? about tanned coyote hide

[Pat B]

I'm making a Plains style quiver with a commercial tanned coyote hide. I want to use the face but the snout, nose and ears are all crumpled up. Can I soak this in warm water and reshape them? ...or is it just how it is?

[bubby]

I have the same thing going pat, hope we get a answer we like 

[Pat B]

Yeah, bubby, me too.

[Zuma]

Try it! Use a formed stretcher to dry it over.
What's to lose.
Zuma

[Outbackbob48]

Pat , dampen back with a wet towel slowly  let it rehydrate,  make little card board pcs to hold ears erect an etc, let dry slowly I wouldn't use to much heat and don't get real wet just enough to move stuff, to wet and hair can slip Bob

[Pat B]

Thanks Bob, I'll give that a try.

[Pappy]

Good advice, Bob the hair will slip if it is already tanned ? that seems odd but you should know.
  Pappy

[Outbackbob48]

Pappy, Not sure if tanned hair will slip or not  but I know soaking wet is not good for tanned hides Moyle always sent a little note with returned furs about hydrating to improve looks of ears and such. Bob

[mullet]

Heck, that's what I wanted for my flintlock and you cut the tail and head off?

[Pat B]

I cut the tail and head off of this one too, Eddie. 

[Pat B]

Well, the moist towel softened the hide but didn't affect the cartilage. That is what is malformed. I guess I'll just live with it. 

[stickbender]

     Maybe you could put a wet towel on just the ear cartilage  and put a hot iron on the towel to steam the cartilage.  Just a guess.

                                    Wayne

[nclonghunter]

Wetting a tanned hide should not make the hair slip. If you kept it wet for a long time it may, but just to soften it, it shouldn't. Neatsfoot oil is a good leather softener and can be applied to the leather. You likely do not know if it is a chrome tan or alum tan. A chrome tan will not leach out when it gets wet. An alum tan can and will slowly leach out when it gets wet and will harden after a while. But it should take several times of getting wet.
The face cartilage does not soften easily and you can cause the whiskers to break and fall out, as well as damaging the nose so be gentle around those areas if you try a soften them.
Good Luck..l

[Pat B]

NC, that's where I'm having trouble, around the nose. The ears don't bother me, they make it look mean the way they are laying down.    This coyote face is going to be the flap for a possible bag.