Either way, keep creating videos if you are up to it because you're helping some young pups like me learn useful skill trades and we appreciate you and sharing your knowledge with us!
Thank you so much for these videos! I have a highland cow hide, from a steer we butchered about 18 months ago. I had no idea how to tan a hide at the time, so as soon as we got the hide off the animal we heavily salted it, rolled it up and put it in the freezer. Its been there ever since. I am wondering now if i ruined it because I didn't let it dry out after i salted it. I would love any advice on what my first step should bw when i take it out of the freezer!
I'm a beginner on working with leather and I really want to do everything from start to finish, but have had zero idea where to start with tanning. I just finished watching every video and I learned a lot during it all! Thank you for that. I hope you make more videos in the future; I've subbed and personalized my notifications. There were a few parts I missed when video ended too soon and I didn't catch how some of it worked, such as a soaking for a few weeks in the tanning solution you mentioned in a prior video and using egg, brain, something else as tanning mineral. Is the tanning mineral you used what you were referring to as the tanning solution or are they two different processes?
Hi Rachel, thanks for watching! Yes, the alum is what I use for tanning, with salt in the water. You soak it for two weeks, then apply the egg solution after it is done soaking in the alum.
Hi Sabrina! If you're planning to mineral tan then there's really no need to wash the salt since you'll be using it in the tanning process. If you're planning to brain or egg tan then I would wash it. If you're keeping hair on and you haven't washed the hair thoroughly then I would recommend doing that before starting the tanning process.
I am currently trying my hand at salting a comw hide but i am quite confused with everyones different infor yours has been quite helpful. How do you store the salted hide? How do you determine when it is done drying out? I had salted it folded and sealed in an air tight container and thhen resalted a second day. Had it in a container for another day. By day three there was a lot less moisture...but then i rewatched ur video and realized i may have done something wrong so then i laid it out over night...of course now it feels very moist and i am just unsure of when i begin the next process or if i am supposed to keep in folded and sealed for 2 weaks as so some say...help pleas😅
There are lots of different ways to do it, and I think most of them work!! If it seemed like it was drying out that's great and the goal. If you live in a humid environment the salt can pull moisture out of the air and can make the hide feel more moist, that's ok. I would let it sit out until it seems like it's almost dry but still pliable, almost like cardboard. Then if you want to store it, fold it up and put it in a bag or tub. If you're ready to start tanning then you can just go ahead with the next step! Happy tanning!!
I live in Sc so it is more humid here but has been cooling down. If it starts drying out but isnt fully dry it is still okay to put it in a tub to store it? Would I store it in a bin with salt on it still? Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.
I would say you don't want it to feel moist at all, because that increases the chances of mold. When I fold mine up to store I leave all of the salt on it. Some will fall off as you're folding but I like it stored with as much salt as possible.
Okay, you have no idea how much I appreciate your assistance! These videos have been quite helpful. One last question for now. During the night, if I am leaving it out to dry, but the evening becomes a bit dewy, how do I keep my hide from becoming moistened again? What is the ideal place to store a bucketed hide? I have a shed in the back but that can become quite warm. I considered placing it in a bucket in my house but wasn't sure if it would bring a smell or not. Generally, it doesn't have a strong scent, but I have roommates 😅
If it's getting dewy at night but getting incrementally more dry over the day I would leave it spread out until it reaches the dryness you want, then roll and store in the afternoon/evening, before the dew rolls in and when it's at its driest. I have about 20 cow hides all stored in my basement, rolled up and then stored in garbage bags. There's no smell. Did you already flesh it? If so, you should be fine with storing inside. I don't store mine in sheds because mice and other pests like hides, but depending on how secure your space is, it might be an ok option too. Generally cool and dry is the best for long term storage. I'm so glad the videos have been helpful!!
thank you so much for this series! maybe you could help me with this. so after salting in drying (wich i did with a little bit of fat n stuff) i want to take of all the little fat that is stilldry and attached to the hide. should i scrape it dry... or should i wet it again before scraping? thank you sooo much great vids. got me going again... i was about to not do it!
I'm so glad the videos have been helpful!! You can wet or dry scrape, it's probably less labor intensive to just go ahead and dry scrape it since it's already dry. I would love to hear how it all turns out!
It depends on the thickness of your hide and how much humidity is in the air, but usually a few days well salted. If the hide is very wet you can shake off the wet salt after a day and add fresh dry salt, which will speed the drying process.
Either way, keep creating videos if you are up to it because you're helping some young pups like me learn useful skill trades and we appreciate you and sharing your knowledge with us!
Yay!!! Totally rocking it, Lindsey! 😍😍😍
Thank you so much for these videos! I have a highland cow hide, from a steer we butchered about 18 months ago. I had no idea how to tan a hide at the time, so as soon as we got the hide off the animal we heavily salted it, rolled it up and put it in the freezer. Its been there ever since. I am wondering now if i ruined it because I didn't let it dry out after i salted it. I would love any advice on what my first step should bw when i take it out of the freezer!
I'm a beginner on working with leather and I really want to do everything from start to finish, but have had zero idea where to start with tanning. I just finished watching every video and I learned a lot during it all! Thank you for that. I hope you make more videos in the future; I've subbed and personalized my notifications. There were a few parts I missed when video ended too soon and I didn't catch how some of it worked, such as a soaking for a few weeks in the tanning solution you mentioned in a prior video and using egg, brain, something else as tanning mineral. Is the tanning mineral you used what you were referring to as the tanning solution or are they two different processes?
Hi Rachel, thanks for watching! Yes, the alum is what I use for tanning, with salt in the water. You soak it for two weeks, then apply the egg solution after it is done soaking in the alum.
Is it Alum or aluminum sulfate you use?
I AGREE -SO MUCH INFO IS LEFT OUT.
Hi, I have a salted hide, would you wash it after scrapping the salt off before tanning? Thanks
Hi Sabrina! If you're planning to mineral tan then there's really no need to wash the salt since you'll be using it in the tanning process. If you're planning to brain or egg tan then I would wash it. If you're keeping hair on and you haven't washed the hair thoroughly then I would recommend doing that before starting the tanning process.
I am currently trying my hand at salting a comw hide but i am quite confused with everyones different infor yours has been quite helpful.
How do you store the salted hide? How do you determine when it is done drying out? I had salted it folded and sealed in an air tight container and thhen resalted a second day. Had it in a container for another day. By day three there was a lot less moisture...but then i rewatched ur video and realized i may have done something wrong so then i laid it out over night...of course now it feels very moist and i am just unsure of when i begin the next process or if i am supposed to keep in folded and sealed for 2 weaks as so some say...help pleas😅
There are lots of different ways to do it, and I think most of them work!! If it seemed like it was drying out that's great and the goal. If you live in a humid environment the salt can pull moisture out of the air and can make the hide feel more moist, that's ok. I would let it sit out until it seems like it's almost dry but still pliable, almost like cardboard. Then if you want to store it, fold it up and put it in a bag or tub. If you're ready to start tanning then you can just go ahead with the next step! Happy tanning!!
I live in Sc so it is more humid here but has been cooling down. If it starts drying out but isnt fully dry it is still okay to put it in a tub to store it? Would I store it in a bin with salt on it still? Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.
I would say you don't want it to feel moist at all, because that increases the chances of mold. When I fold mine up to store I leave all of the salt on it. Some will fall off as you're folding but I like it stored with as much salt as possible.
Okay, you have no idea how much I appreciate your assistance! These videos have been quite helpful. One last question for now. During the night, if I am leaving it out to dry, but the evening becomes a bit dewy, how do I keep my hide from becoming moistened again? What is the ideal place to store a bucketed hide? I have a shed in the back but that can become quite warm. I considered placing it in a bucket in my house but wasn't sure if it would bring a smell or not. Generally, it doesn't have a strong scent, but I have roommates 😅
If it's getting dewy at night but getting incrementally more dry over the day I would leave it spread out until it reaches the dryness you want, then roll and store in the afternoon/evening, before the dew rolls in and when it's at its driest. I have about 20 cow hides all stored in my basement, rolled up and then stored in garbage bags. There's no smell. Did you already flesh it? If so, you should be fine with storing inside. I don't store mine in sheds because mice and other pests like hides, but depending on how secure your space is, it might be an ok option too. Generally cool and dry is the best for long term storage. I'm so glad the videos have been helpful!!
Few people only knew this in Philippines.
thank you so much for this series!
maybe you could help me with this. so after salting in drying (wich i did with a little bit of fat n stuff) i want to take of all the little fat that is stilldry and attached to the hide. should i scrape it dry... or should i wet it again before scraping? thank you sooo much great vids. got me going again... i was about to not do it!
I'm so glad the videos have been helpful!! You can wet or dry scrape, it's probably less labor intensive to just go ahead and dry scrape it since it's already dry. I would love to hear how it all turns out!
How long does it take for it to be completely dry and crunchy. How long should we leave it out for that. I'm just making tug toys for my dogs
It depends on the thickness of your hide and how much humidity is in the air, but usually a few days well salted. If the hide is very wet you can shake off the wet salt after a day and add fresh dry salt, which will speed the drying process.
I’m not going to be able to get to my hide for a while after I get it do you think I could salt it with the flesh still on and store for a while?
For how long do you leave on the salt if you want to store the hide? And do you brush off the salt before rolling and storing?
I just leave it on when I roll there hide up. Some will fall off the edges, but I don't shake it or brush it off.
How much time do you have after skinning the cow to get the hide salted before it ruins?
Ideally no more than 24hrs.
Where do you buy a your salt,
Helloo