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Author Topic: Brain tanned elk hide  (Read 5285 times)

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Offline BowEd

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Brain tanned elk hide
« on: September 28, 2021, 07:06:03 pm »
Just about finished with this elk hide.I wanted to finish it before the colder weather came here.It was around a 900 + pound animal.Frame softened it to almost dry and roping the rest of the way.Came out pretty nice.Right around 27 to 28 square foot.I'll smoke it later in a tube.



« Last Edit: October 07, 2021, 05:44:30 am by BowEd »
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline Pat B

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2021, 07:09:20 pm »
That's beautiful, Ed.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2021, 07:33:29 pm »
Thanks Pat.I'm pleased with it too.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2021, 07:39:34 pm »
Some pics before hand.


I made a bigger frame yet to stake it in to allow it to stretch more.Dry scrape dehaired it in a couple short afternoons.Since the hair and epidermis is off already it did'nt take that long to lime it.About a week.Delimed it with rinsings and in a vinegar bath overnight.Rinsed it.Brained it.Laced it back into the frame and staked it dry.That's my ringing pole in previous pictures I used to twist the water out of it.
Softening in the frame actually makes the hide a shade larger than as it was as rawhide making it thinner.The extra thickness of the elk hide makes it more compatable for garment leather then.


A fair amount of work but worth it to me in the end.Ai'nt nothing like brain tan leather!!!!!The discolored areas on the rawhide after dehairing mean nothing as far as epidermis being left on it.It's the actual color of the rawhide itself.The epidermis is thicker than on deer and extra strokes are needed to remove it all.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2021, 07:02:39 pm by BowEd »
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline Digital Caveman

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2021, 07:55:20 pm »
Wow, I wonder how many jackets you can get out of that!
How does smoking in a tube work? that sounds so much simpler than rigging up a sack.
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Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2021, 03:27:47 am »
Full length pieces with no seams type garments can be made out of these larger elk hides or many smaller projects.
By smoking in a tube I mean sewing it top and sides with a skirt at the open bottom end and smoked.
In such a fashion.

This elk hide I'll have to suspend it from the trusses of the shed though.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2021, 08:29:04 am by BowEd »
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline Digital Caveman

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2021, 09:30:05 am »
O, I thought that was the normal way.  How do you typically do it?
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Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2021, 02:27:05 pm »
That is a nice hide!  Waiting to see the finish!
Hawkdancer
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Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2021, 11:49:46 pm »
The work part is done Hawkdancer.Smoking it is a breeze.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2021, 12:13:09 am »
Don't get hung up on terms tradecraftsman.It'll all work out for ya.
« Last Edit: September 30, 2021, 07:42:04 am by BowEd »
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline WhistlingBadger

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2021, 06:24:19 pm »
Very nice!  Sure wish I had one of these to keep me busy this year.  Almost...
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Thomas
Lander, Wyoming
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Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for."
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Offline BowEd

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2021, 09:08:17 pm »
An hour on each side worth of smoking.

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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline Mesophilic

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2021, 12:02:37 pm »
Very nice!

What projects do you have in mind for it?
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Offline medicinewheel

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2021, 05:50:43 pm »
WOW... like that!
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Frank from Germany...

Online Outbackbob48

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Re: Brain tanned elk hide
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2021, 07:08:00 pm »
Ed, real nice color on that one, looks to be nice and soft also , a job well done. how long softing in the frame before going to the cable. Bob
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