Tare- you can use just borax, but you will need to work it\ stretch it just bout non stop for probably 15 hours to get it supple. better off using the eggs, its not a bad process. it doesnt smell bad like you think it would. its a lot easier.
easternarcher- just the eggs is sufficaint to preserve it and keep it supple, dont add anything else. and nope youdont wash the eggs out. the eggs are what soften the hide from the oils in the them. it doesnt smell bad, its a little inetersting for a day or 2 but certainly not bad and the smell goes away quickly and you would never know a month later - Ryan