Tanning question

[Caveman]

how do make fur hides, how do i make buckskin hides and what are the steps to do both?

[Minuteman]

You need to do some reading , amigo.
 
 http://64.62.177.152/Bark%20Tanning/?14@844.hyBOaroakly.0@
 
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/5
 
 The first one has a window you can drop down. It has a list of other selections , alum tawing being one you might be interested in for furs.
 A good book that covers alot of info is " The Complete Book of Tanning Skins and Furs" By James Churchill
Have fun, its a lot of work.

[Caveman]

not alot of info on those sight mman. mainly just alot more questions. I have heard of veggie tanning too. any ideas?

[Minuteman]

Not alot of info? Did you read anything or just browse the posts?
 I have 4 deer hides in a bark tanning solution in my basement right now. put 'em in on the 5th of December.
 Don't tell me there isn't alot of info on those sights. You just gotta wanna find it.
 
 heres another:
 
 http://www.braintan.com/articles/index.htm

[Hillbilly]

There is no instant gratification in hide tanning. It's hard work, lots of it. But the end results are worth it if you stick it out. The process of braintanning is way too involved to get into in a post. I think there's a couple tan-alongs on here somewhere. If you want to learn to make buckskin, the first thing I would suggest is to order a copy of Matt Richard's book Deerkins into Buckskins, read it all the way through about ten times, then get some hides and start playing.

[Minuteman]

I agree with the tater tot king.  ;)I learned I didn't want to brain tan hides from that book. My job is hard enough on my hands and couldn't see hurting myself that much more. Thats why I bark tan.Skin, flesh, buck, soak in bark juice for two months, break and yer done. Still work but not as much.

[Caveman]

mman, that last site you gave me was tons better. it actually went in depth. thanks

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5972.0.html

here is a tan along a did a while back.  its a very easy process but still lots of elbow grease. - Ryan

[Easternarcher]

There is no instant gratification in hide tanning. It's hard work, lots of it. But the end results are worth it if you stick it out. The process of braintanning is way too involved to get into in a post. I think there's a couple tan-alongs on here somewhere. If you want to learn to make buckskin, the first thing I would suggest is to order a copy of Matt Richard's book Deerkins into Buckskins, read it all the way through about ten times, then get some hides and start playing.

RIGHT ON HILLBILLY!

I just did a mink pelt with Alum tanning......Even that was chore enough!! Breaking that hide takes time. I almost tore it in half too!
I dread breaking the buckskin I got waiting for me.

[Minuteman]

I've got 4 bark tanned deer skins almost done. I don't relish the work involved in breaking those either.
 Just finished acid tanning a cat skin last week , turned out great.

[Easternarcher]

I've got 4 bark tanned deer skins almost done. I don't relish the work involved in breaking those either.
 Just finished acid tanning a cat skin last week , turned out great.

So Fluffy finally becomes useful huh?  

[JackCrafty]

Although this question gets asked many times, I'm glad it does.

I thought I was going to be able to process and tan my own hides in a reasonable amount of time, but I think I'm going to buy all my skins (and rawhide) from now on.  I just can't see the benefit of tanning my own if I need more than 2 hides a year.  Doing one or two skins is enjoyable, but I found that more than that will wear me out.

Home tanning hides is for the hard-core primitive enthusiast.  If you are one...then dive right in....you'll love it.

In my opinion, and to answer your question, you make furs and buckskins the same way, and here are the steps to both:

Buy or trade from a reputable source.