Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 11:07:03 am

Title: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 11:07:03 am
Why? Heck of it. And too dumb to know better. I was out of breath after just making the frame and stretching the hide on it. But boy o mighty thats a lot of pulling to stretch the hide on a frame. I got about 2/3 done fleshing it last night before i had to quit. I laid the frame down on the ground flesh side down to slow moisture loss.  This morning i am rehydrating the skin, going to finish fleshing and the trim the edges off to restretch it. It completely fills a 10x10 frame and will get larger as i stretch it. Thats too big for me.  I will be saving tje scraps, perhaps buffalo hide bow string is in my future? Hide glue certainly is. Im also saving the fat for tallow. My doggies belly is full of meat scrapings and she is walking around like she is in heaven.

My wife is begging me not to use brains. Said if i use egg yokes she will make marangue cookies.... How can i refuse that temptation? How many eggs? I have no clue but i bet its a lot.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Chief RID on January 31, 2016, 12:00:32 pm
Congrats and condolences for taking on the task. That's a lot of eggs. Can you say you used eggs and use the brains. If you can keep harmony at home you will feel better about the hide in the future knowing you did not waste that part of the animal. Again, a heartfelt thanks for sharing and giving it a go.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 12:33:45 pm
Harmony with my wife is important. Its too late to use the brains now and a bison doeant have enough brains anyway. Id have to cut it with something. I will play it safe and do exactly what i told my wife i would do.

So im still fleshing. Wow this animal has a very tough membrane. Im wearing myself out trying to get it off.  I still have to thin the hide afterwards. Then i need to find out if you sew the holes before or after applying the tan solution?
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Zuma on January 31, 2016, 12:55:29 pm
Good deal. :)  That will be something to remember.
Wishing you well with your undertaking.
Snap a pic or two.
Zuma
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 01:02:42 pm
Im taking breaks to take a few pics/rest my fingers. Its tiresome to b sure but the work feels good for the body.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Redhand on January 31, 2016, 01:37:55 pm
That is one heck of a task you are taking on.  I have scraped a elk hide and that was tough I can only imagine the work taking on a buffalo hide.  I usually sew the holes after the braining process I found out that is makes the hide softer and makes it easier for the needle to penetrate the hide.  But a buffalo hide is pretty thick.  Good luck with your hide.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: DC on January 31, 2016, 01:38:45 pm
This may help

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3135939/Have-separating-egg-whites-wrong-Video-reveals-simple-hack-remove-yolks-just-30-SECONDS-bottle.html
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 02:02:28 pm
That is one heck of a task you are taking on.  I have scraped a elk hide and that was tough I can only imagine the work taking on a buffalo hide.  I usually sew the holes after the braining process I found out that is makes the hide softer and makes it easier for the needle to penetrate the hide.  But a buffalo hide is pretty thick.  Good luck with your hide.

Did you sew with sinew?
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Redhand on January 31, 2016, 02:47:10 pm
Sleek I use white beading thread.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: tipi stuff on January 31, 2016, 04:21:33 pm
I don't know anything about tanning with eggs, I've only used brains, but I'm guessing you are tanning it with the hair on. There is a difference between cow hides and bull hides, the cows being somewhat easier to tan. Once you have the meat and membrane removed, you will need to thin the  hip area quite a bit. If you have been tanning deer and elk, this will not tan the same way. Wes Housler made a video that really walks you through the process. I would highly recommend it. Larry Belitz also put out a buffalo tanning video. If you purchase one from Belitz, it is best used as a gag gift for someone you want to prank.   Curtis
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 04:44:21 pm
I dont know the sex of the animal. Im used to deer, i really thought it was a similar process. Im working on thinning the hide right now.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: tipi stuff on January 31, 2016, 04:57:31 pm
Remember, there will be an epidermis under the hair that keeps the brains / eggs from penetrating the hide from both sides. The thinner you can get the hips, the better.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 07:58:04 pm
I got most of it thinned down now so you can see the hair thrpugh the skin. I got about an hours work left I think but didnt finish before I had an interesting visitor show up.

Now to understand this you have to know I live in a trailer park. Even in Oklahoma we have folks that are.... not so keen.   So I have my hide stretched out leaning against my house and im thinning it when the game warden shows up. Im not sure what whoever called him expected to accomplish but everything is on the level on my side of things so this was actually a pleasant visit. I was concerned he may take my hide or something but Mr. Game Warden turned out to be a primitive archer enthusiast as well! We talked about an hour after i explained to him how I came about the hide and gave my id to show I was indeed me.

He has been making his own bows for a bit and I showed him some I had on hand. I also told him about this website after he expressed some interest in learning about tanning and flint knapping. Anyways.... so that was an interesting visit and its good to know that one of my wardens is into it like we are. I nust hope I can be left alone to my fun now and not have anyone try and cause me any more problems. Still not sure what they had hoped would happen?
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Redhand on January 31, 2016, 10:43:07 pm
Maybe your neighbors thought you was one of those chainsaw massacre dudes. Lol
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on January 31, 2016, 11:21:12 pm
Next skin i do.... Im gonna cut it into the shape of a human.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 12:50:40 am
Anybody know anything about cleaning the fur and getting the matts out?
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Lumberman on February 01, 2016, 09:38:47 am
Sew up after; I suppose you'd be against using dawn dish soap to get the mats out? Lol works great on bears, don't want to see the hair too well! Bear and buff both are okay to leave a bit thicker than what one would be used to with deer
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 10:09:16 am
Hey, if you saw dawn works I will give it a go. Next step is taking it to the car wash and use their high water pressure and soap.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 06:41:16 pm
So i have it fleshed and thinned. Any clue how many eggs are needed?
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Redhand on February 01, 2016, 06:54:54 pm
I have used about a dozen eggs for tanning a deer hide and that works good for me.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Knoll on February 01, 2016, 06:55:22 pm
Seriously, bud. Ya need to post some pictures. Seriously!   >:D
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 06:58:21 pm
Seriously, bud. Ya need to post some pictures. Seriously!   >:D

Ohhhh Patrick!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: tipi stuff on February 01, 2016, 07:04:34 pm
I agree with Lumber, in regard to the Dawn dish detergent.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 07:47:33 pm
Im going with 6 dozen egg yokes. I reckon 3x3 is what a deer skin measures to. It takes 12 eggs. My bison is 10x10 3 times bigger and twice as thick. So that makes 6 times as many eggs. I hope this works. I see lots of egg white omelets, meringue cookies, and angle food cakes in my future.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: lebhuntfish on February 01, 2016, 09:26:36 pm
Well sleek is having trouble with uploading pictures. So he sent me some and asked me to post them for him. Frankly I'm slightly jealous, now I want one!
Patrick

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160131_1758461_zpsipjvt4qp.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160131_1758461_zpsipjvt4qp.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160131_1013491_zpsdrddrhdf.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160131_1013491_zpsdrddrhdf.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/hfghjfxbjg_zpsgkqlgt6j.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/hfghjfxbjg_zpsgkqlgt6j.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/vhugddgjvxssfyuu_zpsyedoruai.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/vhugddgjvxssfyuu_zpsyedoruai.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/bbjj_zpshpr3zpv2.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/bbjj_zpshpr3zpv2.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/lhdcbn%20gf_zpsbuaz9rih.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/lhdcbn%20gf_zpsbuaz9rih.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/mb_zpslb3jf2lv.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/mb_zpslb3jf2lv.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/sgyrdvnkkg_zpsj9vkjlhw.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/sgyrdvnkkg_zpsj9vkjlhw.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: TimBo on February 01, 2016, 09:34:32 pm
That's awesome.  I have done enough braintanning of deer hides that my arms hurt just thinking about this.  That should be enough eggs - you just need them to completely saturate every pore of the hide.  At least that's how it is for buckskin, but I haven't done any hides with the hair on. 
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 09:42:35 pm
Thanks Patrick. My wife is installing a new motherboard in my old phone thats linked to my photobucket so maybe today this will be fixed.


So, the top two pics are afyer some fleshing has been done. That hide was heavy and poorly removed. I counted 14 holes. But i will learn from this one and my next will be better. Also i wont mind using this one for camping and shch because its not as high quality. So really its good to have something thats not too purty to get dirty.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 09:44:59 pm
The second third and 4th show fleshing it down until the veins are visible. Third and 4th focusing more on what it looks like after some thinning. Notice the black lines you see from the hair on the other side.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 09:51:43 pm
The pic with the knife and deer bone show an attempt at using a bone. Nope.

The knife is perfect. I forged that knife from my last pair of combat boots once i wore them slap out. I couldnt stand to toss them, they took me around the world. So i used the steel toe and made a blade. I love this knife. Even skinned my first bow kill with it. I used it to do tje rest of the job.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Zuma on February 01, 2016, 09:53:44 pm
Wow thanks for posting the photos guys 8)
They really are a good way of showing how much
effort you are putting into. the project. :)
Zuma
Oh btw when you are camping out in the snow on a cold night,
the holes in that hide will matter not. ;)
Zuma
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 09:53:54 pm
The last two pics show the knife cutting through a layer of skin to thin it down.  Then the hide as it sits now. Its supposed to rain tonight. I got it layin on the ground flesh side up to re soak. To prep for the egg.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: paulsemp on February 01, 2016, 10:31:53 pm
I just turned a deer hide into rawhide. 1st time using a pressure washer for fleshing and it works almost to good. Fleshed a deer hide perfectly clean in 20 mins.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: stickbender on February 01, 2016, 10:54:50 pm
Next skin i do.... Im gonna cut it into the shape of a human.

Just tell them that is a juvenile Sasquatch, and you wanted to get a hide, before it became illegal to get one. ;)
                                    Wayne
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 01, 2016, 11:32:57 pm
Haha.... I got the reference you made there. Nice.

So Patrick sent me this text. Good stuff in the link.
STOP EVERYTHING AND WATCH THIS!

Watch "Buffalo (Bison) Hide Tanning: Braintanning a Buffalo Robe" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/tgB_gi26Sco
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Lumberman on February 02, 2016, 07:37:29 am
Nice pics and efforts man, hope it turns out perfect for ya!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Redhand on February 02, 2016, 08:01:59 am
Good pics sleek thanks for posting. That's one heck of a task your taking on. After its all done you will be rolling around on the ground in your buffalo robe just like the people in the video. Great video by the way. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Pappy on February 02, 2016, 08:03:17 am
Nice pictures, After 2 Elk and many deer hides[ hair off ] I admire your effort, I just passed on an offer to give me a  Buff hide Saturday. I don't mind work but I can said that will take a lot of HARD work to get it soft. :) I have tried fleshing deer hides in the past laying out like that and it is a job doing it with a knife even on deer ,I can imagine how much it is on a Buff.
Keep us updated. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Knoll on February 02, 2016, 09:52:44 am
Good pictures illustrating your progress. Thanks!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Aaron H on February 02, 2016, 10:04:47 am
Very cool, that will be real nice camp with
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: chamookman on February 03, 2016, 04:18:40 am
Way cool - You'll love it ! I've had a 'Buff Hide for years, one of My most prized possesions - a beautiful thing to wrap up in on a cold & hoary nite ! Bob
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Pappy on February 03, 2016, 07:16:02 am
 Done lots of hair off but Never done a hair on Brain tan, so I am starting small and work my way up, I am doing a Coon. ;) ;D ;D :D :D Looking forward to seeing this one done. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: silverfox on February 03, 2016, 08:09:56 am
Super cool project. May I ask what the hide weighed when you started and what you think it will weigh when you are finished? Making the knife out of your old boot steel toe is awesome. Very interesting project, thank you for posting it.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Aaron H on February 03, 2016, 10:10:15 am
I agree with silverfox, great idea turning your steel toe into a knife, lots of good mojo in that.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 11:05:07 am
Thanks for the comments and encouragement guys. I have it drying now on the frame still. I changed my mind anout egging it yet and will do a bit more dry scraping after its completely dry. The finish product depends on the quality of each step. Also, the hide is really smooth and id like it more bucked on the flesh side so im gonna rough it up more. I like the suade feel.

I still have the other boot waiting to turn into a knife after this one wears out or i find myself wanting another design.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Aaron H on February 03, 2016, 11:09:34 am
You should incorporate the boot leather or the rubber sole as the handle on your next knife
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 11:39:02 am
I made the sheath out of the boot leather. Hadnt thought of the rubber sole for a handle...
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 03, 2016, 02:09:50 pm
I made the sheath out of the boot leather. Hadnt thought of the rubber sole for a handle...

Now that is a boot knife!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Knoll on February 03, 2016, 07:27:40 pm
Was certainly looking forward to seeing you at MoJam. Now am REALLY REALLY looking forward to seeing you and what will be, by then, a beautiful robe!
'Course it'll be a bit warm at MoJam, won't it??!!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 07:33:11 pm
Ohhhh but for sure i will be bringing it...
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 08:41:32 pm
So i have done some work today on it. Id like to yack about it for a moment.

Now, I have only tanned one skin before and thats a deer. I have another deer in progress but that doesnt count as I'm still membraning it. Experienced folks know what am am talking about but for the new guys here you go.

This hide has grain. Very easy to see as I dry scrape it. It wants to come off in layers in some spots. These layers cris cross in grain. I notice this mlstly where hips and shoulders were. It is very difficult to scrape these areas. Mind you i am using the curved boot knife you see in previous pictures. It works great for the task. I wish I had made it bigger for more of a hand hold on it.  My fingers cramp after a bit. These tough sections scrape off in very stringy sections and peel off like sunburnt skin, once you can get a good hold on them.  The skin turns from a dark black to a white as I scrape.

The spine has not dried out yet and cant be scraped. There are spots that seem very greasy that bavent hardened up like the rest of the hide. When I scrape over these spots the hide flexes in and wont scrape. They feel very greasy, more so than the rest of the hide. Im concerned they may be greasy hard spots when I finish if I dont figure this out now.

As a side. Note, I scraped some with an obsidian flake. It worked just like my knife, only smaller. So I put it down. This is a very fun project. Its a lot involved but just like anything, I'm just working on the task at hand. Even the largest projects are just made up of individual small details. So I am working one detail at a time. Nice thing is, you see the results instantly as you work. Every thing you do changes the hide. Soon, it will be leather.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Outbackbob48 on February 03, 2016, 08:53:51 pm
Sleek, are you membraneing(fleshing ) or graining? :o Grain is under the hair. :D   Bob
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 08:57:07 pm
I am leaving the hair on. I have pics to show the grain i am talking about.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: lebhuntfish on February 03, 2016, 10:21:55 pm
Some more pictures!

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/vggfgjj_zpsuqsvxdlz.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/vggfgjj_zpsuqsvxdlz.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/lllgv_zpsezvmjtn7.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/lllgv_zpsezvmjtn7.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/ccnnttaa_zpso9brypup.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/ccnnttaa_zpso9brypup.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1612401_zpsbnpcwudq.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1612401_zpsbnpcwudq.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1654071_zpszra3gnti.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1654071_zpszra3gnti.jpg.html)

(http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w668/lebhuntfish1/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1631121_zpset7smtp3.jpg) (http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/lebhuntfish1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/20160203_1631121_zpset7smtp3.jpg.html)

Man photo bucket is a huge pain lately!
Patrick
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 10:37:22 pm
Pat, thank you for helping with my pics.

Ok. So, first pic shows my trying out an obsidian flake. If it was hafted iI may have used it more.

Second pic shows the grain running two directions only inches from each other. Also how it will peel if you grab it right.

Third pic, The tough spots are easy to see here. They texture is different. Easy to scrape skin is above and is how most the hide is. Only the hips and shoulder areas have the tough grain.

Fourth shows the stresses of a shrinking hide.

Fifth is the hide after some scraping.

Sixth shows two layers of hide grain in the hip area running 90 degree to each other. Its very stringy.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: lebhuntfish on February 03, 2016, 10:42:46 pm
You're welcome buddy!  Like I said, bring it to my place and we can smoke it here. Kinda wish I was there to help you with this project.

Patrick
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 03, 2016, 10:49:22 pm
When I get to softening it, I may be sharing your sentiments!
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: Josh B on February 04, 2016, 03:04:23 am
Im going with 6 dozen egg yokes. I reckon 3x3 is what a deer skin measures to. It takes 12 eggs. My bison is 10x10 3 times bigger and twice as thick. So that makes 6 times as many eggs. I hope this works. I see lots of egg white omelets, meringue cookies, and angle food cakes in my future.

You might want to recalculate that.  3x3 is 9 sq ft.  10x10 is 100 sq ft.  You gonna need a whole lotta eggs.  Looks like it's coming right along nicely.  Josh
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Pappy on February 04, 2016, 04:55:13 am
Looking good, I always take the membrane /flesh off while it is wet or green is even better, on a fleshing pole with a draw knife, never rack it for that, kind of like chasing a ring in wood. Much easier than when it dries at least it is for me. I can do a good size deer hide in 10 or 15 minutes. I tried doing it dry years ago and man that is a job. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: BowEd on February 04, 2016, 07:57:18 am
Yep the day you framed that buff was the day to flesh it.While wet,but you'll get it eventually though.I never thinned mine much but still came out good but they were wintered and furred up yearling cows too so that helped.Perfect for sleeping and robes.I found out framing buffalos that it takes at least 2"X6"'s too.I made scrapers out of a mill bastard file on elk antler handles.Stays sharp a very long time.You might have wanted to do a few more deer hides before taking on a task like a buffalo.Everything I've read from this post is mostly true and your in for more work.Personally I would get myself about 5# of pig brains from Hy Vee for the job.Not a user of eggs.Many ways to get the brains into the fibers with mother natures help.Roping it dry will be challenging too.Not trying to be a bearer of bad news here really.You'll get it done to the degree that you like yet.Just keep yourself fed up and strong.Who needs isometric classes huh.....ha ha.
Buffalo robes were a staple of the plains Indians and while hunting they could read them like cattlemen read cattle for the slaughter house.Cows were for robes,tipis,moccasins etc. and your bulls were for sheilds etc.It takes an average of around 13 to 14 of those cows for a tipi,so you can learn to appreciate the work the squaws did.Good that you posted this.I did my robes back in the 80's so computers were'nt around then.I had all kinds of curious lookers too and even the game warden too.My lift pole on my tipi has a willow framed horse tail on the tip that freaked out a lady once thinking it was really a scalp from a person.....ha ha.This ought to be in the primitive skills section really.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 09:26:00 am
Im going with 6 dozen egg yokes. I reckon 3x3 is what a deer skin measures to. It takes 12 eggs. My bison is 10x10 3 times bigger and twice as thick. So that makes 6 times as many eggs. I hope this works. I see lots of egg white omelets, meringue cookies, and angle food cakes in my future.

You might want to recalculate that.  3x3 is 9 sq ft.  10x10 is 100 sq ft.  You gonna need a whole lotta eggs.  Looks like it's coming right along nicely.  Josh

Good catch. Why did i do the math that goofy way? Im kinda embarrassed now.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 09:28:27 am
Pappy, if I had a fleshing beam I would certainly have used it. But now that I am considering doing another bison hide I may build one.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Knoll on February 04, 2016, 09:30:16 am
My lift pole on my tipi has a willow framed horse tail on the tip that freaked out a lady once thinking it was really a scalp from a person.....

 :laugh:    :laugh:    :laugh:
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 09:34:14 am
Beadman, I like your scraper idea. I think I'm gonna use that.  As for brains, my wife strongly prefers i dont use them. And as I dont want her repulsed by this hide any more than she already is, I am going to stick with eggs. I may be buying soy lecithin as well to add so I am not using so many eggs.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Pappy on February 04, 2016, 09:49:57 am
I just split a 12 across Poplar log about 6 foot long in half and debarked it. I rounded a notch in the top half so it would lay up against a post and that's all was to it. I drape the hide over the top and that holds it in place while I work the lower 2/3 , then flip it over and do the last 1/3. As far as brains or eggs, Eggs repulse me more. ;) I get the brains mixed like I want and then bring to a low slow boil just for a minute to maybe kill any bad things in it  :-\ and then go at it. Smells like a broth cooking.  ;) Makes your hands soft and smooth to boot. ;)  ;D ;D ;D Lots of ways to get the job done and you seem to be doing just fine, I for sure ant telling you how to do it, just how I do it.  :)Like building bows, lots of ways to get to the end product and that is really all that matters. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 10:12:25 am
I got your meaning Pappy. Id rather use brains. For my next one I will. I am strongly considering getting another hide in the next few days before they loose their winter coat. I would like to do one and raffle it off at the newly formed Nowata Oklahoma Classic and Knap in.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 01:56:46 pm
So I went and forged a file into a scraper. Wow, what a difference. This bad bow performs! Im now wondering how thin is too thin?

As I get this thinner I see the hide deform. Not saying its a bad thing, im just noticing it form ripples and pockets in the hide. Im thinking when I take it off the frame and wash the fur real good it will rehydrate, then it should even back out. Then I will apply the tan mix to it and re rack it to stretch and soften. Probably gonna re rack at pats house in a couple weeks to do the softening in frame and smoke it.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 02:32:56 pm
http://www.braintan.com/bison/bisonarticle4.html

I am adding this link because it answers my question on how thin is good. It also says that one good pulling on a properly thinned robe will be enough to soften. A robe should be the thickness of medium weight paper. What you are basically tanning on a robe is the grain and a little of the dermis layer. There isnt much hide you are actually tanning.  Im noticing i really feel that with too much pressure a stick could be pushed through it. Paper really does define how this skin feels.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Lumberman on February 04, 2016, 05:15:38 pm
Wow I definitely would have thought that sounds too thin, but never done it for a robe.. Gotta try the fleshing beam for your next one. Makes using a longer blade much more feasible too. But I've never had the guts to try an at home project like yours, most of the bear skins were doing were for wall spreads
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 04, 2016, 06:05:32 pm
I would imagine wall spreads take much less attention. A fleshing beam is in my future, this is for sure.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: BowEd on February 05, 2016, 09:26:46 am
Sleek....I used to take mine to the car wash and clean it up real good.It did the job.I'm not much for that thinning the hide stuff.Just my opinion that's all.I go with the ages of the animal for thickness.A yearling cow killed in the fall still yields a good 30 square foot robe.The late winter killed buffalos' leather will actually be thicker.Not just the epidermis.With deer it's the same.Mother nature taking care of it's critters.That's why most hides are best harvested in the fall after fur up and before deep into winter for more convenient brain tanning.There's a fine line in timing the harvesting of fur in all animals.For looks and tanning both.
Done them on fleshing beams too.It works fine,but for brain tanning I prefer to flesh in the hide in the frame.While fleshing the hide loosens so it's retightened and stretched more and more.Helps with brain oil penetration into more stretched fibers and in the end which leads to a softer hide.It will take a lot more than just one pull on your robe to soften it.Even though it is thinned out.Roping a big hide like that is exhausting to say the least.
I know this may sound like a sermon but I'm talking from experience.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Outbackbob48 on February 05, 2016, 08:48:50 pm
Brain twice and soften once on whitetails. I think your gonna soften a lot of times on that buff hide, Just sayin. Most of my whitails that I braintan hair off and end up softing at least twice, I have only done a couple doz deer so still learning. Good Luck and my hats off to ya for starting such a big project. Bob
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: tipi stuff on February 06, 2016, 10:05:33 am
As I said, thin, thin, thin. Something a friend pointed out to me once: many of the old original robes have a small, crescent shaped hole in the hip area. That is from a scraper blade as a hole was popped in the hide while thinning.    Curtis
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 06, 2016, 10:30:59 am
Well this is going to be a very accurate reproduction lol. I done that in a few spots. Not bad, just a few razor slits where it got too thin.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on February 06, 2016, 10:55:43 am
So, as i scrape to tje white fluffly buff, i am noticing the skin wantsnto washboard on me. Where it forms tiny ripples just like when a knife chatters across wood. I dont know whats causing this but its starting to be ome a problem as i get thinner.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: BowEd on February 06, 2016, 11:25:52 am
Go across the washboards the other way to shave them off.60 grit sand paper can help finish the job.Most times the wash boarding is telling you the hide is not dry enough.Using a scraper can have a learning curve.Angle adjustment etc too.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: BowEd on February 06, 2016, 04:59:09 pm
Sometimes too the rawhide itself will have a little fat or grease infiltrated into it.That can make it not as hard like good dried rawhide to scrape.More rubbery I mean.That happens when the hide is not fleshed all at once at one time to remove everything.That's happened to me before too.It might be your scraper is too dull too.In the end your eggs should penetrate the fibers yet I think since I've only used brains.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: Pappy on March 07, 2016, 05:28:53 am
How about an update Sleek, very curious on how it turned out.  ;)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: sleek on March 07, 2016, 08:29:51 am
Well i got it all thinned out and cut off the frame. I saw places along the edge I didnt get well enough so I am going to hit it with a sander to grind down the this edges to an even thickness.

I had to stop at that point and have it rolled up in a corner waiting on me to have time to wash it and then brain it. This house i bought is taking all of my time right now.
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: stickbender on March 08, 2016, 03:00:59 am
     Well if you have time to go on a survival show, you have time to finish the hide!  Dog gone it, we want pictures!  Still think you should have cut it in the shape of a Sasquatch...... Just think of the phone calls to the peta nuts....... I think someone in my neighborhood killed a young Sasquatch, and he said he actually is going to tan the hide, the poor thing, probably suffered terribly, as this guy actually HUNTS, and he makes his own bow and arrows, please help us, I don't let the kids, outside any more, and when we have to go outside, we rush to the car, and drive away really fast.  It is even worse coming home, if we drive by, and his lights are out, we don't know if he is outside or not, wrapped up in that poor creatures, skin!

   Soooo, the pictures, please......

 P.S.  On a more somber side...... How is your neighbor doing now, after the loss of his child?  Was just thinking about that the other day.
                                    Wayne
Title: Re: Im brain tanning a buffalo hide. pics up!
Post by: DuBois on March 10, 2016, 02:22:52 pm
AH HA! finally found it!
You're a good man Kevin. That's more work than I would want to try any time soon...especially with a new house! Looking forward to seeing how it turns out  ;)