hide tanning question

shipley · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 12, 2012 Posts: 5

Just fleshed my first hide for tanning from a deer shot with a rifle. i got all of the fat/meat off of the hide but the hide is stained with blood from the bullet wound that will not scrape off. how do you get the blood off of the hide?

shipley · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 12, 2012 Posts: 5

I guess that i should also mention that i used the wet-scrape method. i now have the hide soaking in hardwood ash/water (with the blood still stained in the hide). when I get the hide out of the ash/water mixture will the blood come off after scraping it again?

Elvis · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:35 am Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

I believe so. cold water to remove blood. hot will set it. is the stain on the inside or in the hair/fur?? I seem to recall washing the hides in detergent and disinfectant after fleshing to get blood off, before starting the tanning.
none of my tanned hides still show blood stains so I reckon it will be gone. good luck and keep us posted.
oh yeah and welcome aboard
grab a cold beer from the cooler and join in the group.

Vince · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:12 am Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

As Elvis said, the actual tanning process should get rid if the blood. I've tanned a few hides and all blood "washed out" during the process.

Welcome aboard mate...don't be a stranger, I look forward to hearing more from your experiences.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:35 am Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

Well, I salted the hide down and let it sit for 5 days. I'm supposed to roll it up and ship to the tanners but it is very stiff. Will the small pieces of fat and meat still on the hide come off during the tanning process?

shipley · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 12, 2012 Posts: 5

Thanks for makin me feel so welcome and for the information, guys! I'll definantly keep ya'll posted on the process.
Elvis> The stain is on the inside of the skin. What kind of disinfectant do you wash your hides with?

Elvis · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

just plain old household stuff, sneak it from mums washing cupboard doesnt need to be strong.
Slim if they dont they didnt do the job right. it gets gone(blood stains too) in the last stage when they soften the hide by working it/breaking it. thats a light sanding/rubbing with a brick/pumice stone then breaking the fibres over a rounded post etc.

shipley · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 12, 2012 Posts: 5

Good news! I just stirred my hides in the ash water and all the blood has seemingly disappeared. Excited to get started with the brain tan in a few days. I have one whitetail deer brain and two whitetail deer hides... I'm doubtful that one brain will do two hides but I'll go ahead and ask: could i swing two hides with one brain?

gelandangan · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

don't know much about tanning, never been sucessful on it.

I heard 1 brain 1 hide is the recipe.
its actually more like "each animal have just enough brain to save their hides"

shipley · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 12, 2012 Posts: 5

right on, gelandangan! i'm keepin an eye out for some roadkill. i wish i could find me a pork brain or something in the supermarket...

Elvis · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:21 am Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

go see a butcher.. not the supermarket... a real good old fashioned corner shop butcher. they will be able to help.

Vince · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:49 am Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

Slim, you will find that the tannery will check the hide before they start the actual tanning process. If you have left anything behind they will clean it off the hide.

Elvis · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: hide tanning question

well how did the hides turn out?????