 by cem

[oltoot]

Just FYI, most of the nuisance and zoning laws currently on the books have their origins as communities began to try to get rid of or limit backyard tanning. In early settlement times, their weren't a few large tanneries but one in almost every new settlement as leather was an important material for so many things and transportation and communication had not yet developed to very sophisticated levels. When the industrial revolution began to spawn concentration and specialization, tanning followed the trend and concentrated where water and bark were plentiful. Or so I've been told.

[celticleather]

Take a look at this little photo-essay: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-14442109

It's the tannery where I buy my leather, and it may be enough to put you off trying it at home!

Edited February 7, 2013 by celticleather

[Matt S]

Well if the slow speed, smell and mess don't put you off, take a look at Ron Edwards' excellent Traditional Australian Bushcrafts, usually available from a secondhand bookseller for a few dollars. He dedicates a few pages to the making of rawhide and veg tan.

Also, take a look at this document: http://www.tannerbates.co.uk/index.php/download_file/-/view/146/

Edited February 7, 2013 by Matt S

[Cyberthrasher]

Take a look at this little photo-essay: http://www.bbc.co.uk...ctures-14442109

It's the tannery where I buy my leather, and it may be enough to put you off trying it at home!

That was a pretty cool little slideshow. But, at times I thought it looked a lot like cleaning a septic tank. I'll stick to working it back into something beautiful and let them do the dirty work.

[mandyregal]

Thanks to everybody who replied. If I give it a go, I'll let you know how it turns out. Unfortunately, from some of the reading I've done, it might be 6 to 8 months until I know if I've wasted my time and effort.

[celticleather]

That was a pretty cool little slideshow. But, at times I thought it looked a lot like cleaning a septic tank. I'll stick to working it back into something beautiful and let them do the dirty work.

The early part of the process smells pretty much like cleaning a septic tank, but after the 12-month tanning process, the smell of the leather is wonderful . . . quite unique!

Interestingly, Tanner Bates (see link in post above) buys his leather from the same tannery. I just found another little video of the tannery in Devon http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m564/celticleather/?action=view&current=Tannery.mp4

[Jax]

thanks for he videos celticleather, they are really interesting, I had heard a rumour that Bakers have closed the tannery is this true?

[Cyberthrasher]

The early part of the process smells pretty much like cleaning a septic tank, but after the 12-month tanning process, the smell of the leather is wonderful . . . quite unique!

Interestingly, Tanner Bates (see link in post above) buys his leather from the same tannery. I just found another little video of the tannery in Devon http://s1132.photobu...ent=Tannery.mp4

I love that new leather smell when I open the box, so I believe you there

[UKRay]

Bakers are not closed - I just had a call from them!

Ray

[lightningad]

just seen a book on ebay(uk site) - called "Tan your hide" from 1979. dont remember anymore details, except it appeared hilst searching for "full leather hides". might have some useful info for the budding tanner.

[MakerUnknown]

That tanning video was fascinating. Look at this one in Fez, Morocco. One of the oldest tanneries in the world

[Jax]

Bakers are not closed - I just had a call from them!

Ray

Thanks Ray thats brilliant