How to Tan a Buffalo Hide - Not So Easy | HISTORY | 1700s | REENACTING |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 พ.ค. 2023
- Peter gives a tutorial on how to tan buffalo hides
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Featuring - Peter Kelly
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Catherine Wolfe
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The Woodland Escape
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MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends, Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald.
#dyi #selfsufficiency #pioneer #1800s #frontier #history #reenactment #reenactors
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Thank you. I'm enjoying your channel. My first hide buffalo, you make it look easy, haha. I, by chance, Valentine's Day eating elk with a friend, mentioned I always wanted a buffalo robe. The next day and $40.00 was the proud owner of a fresh buffalo hide. It's on my bed now it has a nice winter fur. It was well worth all the hard labor that was put into it.
Thank you for your dedication and keeping old traditions alive
Can't wait to see the finished project thanks for sharing.
Coming soon. Thanks for your interest.
Man I love watching your videos and all the history. Thanks
Our pleasure, Rick. Glad you’re enjoying.
Ah, I was waiting for this one Peter. Great subject! Like the story about the three year old riding the trampoline hide. Bet he was tickled pink and didn't want to leave!
Yup, mom had a tough time getting him off.
Hi Peter, thanks for the great info and presentation! As been said before great job take care and see ya on the next friend👍
Glad you liked it.
I see you're at Martin's Station. I gotta run down there and see you!
Thank you for the video, as always very informative and quite humorous.
Thank you.
Fascinating, what a journey through the Tanning process, is no wonder that Buffalo Jacket’s were popular. Never would have thought it can take so long.
Right! And then there is the sewing part, lol.
I love u thx for all ur time and wisdom I will pass it on. I got my first buffalo hide
If it’s a raw hide you have your work cut out for you!
There is a lot of hard work to tan the hides. You will even hone your trampoline skills. Lol. Thanks for another great video.
Right … I thought of actually trying a flip then remembered I just turned 70 lol!
Another excellent video!
And I thank you, sir.
Thank you for making a mention of how the Algonquin and Ojibwa tribes and their Hunter gatherer shelters. I have a little bit of them in my blood and so I am excited that someone mentioned them. Thank you sir.
You have some fine blood in your veins and it is my pleasure.
Mr Pete...how do you know so much!!!!!! Incredible!!! Stay well...Robin
There is lots of stuff I this old brain, the problem is retrieving it, lol.
Informative as always Peter thank you the video!!!
Thank you, sir.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! If only I had the time. I have tanned hide, but small scale. It takes a watchful eye to be sure, to produce quality. Nick the hide get a hole, over wet or soak and hair slips, over scrape , too thin, over heat while smoking and shrivels up. We learn by doing though. Quality tools will last for generations! Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
Certainly more work than I anticipated. Watch yer top knot.
I’ve just finished my first skin following your tutorial. The bucking pole made all of the difference. It has been a few years since I’ve done one and I can’t even remember how I held the skin in place while I worked, but it took forever. I’d forgotten how messy the job was so my first project was an apron. Looks pretty crude but its 100% functional. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I’ll be utilizing every skin I harvest from now on.
Congratulations, it is a great feeling to utilize as much of the animals we harvest as possible. We appreciate your interest.
Unbelievable how large of an animal those are. We have several scrapers from this area. Lots of mounds around here and on my farm we have artifacts. How much fun those kids were having a jump on those too. Well done once again.
As always, Kathy, I thank you for your continued interest in our endeavours.
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your live history videos
Thanks Earl.
Outstanding video brother
Nice Video Peter, I enjoyed watching it and listening to you. Your tool looks like everything you do, it's built right, handy and worthy of an attaboy.
About pesky flies....I accidentally found out that by placing a dab of VICS VapoRub on the tips of my ears and by rubbing a dab on my forehead and uncovered forearms while sitting at my computer, houseflies and mosquitoes would not bother me. I think the Eucalyptus in the VapoRub is what chases them off. I have given thought to putting a hanging basket of the plant by the doors if it is possible to grow in a hanging basket or in containers set by the doors.
As bad as the product smells it would smell better than my method of smoke bathing my clothes over green juniper dropped over coals. Might just give it a try.
As ive ready many books ive often trued to visualize this process. Thanks peter. From paducah KY
Drove through part of Kentucky on route to Martins Station this past weekend, pretty darn fine county! Appreciate your interest.
@@TheWoodlandEscape thank you sir. Love your channel. I love that you include the history in what your doing
Peter I can not believe you teased us with this. That was amazing funny stuff right there now using the hide for a trampoline LOL. Be Safe Out There
Yup and sure did lessen my work!
So are we going to see final product or part two?
Yup.
What a process!! You must have some sore arms from scraping those hides!! Must have been fun having those extra reenactors at the cabin! Blessings to you and Cathy!!
Many hands make like work! Always enjoy it when living historians visit the Woodland Escape.
I knew I was going to enjoy this one from the very first. Must have been even harder for the Native women of the day. Thanks to you and your helpers.
The helpers were just that my friend, very helpful.
Nice work Peter. No wonder a buffalo hide is so precious.
I too understand that now, lol. Buying one finished might be cheap at twice the price.
Hey Peter! I had read where making a buffalo robe was "Labor Intensive", but I really had no idea how MUCH effort, time, & planning went into it... until now! WOW! Since the hair is being left on, is the plan to make them a ground cover (insulation) for the blanket roll when sleeping outside? Will the strip of hide that was left on the frame be used as straps (tugs) as well?! I was plumb worn out... and I was just watching! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
They are a wee bit of work alright and yes, I plan on using them for sleeping robes, one on the bottom and one on the top … might even keep these old bones warm.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I find that the older I get, the harder it is to shake off the Winter cold here in Indiana! A good wool blanket used to be enough; but not anymore. The chill just seems to penetrate me easier these days. It is the middle of May, and I don't think that I've completely thawed out yet. So, I can only imagine what it must be like up there in Canada!! Please let us know how they work out for you. I may just have to bite the bullet and get at least one hair on hide (Buffalo, Elk, Deer, or Bear... haven't decided which kind yet!) for myself! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Best of luck with your experiment!
This guy is so relaxing to watch. A lot like asmr, educational as well. Wonderful, thanks.
I’m flattered, thank you.
Wonderful! Thank you for living out this dream for me!
Thanks, Jeff.
Love it, Peter!
Thank you.
Unbelievable, never realized how much work there was to this. Makes a person wonder how the people did it hundreds of years ago. Thanks Peter. Keep your powder dry
I do believe it is called necessity,lol. Watch your top knot, Lance.
They had a whole tribe of people working together too! That helps
Always wanted a buffalo robe for the cold nights on the farm .
They are pretty hard to beat for warm. I’d say the equivalent of 3 stout wool blankets.
Man, that’s a lot of work! Very cool to see it done. I love your channel!
We are flattered, thank you.
It's good to see that the hides are nearing completion, those are some big hides! I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out and what you do with them when they're done.
We will be showing any project using them but, for the time simply sleeping robes.
DEAR LORD! WHAT WORK!!! Found a page called; 'Colonial Sense' on Tanning = VERY Interesting! They basically fill in what you Emperor Peter have so well instructed/visualized 4 us! I thank U and dear Empress Catherine 4 her artistic hand in filming! WELL DONE! The page I site said that 'this profession' was usually located on the outskirts of town and oft downwind! IMAGINE! And THEN...that the profession (tanning) itself was the 'smelliest', most 'physically demanding' and 'hazardous' jobs in early America! = YIKES! EVEN IF U were strong physically...U could well have your health well impaired for doing so habitually. Personally, if I'd had the 'brawn of Samson', I would have fought to 'clean barns' rather than THIS! Your perfect tool Peter speaks volumes of your work ethic as this proverb proves; "A bad workman never finds a good tool." ~ French Proverb. Can't recall how many times a teacher would 'offer' to tan mine own hide? LOL! Health and God Bless! :)
That quote has given me a smile that I’m sure will last until I retire for the night, perhaps even wake wake with it still there. One of my favorites is one my father always used to quote, “ only a rich man can afford poor tools”.
That’s a ton of work Peter!!!! Really gotta give credit to those native women that did this every Summer. Im gonna attempt tanning a buffalo this summer. Do you know how old those buffalo were?
I do not, sir, but I hazard a guess that their somewhere around 2 years.
Tanning those hides has certainly been a process. Fascinating to watch and to learn throughout. Be careful jumping on those things...it could be a hip!
Did you mean a hip or a flip, lol? Good to have them done.
@@TheWoodlandEscape As wizened as you are HIP was the crippling word!
Nice!
Where will you display these hides Peter when finished ?
Maybe you can send Rod a picture in an email when they are finished he would probably like that 😊
They’ll not be used for display but, for sleeping robes. I will be showing the finished product at some point.
As usual I enjoyed another of your great videos. I have one question about the smoking, it looks like it might take a really long time to smoke that hide with the wind blowing the smoke to the side instead of it rising straight up under the hide. Would covering the hide with a canvas tarp that comes down closer to the ground hold in more smoke and make it easier to keep more of the smoke on the hide?
Very observant. We did wrap the bottom with old canvas which kept the smoke contained.
What an incredible channel...this guy is awesome
Such kind words, thank you for your interest.
Thank you
Appreciate your interest.
What I have learned through the years is to keep warm Is to use the tools. Asking as your working you will stay warm
Indeed … the old saying you get 2 heats from firewood, one splitting and one burning.
Great video, I would love to have that cow hide,
Having tanned deer hide, I was curious about how difficult a Bison hide would be to tan. Many thanks for answering a decades old question of mine!
I actually tanned them 3 times as compared to once for a deer hide.
What was your tanning solution brains??
I use different solutions with brains being my fav. Didn’t have enough for this project so I used ivory soap and neetsfoot oil. … a full bar of crated ivory soap, 500 ml of oiled and 2 gallon of water. They needed 3 tannings per hide, where deer need one.
Just saw you on Townsends Live at Martin's Station.
It was nice to meet Mr. Townsend and flattered to be asked.
Toujour heureux de vous revoir le bien que j ai de partager avec vous derrière ma tablette ❤🎉😊merci
Kind words, thank you.
great
Thank you.
Peter this is awesome this will help me with processing my own Holstein! Keep up the good work!
Best of luck, with that there cow!
Another great video! And I dare say some of that looks very familiar. Almost like being there in person! Cheers to both of you!
Too funny. I trust your back home safe and sound.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Yes, got back home last night. Thanks again for the hospitality!
Your welcome at our home anytime my friend.
Lots of time and effort there interested to see what you use those hides for
For the time being just sleeping robes in the cabin.
Thank you, Mr. Peter. Always enjoy tannery works. I think maybe they soaked my head to long and that's why some of my hair has released. Couldn't be an age thing. lol!
Well, Rick, we’re in the same boat and since I can’t recall anyone ever scrapping my head it must indeed be related to our time here!
I saw you in the Townsend video at Martin's station!
I met Mr. Townsend for the first time and was flattered to be asked.
Cool. Did i miss what the smoking does?
Judy, smoking a Hide allows for smoke to penetrate the fibers thus making it not only able to get wet and not dry hard AKA turn back into Rawhide but it also deters moths and other Critters that like to eat the hide which will in turn destroyed. If you're interested, I have a video on my TH-cam channel where I smoke my Buffalo hide a little bit different than what Peter shows here❤.
The fellow answered your question very well, Judy . Now, I’ve got to go look up his channel.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Forgive me Peter if I stepped on your toes there. I sure didn't mean it like that. My only intention was on helping
Your video aroused my excitement as I traditional tan as well. Just finished a 7x7 bison bull hide robe that just turned out magnificent
Well there's a sense of scale. Dang Buffalo or biguns!
Nice! I would be interested in helping out next tanning time. I started my 2 pig hides at the cabin! They were stretched out like the Buffalo hides. I thought they would be fine.... I have never seen them again!
Well darn, did the critters get ‘em? For the record, I’ve yet to turn down free help.
Another great video, you talked of black flies, any info on how the early settlers withstood them, I visited Thunder Bay years ago, they were the only negative aspect of the whole experience, loved the country and the people.
Smoke bathing their clothes over a smudge fire was common by using green Juniper bows on the coals of a fire and waving your clothing over the smoke.. Gives off a tannin that the pesky little rascals don’t like.
That's quite the project..!
Question...
What is your tanning solution recipe?
Is it the same for both hair on and hair off?
Thanks for the video....
Good point. Rendered brains is the traditional way. However, one can use eggs or Neatsfoot oil.
On these two I used Neatsfoot Oil … a wee bit less .
What was done prior to stretching ? Was it fleshed ? Salted? I under stand cold scraping works good on beavers
All hides need to be fleshed first regardless of hair on or hair of. I did salt the hides as I couldn’t get back at them quickly.
Howdy Peter
A lot of work and a great work out ....
Do you do anything to the fur side ? Just wash it and dry in the sun ?
Going to cheat a wee bit from 18th century and shampoo and apply conditioner prior to combing out the matted areas.
That's a iot of process. Would love to see the finish product of the hides.
We will most definitely be showing the finished robes at some point.
I’d like to make a flintlock squirrel rifle. Any suggestions about where to buy a kit?
Cabin creek muzzleloading in Hellam Pa. Has kits for flintlock rifles
There are numerous suppliers of kits out there. If you’re a first time builder you might wish to look at Kibler.
Hello Peter,
I've got a buffalo hide about the size of the one in your video here. Is there anything that needs to be applied to the tanned side from time to time to keep it from becoming too dry? I sent it to a tannery in Wyoming about 10 years ago and they used some type of oil on the tanned side. I just want to take good care of it.
Thanks,
Dan
Wish I could help Dan but, if it was commercially tan I don’t know. Brain tanned shouldn’t need anything after the smoking process.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks Peter. I don't know if it was commercially tanned or not. I bought it from a guy in Ohio back in '05. I remember it having a natural odor that I'd never smelled before when I first got. It was dry then and wasn't oiled. That didn't come until years later when I sent it to Wyoming. The fur is still looking as good as the day I bought it.
Anyways, thankyou for your reply. I'll probably just leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
A fascinating process Peter...and what will you be using the hide for after it's finished?
One to sleep on and one to cover with in the cabin this winter. I sleep right in front of the fireplace on the floor and they will be a welcome addition to my comfort.
Great! I bet its lovely to sleep on and probably what our ancient ancestors did also..thanks for the reply and thanks fir doing what you do so well and please thank Cathy for her excellent, artistic camera work
I’ll pass on your fine compliment to Cathy, thank you.
How would you do the scraping if you live in a place where it doesn’t get that cold?
It is possible but many more hours are required.
Great question, I was just working on one the other day and it started getting so warm that the fat was rendering. It was a mess. I had to stop and put it in cold storage for a day and luckily it cooled off and I was able to continue.
Hey just so you in Kentucky
I try get around! Beautiful country down in your parts.
@@TheWoodlandEscape thank you I have been to Canada a few times and I found it to be a beautiful country
What are you going to make from this hide Peter? Hope you do a video of it. That would be taking the hide from start to finish.
Right now, simply sleeping robes in the cabin this winter. Perhaps someday I’ll make myself a stout coat.
Is that trampoline period correct?
Never thought of it but, I reckon it is, lol.
Hello what type of salt you use
I buy mixing salt from an agricultural supply store. It’s the cheapest source if one is doing a lot of hides.
Lot of work that!! I can imagine your First Nation people spending heaps of time on this process with less advanced tools - the old rock excluded!!
Speaking of which, happy birthday & welcome to the biblical club!! Lol
Thanks, Stephen … 3 score and 10, who would have thought, lol!
Hi Peter,
What is the reason the hide has to be smoked? (And the reason for all the steps maybe?)
Google mate
The smoking part ensures that the fiber inside the two epidermal layers of the hide remains soft. If left unsmoked the hide will revert back to rawhide like that used on drums.
Whats your tanning solution
Brains and water. I’ve also had great success with Neatsfoot oil and Ivory soap .
Imma tan your hide, boy!
Where on earth do you get raw buffalo hides?
And how do you know if you’re getting too thin on something that big? Just sort of by feel I guess?
I can get as many as I want from a Buffalo farm. You stop when you start to see the root of the hairs showing on the inside.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I didn’t know they had buffalo farms…..but then again, they have buffalo meat in some stores, so…. I know a lot of people tried beefalo, but had hard times trying to keep them in place. This was back in the day, of course.
We’ve got lots of them in Canada. The meat is great but, very pricey.
Itsusoocoool sunuvabissssh
Sure is a lot of work, and the thing is days we would just walk to a market and purchase what we want, that’s kind of sad.
Sad indeed. There is always something satisfying of using something that one creates with their own hands.
I brain tanned an elk hide about 20 years ago. Up till then I thought roofing was hard work.
I done a couple of Elk hides as well. These buffalo hides are a much different game, lol.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I'll bet. With the thinning it's at least twice as much as an elk hide.
I have always wanted to try one of these but it looks too daunting. I see why they are so expensive.
They are indeed a lot of work.
Such an effort . Nice job though
Thank you.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Take a rest and partake in some strong drink
Got my vote … one heck of a fine idea.
Can you imagine an old Indian woman scraping those hides with a flint, antler, or stick scraper?
We just think we know what work is today.
I can only imagine how bad their hands and wrist were by their 50’s or 60’s
Indeed and it was considered women’s work. One might conclude that the work ethic of today is somewhat different than in the previous centuries.
@@TheWoodlandEscape sometimes I think the Indians were pretty smart people.
The men hunted and fought, the women worked 🤣.
Naw, kidding aside, they were smart people, they just didn’t have the numbers to stop the invasion of the whites.
But I do feel sorry for the Indian women. The saying of worked their fingers to the bone is probably a truth.
Hiw much would you charge to tan me a buffalo hide??
I mean no disrespect but, you don’t have enough money, lol. Actually, all the things I make are not sold but, frequently given to friends. As soon as I start to charge for things my passion becomes a job.
As the man says: this is a passion, not a job. BUT if you can find a hide, you can follow in his footsteps and come up with what you need.
Indeed.
@@TheWoodlandEscape haha I will have to tan it myself then thanks for showing how
The point is not to buy the experience, but to learn and develop the skills ourselves; its the journey that rewards us personally. Thank your Peter for sharing your journey and experiences with us, you work hard creating the experience for your followers; and certainly have a gift for these presentations.
I hope you will save the hide scrapings for making hide glue.
Indeed I have.