Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Rick Wallace on June 26, 2011, 03:58:55 am

Title: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Rick Wallace on June 26, 2011, 03:58:55 am

Early this year I got a couple deer hides,stretched them out on the side of the shop,scraped them down good. I left the hair on them,now I want to take it off and make rawhide.Do I soak it in something to help get the hair off ? or is it to late? I also have another in the freezer,I want to de-hair that one as well.

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: HoBow on June 26, 2011, 10:51:34 am

You can do a dry scrape ince you already have it stretched out or you can soak it in a caustic solution.  Either will work  ;)

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Rick Wallace on June 26, 2011, 02:44:00 pm

Forgive my ignorance,,what is  caustic solution?

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Young Bowyer on June 26, 2011, 05:12:29 pm

Yeah I want to do this too so i'll have rawhide for bowmaking in winter. How do you make a "caustic solution" (Newb question)

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Rick Wallace on July 01, 2011, 09:21:23 pm

Hardwood ash? Would that be lye??   Any other ideas??

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: HoBow on July 01, 2011, 11:44:14 pm

A caustic solution has a higher PH. Lye, hardwood ash, caustic soda, lime, ...all will work

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Stretch on July 02, 2011, 02:34:08 am

Quote from: HoBow on July 01, 2011, 11:44:14 pm

A caustic solution has a higher PH. Lye, hardwood ash, caustic soda, lime, ...all will work

Yup.  Lye (sodium hydroxide) is the active ingredient Nair and Drano.  Both are purpose made to break down hair.

Title: Re: Got some hides,,,,,,,,,,,
Post by: Rick Wallace on July 02, 2011, 06:48:17 am

Thanks,,I got me an idear  and a bottle of draino!  Ill let yall know how it turns out