Author Topic: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip  (Read 3808 times)

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Offline hedgeapple

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Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« on: January 11, 2010, 05:05:51 pm »
I have a problem hopefully, some you can give me some suggestions.  I egg tanned a deer hide.  It's nice and soft, almost to a chamoise cloth feel.  I want to use it for a handle wrap for my bow.  But, I think it's actually too soft and too moisture absorbant.  Staining is easy, but I want to add some stiffness and some water repellant qualities to the hide.  What woud be your suggestions?
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline El Destructo

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2010, 05:17:53 pm »
Beeswax......I have taken Brain Tanned Deer Hide...and heat beeswax up and rub it into the Hide...when it hardens ...it stiffens the Hide up and waterproofs it in the Process....JMO
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Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2010, 05:33:57 pm »
El, would I wrap the handle with the buckskin while the beeswax was drying?  I'm needing the buckskin to shrink around the handle.
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline artcher1

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2010, 05:45:48 pm »
Rubbing in some Tite-bond III wood glue would give you a good water resistant grip. It'll stiffen the leather somewhat also. ART

Offline El Destructo

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2010, 06:06:52 pm »
I have never tried to make it shrink on the Bow before...I have put the Beeswax on with a Hairdryer...to make sure that it soaks all the way through the Deerskin...then sewn it on while it was still warm...and when it dried...it was a snug fit and it hardened some up when the wax set....maybe the Titebond would work better...may shrink it more...I do not know that for sure though
As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another.Why do you think we invented politics and religion.
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Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2010, 07:36:04 pm »
El, thanks for your honesty.  :)
Art, I was just looking at TBIII thinking about using it.  I guess I'll need to experiment on some scrap piece to find what I like.  Thanks for your all's in put.
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Roger

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2010, 11:00:34 pm »
Mix a whole box of strong Tea (tannins) in just enogh water to cover. Put the hide in and wait. Keep it in the house or garage and you'll have stiffer ( kinda bark tanned) leather in bout a week. Normally takes about a month to tan through. It will also stain the leather a med brown.

R.

Roger

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2010, 11:07:03 pm »
Here's one I did a few years back.



Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2010, 01:33:37 am »
Roger, beautiful work.  I love the beads.
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Roger

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2010, 07:27:36 pm »
Thanks...come to think of it mine was a raw hide. Yours should still take some stain. Have you smoked it to waterproof it yet. If not it should take the tannins.

R.

Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2010, 09:25:00 pm »
Roger, no I haven't do anything to stain the buckskin.  It still a pretty off-white.  But, I've decided to go with rawhide for the grips.  I just wasn't getting the results fromt he buckskin I wanted.  And, I'm too impatient to wait a week or two to see if I would like the tea stained buckskin.  :)
Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2010, 04:03:44 am »
Rubbing in some Tite-bond III wood glue would give you a good water resistant grip. It'll stiffen the leather somewhat also. ART

I had tried that before, and it came off in one! Are you sure this works??

Roger, that quiver is really nice!!!
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Offline Pappy

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Re: Staining Buckskin for a handle grip
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2010, 08:13:39 am »
Heavy smoking will give it some waterproofing quality's.Then I would just cut it to size dry,then take a 1/8 of an inch or so off the with,then wet it,stretch it and sew to the handle.It will shrink up tight on the handle.That is how I do it.The smoke will make it a light brown. :) It should dry a little stiffer also. :)
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