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Bugout_Boy
16 posts
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in 4 months
in 4 months
Deer to Wallet?
Just shot my first deer (whitetail) ever a few weeks ago. Kept the hide thinking I’d make something out of it. Quickly learned it’ll need to be a leather goods, as opposed to a fur good, because the hair is pulling out anyways.
So far I’ve power washed all the organic material off the inside (leaving a clean white membrane), then left it outside in the weather for about two weeks (with a weak attempt at salting it in the process) now I’ve pulled some of the hair out and now I’m giving it more time in the elements for the rest of the hair to clump up for falling out.
So tell me- my first ever attempt at any leather working or tanning for that matter. Am I delusional for hoping I can make a decent looking wallet for myself?
So far I’ve power washed all the organic material off the inside (leaving a clean white membrane), then left it outside in the weather for about two weeks (with a weak attempt at salting it in the process) now I’ve pulled some of the hair out and now I’m giving it more time in the elements for the rest of the hair to clump up for falling out.
So tell me- my first ever attempt at any leather working or tanning for that matter. Am I delusional for hoping I can make a decent looking wallet for myself?
3 Replies
well if you dont get any feed back here try posting on our leather working forum. it's pretty dead but ya never know who may check in ? if your successful make and post it.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Sounds like you're on the right track. Probably too late now but every animal is supposed to have enough brain volume to use in the tanning of its own hide.
I suggest you either google “how to tan a deer hide” or buy a book, and yes, there are whole books on the subject. If the hair is falling off you may already be too late, that means the hide has started to rot. Removing the hair is also a process if you want it off that is somewhat separate from tanning which is the process of making it leather. You can tan with the hair on or off if it’s done correctly.
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - https://timetestedtools.net and https://diy.timetestedtools.net
