Brain Tanning - The Full Process

Brain Tanning - The Full Process
I harvested the skin of a large male black bear from the smoky mountains. The process of brain tanning is separated by a few certain steps in order to move forward or closer to a finished product. Fleshing, scraping, braining and softening are the main procedures for a brain tanned fur on hide.
If you have any questions please ask and I am here to learn as well, I would like to hear any advice or tips. Thanks
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[@randybeeson3424]

I've never did a bear but a lot of deer. I typically pickel hair ons for insurance that it won't slip, bringing the PH down to about 2, for 3 days. Great idea about using a hewing axe for dry scraping and scudding, I have one hanging in the barn. Also I smoke all my hides to keep moisture from hardening them up and insect control. Less chance of mites getting in it. Brains got hard to find so I use Egg yolks now or Alum/borax with good results. To me, softening on the rack is easier on my hands I'm getting old. I switch tools of different shapes and also near the end, cheat with a sander. Cheers!

[@512.constitutionalist8]

Hey Randy what do you usually use for your pickling. I'm looking for a way to do pickling so the hair won't slip but I'm trying to keep it as natural as possible. My 6 year old son shot his first deer a couple of weeks ago and I am going to teach him and my daughter how to tan the hide. He wants it hair on because he wants to make a jacket. I'm trying to teach them methods to utilize as much of the animal as possible and with things that are easy to find around the house just in case stand up in a survival situation. Thanks in advance.

[@sammysmokies]

The hewing axe does wonders. Sanding a hide is great. Thanks for watching

[@randybeeson3424]

@@512.constitutionalist8 Sorry just saw this. I do 3 gallons water, 3 lbs of salt and 1/2 oz of aluminum sulphate per gallon. (1 1/2 oz). Soak 12 hours and check PH. You want 1.5 to 2.5. Re adjust once and it won't change again. 60 hours total pickel. If ph is correct you could leave it for months. Neutralize back to PH of 3 to 4 with baking soda.

[@512.constitutionalist8]

@@randybeeson3424 Awesome.. No worries.. Thanks for the info, I'll have to try that

[@beto2081]

amazing, right timing, keep doing what you do, much love

[@sammysmokies]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it. I absolutely will

[@isaiahdennhardt9409]

i know this is a very late comment but i was just wondering if you could share the recipe for the brain solution and how to make it, im jsut getting into hunting and very curiousto learn how to do these sorts of things

[@sammysmokies]

Just a bunch of eggs and water, some heat some shade and working it

[@user-jf1mp5ii9z]

​@sammysmokies how many full eggs per brain?

[@rainynight02]

That's exactly what I came trying to find... I was looking for brain tanning, but this is egg tanning???

[@sammysmokies]

@rainynight02 I used the entire brain of the bear, however after the first softening, it requires more so I add or use eggs with warm water and use that as well

[@sammysmokies]

Go about a dozen. It sucks to whip up more softening solution while softening. So the more the better and let the hide soak it all up….thanks for watching btw

[@TaylorsAuthenticTraditions]

Shiyo! Once again a great video and a well performed job. Enjoyed seeing your methods for braintanning. Unfortunately I dropped my phone in a river 10' underwater and lost all of my remaining GoPro footage of my braintanning series thus I will have to do it all again. Great job and awesome bearhide!

[@sammysmokies]

Thank you, really appreciate it. It came out quite nice and very soft. I would love to see it please do it!

[@marilynetaylor]

Thanks for this Samuel! You seem to live a pretty amazing life. I love the cliff in the back ground and the autumn colours.... I am about to work my first bear skin! Super excited. I usually flesh my sheep skins, then brain it and fold it, before hanging it on the rack. Saves you from hanging it twice...

[@sammysmokies]

Thanks really appreciate it. I’m still learning, not an expert so fyi, I do enjoy teaching what I know. Thanks for watching. Let me know how it goes for you!

[@frost8077]

This looked more like an abridged process than a full one. I was hoping to see how you determine how much hide you need to scrap away and the process of making the brain solution. You never mentioned what the smoking does either. I'm not trying to sound like I'm complaining, but for someone who's never done this before, it just felt like half the process was missing. I liked the shots of the moon to show the passing of time. Is there a more natural local substitute for the shampoo if you don't have any shampoo around?

[@sammysmokies]

Absolutely. Figured just throw on the solution, brains, water and eggs then get working. Scrape a lot, no meat or fat on hide. More natural soaps would work, or even just rinsing in hot water a few times. Thanks for the advice and for watching

[@celticwilderness]

Absolute legend! Is there anything that this man can not do!! 🔥🔥✌️💪

[@sammysmokies]

Thank you so much brotha! 🔥

[@paranoidman7928]

Honestly this was quite nice to watch!

[@sammysmokies]

Thanks for watching

[@carlosmontano7947]

Nice explanation Bro, It's so cool!

[@sammysmokies]

Thanks, appreciate it

[@Ayb33rk]

Amazing 💎💯

[@alvaromonsalve4462]

Hi Samuel, could you explain me how you do the Brain tanning solution? Thanks!

[@sammysmokies]

Sure. Brains from the animal, mixed with warm water and sometimes eggs if you need more solution. Slowly rub and apply on animal hide. Repeat if it needs to be softened more than once. Can use eggs and water if you don’t have brains

[@DisturbedGeneration]

​@@sammysmokiesTHANK YOU. ive been trying to find the most straight forward, natural tanning solution. Thank you so much..

[@user-cw9bo2tp4t]

こんにちは、紅葉が美しいですね😊英語が分からないのであなたのお話の内容が分からないのが残念ですが、気になり見入っていました。毛皮は熊かなと思いました。熊の毛皮はインテリアとかに使うんですか？

[@flymanff]

Cool bear hide, good job.

[@sammysmokies]

Thank you

[@tylermattern9379]

Watching video for brain tanning salutation and got every thing but the salutation all in all though great video very helpful thank you

[@sammysmokies]

Just brains and eggs and water. Eggs and water work fine too. Ya thanks for watching

[@peytonnorris7244]

I like your knife! The convex blad also keeps meat from sticking to the blade when you are slicing and dicing! ...I actually like to put just enough laundry detergent to make the hide smell good in my pickle except I use citric acid instead of brain .

[@sammysmokies]

Yakut knife works wonders. Good call, thanks for watching

[@ladyfuschia4729]

"Clan of The Cave Bear"!! Paleolithic life plus romance in 6 volumes!!

[@Josef_R]

I feel like I missed several videos of information in this "full process."

[@ChanceClubs]

Hello! I had a question, what is the purpose of smoking the pelts?

[@sammysmokies]

Helps preserve it and makes it more water resistant

[@alikeat1347]

My granddaddy used broken glass to flesh. And is that shampoo safe for that creek?

[@sammysmokies]

Yup all natural, I made it. Thanks for watching

[@emeraldmage5265]

say whats your brain tanning solution, im not really familiar with that tanning method so i would like to know also good vid

[@sammysmokies]

Cool thanks glad to hear it. I use brains from the animal, and usually a hide this big a dozen eggs, yolks and whites, water and slightly warmed up

[@scullus]

Awesome. And what is your brain egg recipe quantities?

[@sammysmokies]

About 6 eggs few cups of warm water. All depends on hide size

[@scullus]

Wish I could go there and at least check out the consistency of it

[@not_velsia]

How long do they last when tanned this way?

[@sammysmokies]

Indefinitely

[@MrLifesport]

No salt used? Or did i miss that part?

[@sammysmokies]

No salt. Have you tried that before? I’ve only known for that to help preserve it before working it

[@MrLifesport]

​@@sammysmokies very interesting for sure. I do a salt bath for two days. Was told that helps set the hair to avoid slippage. I might skip it next time.

[@sammysmokies]

Hmm cool. I’m still learning myself, these skills are so fascinating. I will look into that. Thanks for watching and keep it up!

[@ferrarivisual]

What solution did Indians use

[@jdmbraceyourself695]

The Great Osage tribe

[@makavlog4408]

nice m'y freand good Luck 👍🏼⭐🫂🇲🇦

[@sammysmokies]

Thank you dude