1St Hide Dry Ash Method

[bucksnort]

Dehaired a hide today using the dry ash method. I'm a convert. took the hair off pretty easily, but my favorite part was the finish & the color of the hide. This was from a pure black animal & the hide turned out really evenly colored & black. Everything I've ever done with lime or even dry scaping has always turned out some shade of brown. Thanks Leatherpownder.

[curlyjo]

Why don't you come down here and give me a demo? I'll buy lunch!!!

[bcboots]

Please explain the "dry ash method" for those of us who are uneducated.

By the way you do fantastic work.

Blake

[bucksnort]

Brad, If I get down to the valley I'll take you up on it. If you get up north I'll let you practice on one of my hides, but then I should probably buy lunch. Blake, thanks for the compliment. Leatherpownder posted the method on here (Scraping Hides). You sprinkle fine ash on a stretched & dried hide & scrape with a hardwood stick. if you look at some of Leatherpownder's work you'll see what I mean about the way it preserves the color & check out his post for more particulars on the method. Buck

[Leatherpownder]

Good to hear it worked for you. We do need a pic though. I can't take credit for this method because it was taught to me buy Pablo Lozano from Argentina.

[megabit]

Any of you guys going to Buck Brannaman's roping in Santa Ynez later this month?

[Peter T]

I think it's great how you guys produce your own hides. That must be satisfying and something I hope to have a go at someday. Went close a few years back to getting some roos to tan myself but the bloke who was going to help me couldn't make it and haven't had the opportunity since. Oh well, one day...

Pete

[bucksnort]

Leatherpownder, You get the credit for sharing with us. Almost everything I know came from someone else. Megabit, I don't think I'll make it to the Buck Brannaman deal, wrong end of the State. Thanks Pete, I haven't gotten in to any tanning, but my son in law ask about tanning a bear hide & I told him I was game to try. Anyway, here's some pics. Not sure they do it justice (couldn't be my photography ability). This hide is from a 600 weight steer that died on a friends place. I just took the best of it & left behind flank, belly & brand. Still managed to nick it once. Buck

Edited October 6, 2013 by bucksnort

[Peter T]

That's cool, Buck. My knowledge of rawhide = next to nothing so I'll ask, is that rawhide? What do you think you'll use that to make?

Pete

[bucksnort]

Pete, Yeah it's rawhide. I make mostly reins, quirts & hondos. I'm starting to make a few bosals as my button work gets a little better. Not sure how rawhide would work for whips, I think Leatherpownder has some experience with roo rawhide. Buck

[rcsaddles]

I have seen a few rawhide whips that are very nice. I have braided roo and latigo whips but not tried rawhide yet. You guys are such an inspriation. I have to get after braidign more rawhide. Going to pass on all the little repair projects and cell phone cases and such that all they do is eat up time and energy. Can't make money on them anyway.

As a side note, I'm going to encourage all of you to consider making a rawhide item for the World Leather Debut for the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade show next May in Sheridan, Wyoming. They only had two items last year and I know the judge. He "yelled" at me for not entering something. I'll have an entry next time. I would also like to invite all of you to attend the trade show. I usually teach a braiding workshop and will again in 2014 if i can. I believe we need to make a showing of the braiding arts.

Thanks

[bucksnort]

Thanks Joe, I would think rawhide would be good. It would have more life than leather, not sure if that's good or bad. Since you mentioned the World Leather Debut a while back I've been considering planning a trip around it. I'll keep you posted. Buck

[rcsaddles]

Sounds great. If you make a trip there, I can introduce you to the people you need to know and possibly the ones you don't. It is always a great time there.