Hide Tanning

Step by step Hide Tanning using the brain tanning technique for deer and other hides. Making brain tanned buckskin is an important outdoor skill for making clothing, bags, straps, and cordage. For more instruction check out our courses at www.primitivesk...

[@stillcrow8504]

I like how this video has all the info laid out in a brief overview, in order, flat and simple. Gives you a room to work and experiment with when you get ready to hammer down the leathery dirt time on your own. Good to see a new instructor among the family too!

[@williammeade8214]

I had the pleasure of learning to tan sheep hides from Hannah, that girl knows her stuff!

[@brandenrobenski9169]

Hey just a suggestion you should try to use ash from a fire to remove the hair. It works quicker and it is a lot cheaper than using lime. Also it is natural. Just mix a bunch of water into it . The ratio you can find out for yourself. I prefer 5 to 6 shovel fills of Ash to one 5 gallon bucket, then add water and skin. This is my suggestion. If you have a better option then let me know. Also I am not saying lime isn't natural but Ash is a more economical Prospect.

[@spencerchapman9859]

Branden Robenski What if you want to keep the fur on the hide?

[@dminor214]

Spencer Chapman then you don’t soak your hide in ash or lime you go straight from fleshing to tanning/braining

[@timothylongmore7325]

I've always used wood ash to. I thought I might try the lime because many times there's hair that won't slip no longer how long I soak it. Probably because I usually do it in colder weather and don't get as good a reaction. I usually flesh at same time as dehairing. This job separates the women n men from the girly girls.

[@mikefreeman3772]

Yes sir. Wood ash/water solution is lye (high pH).

[@possumsausage5029]

@@timothylongmore7325 I use wood ash but I tan hides right after harvest so in colder temps. I use about 2 gallons worth of wood ash in about 5 gallons of water in a plastic tote. I flesh right away before the soak then dehair and grain and reflesh. Then rinse several times and soak overnight in a bucket of vinegar water. Ready for braining and softening the next day. I never soak in brains overnight like she does. I apply brains and wring half a dozen times or so. I dont collect and reuse the brain water that wrings from the hide though as it contains mucus from the hide that the brains are replacing. God bless and happy tanning

[@TheGroundnuts]

I have done brain tanning a number of times and I can say that this is an excellent video on the process. The instructor is very knowledgeable and explains things very clearly.

[@possumsausage5029]

I really appreciate this video. It helped me tan my first deer hide last year. It turned out rock hard because I only stretched it by hand so I bought a steel cable and re-brained (egged) the hide and cables it till it was dry. It turned out great and I made a possibles bag for hunting out of it. One thing I learned on different forums was when wringing, dont catch and reuse the wrung out water. It contains mucus that the brains are replacing. This mucus dries hard and reusing it will make the softening process more laborious. I tanned a hide from a buck I shot last year plus a cape that a buddy didnt want. I am in the process of tanning three hides this year, non of which are from deer I harvested. Tanning is hard work but very rewarding. Fun fact, buck skin is called buck skin not because it is the skin of a buck, but because of the bucking process to remove the hair and grain. It is really "bucked" skin, not "buck" skin

[@zerubbabelsbridge]

Possum Sausage good comment. Does the wrung out water have another use, or do you just dump it?

[@TrueFloridian813]

I've been looking for a video like this for 2 years.. Good stuff

[@seribas]

TrueFloridian813 same !

[@jacoschoeman155]

I've been looking AT this video for about two years now...

[@krisalaska]

Congrats Lady! Wonderful work and a great presentation. Keep up the good work and keep the knowledge passing on.

[@Folma7]

That was super interesting! As a young un I used to read about how the native Americans would tan their hides. This was really good to watch!!!!

[@ace50cal1]

I love the girl teaching the class. Shes all natural!♥️

[@ace50cal1]

@Happy Man that's ok. U should see me!!! Nasty dreads lol u have no clue what natural means lol 😆

[@Kanoshe]

@Peter D SNIIIIIIIIIIIFFF

[@PrairieProspecting]

this was amazing, this girl has old world knowledge! good job, done with grace and beauty

[@uoufs]

Rich, precise, and to the point! Thanks for the video!

[@patrickodonovan5066]

Expertly done instruction. Can't wait to check-out your other courses. This is some quality, hard-to-get material.

[@tylerquinn8927]

She smart girl

[@garygerkin9988]

Saving a lost art, thank you. More people want to learn about such things than you realize

[@frankrichardson9878]

that is one bad ass little Lady! as someone who used to brain tan and make my own rawhide I really appreciate the labor that goes into making a beautiful hide! God bless you for keeping ancient skills alive! rock on earth goddess!

[@michaud399]

That's so impressive, I'm a Canadian first nations man and you young lady are so very amazing.

[@stauffap]

Actually it's the smoke that is tanning the hide(the aldehydes in the smoke). The brain is just a fatliquor that helps to keep the fibres apart before smoking in order to help the smoke to penetrate.

[@timothylongmore7325]

So any fat liquor would probably work? Probably why there are so many recipes , eggs , mayonaise (eggs/fat) , brains. Would rendered tallow thinned with something work?

[@possumsausage5029]

@@timothylongmore7325 it has to be an emulsifiable oil. I've not heard the theory that the smoke is what tans the hide, but I've read that the deer hides that were used for the tops of teepees made the softest hides so it makes sense as they were basically smoked for years on end

[@bobnancymiller4931]

@@timothylongmore7325 I use eggs mixed with pure sunlight soap . My friend has success with ivory soap,

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@bobnancymiller4931 Thanks , I'm a fan of ivory soap. Haven't heard of sunlight. I did two deer hides a while back useing these methods and they turned out great. I'm doing some cowhide in walnut husks right now. I'm making belt straps out of them for adirondack pack baskets. I had to but two mens belt to complete one and if I hadn't had half the leather already it would have cost me a hundred dollars just to do the leather work. I have cattle so the hides are free to me. They're so thick , as is , that they have limited uses. I also have a small deer hide in the walnut liquor thats probaby done. I'll let you know how that one comes out. Draw back is dark brown color. Love that smoked buckskin look.

[@timothylongmore7325]

The bark tanned cowhide cam out good. Very heavy duty. Got two deer hides to do now.

[@jtjjbannie]

This is totally different that the way mama tanned my hide.

[@Banksfortwo]

🤣 That is good

[@thecynster5625]

Eey

[@cyfishsiren7487]

Haha same here

[@trevorvallo5841]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@christiantimothy1988]

you probably dont give a damn but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid forgot the password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

[@chrismcdonald6481]

Was thinking just yesterday about seeing if there were any hide tanning videos on here. Your video came up this morning, like it was meant to be. Thanks. Well done.

[@kr1886]

A naturally beautiful girl such a pleasure to see rather than those painted ladies that are the norm these days. Good instructional video, thank you!

[@WakefieldTolbert]

This was very interesting. I had figured tanning would be quite an undertaking, and was not wrong. Thanks for sharing.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thorough instruction. Seeing is understanding. I have read several how-to accounts and remained mystified in spots until I saw this.

[@explorermike19]

She knows what she is talking about. I have brain tanned and she is spot on to the detail.

[@360dudex]

I write fiction and found this very useful for some parts in my story. It's hard to get good details on closely how they used to do things. I've also always been curious about how hide tanning was done. Great video :)

[@majinperez6993]

Why don't you try like, doing it? You know?

[@jaidenroberts5774]

what are the names of some of your books? I would love to read them

[@dirty2307]

Great video . Question how can I remove the hair from an allready hair on tanned hide . I bought some riendeer hides cheap at the flea . I want to make a buckskin rifle sleeve from 1 . Any help would be appreciated thanks .

[@CiaofCleburne]

Wonderful video..thank you for taking the time to show us this amazing skill...truly an art.

[@aguilayserpiente]

Fine educational video.

[@digginz8603]

That's a special lady right there

[@theodebeer3473]

Brilliant tutorial and instructional video, thanks for sharing!

[@ashleyradwell709]

Didn't realise how much work goes into it, very educational...

[@Ralphieisthegreatest]

This was really interesting! No wonder it's so expensive to pay to have them tanned! Thank you for sharing this!

[@ronhart8857]

Great job tanning deerskin’s to buckskin love your channel!

[@breezybrey2367]

I have tanned before, and it was so much work and so gross. I can see why our native women went to cloth right away. But this teacher is so beautiful and she makes the process look lovely. When I have another hide project, I will watch her to get me motivated again! Thank you, sister.

[@cda7420]

Well done...Love to see your homestead...the more you know the better...get out there and do it...I usually tie mine in a frame to strake it/soften...same process but using stake held in hand...best with two or more people take turns...till dry...

[@gwenynhuang9591]

THERE'S A SCHOOL FOR THIS STUFF?! THE MINUTE I'M DONE MY UNDERGRAD, NO THE SECOND! I WANT TO LEARN THIS SO BAD!!!!!

[@tanker9987]

Who is going to employ you to do this though? Better off working in a field that pays well and invest as much as you can from day 1. Retire early and spend the rest of your life doing the things you want, like this.

[@davidbeppler3032]

Dankus has anyone ever told you to be quiet and appear smart rather than speak and remove all doubt?

[@funfirefreedom9164]

Or, spend your entire life doing what you want?

[@bashkillszombies]

@@davidbeppler3032 Take your own advice. He gave her valid, honest, and correct feedback to a stupid suggestion. You aren't going to get a job tanning in 2019. And with a surname like Huang she's going to get beaten with a bamboo stick by her parents if she finishes an undergraduate degree at university then becomes a dirty hippy.

[@possumsausage5029]

Just do it. Honestly. You wont make a living out of it but if you can dedicate a couple hours a night for a week, you will have a nice bucked skin. All the info you need is in this video and on online forums. All that's missing is motivation

[@Christopher-tu8bs]

I've NEVER been so interested in a subject !!!

[@tooterr102e.9]

Enjoyed the video. Seeing how you tan the hide the old fashion way is very enjoyable. Thank you for sharing.

[@SkillCult]

Nice! I never see people using lime for bucking buckskin. Everyone seems to favor Potassium Hydroxide, but you have to buy that. Making lime isn't hard, and a little goes a long way, especially if you make lime putty instead of that dry hydrate. I have a video on a simple method for burning lime kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIDbkoKKiqyogdE . You might try drenching for de-liming, which is basically a lacto-ferment using bran or other grain such as flour, fermented in a bucket. The Acetic acid in vinegar is not as good at removing all the lime as lactic acid. I just put a couple few double handfuls of bran in a bucket of water and put the hide in when it begins to ferment. Don't leave it in too long or it can damage the hide.

[@joecliffordson]

SkillCult

[@pikeknifeandforge4632]

SkillCult we use ash and water

[@SkillCult]

I've used ash for barktan and rawhide some. I've found it to be very variable and heard the same from others. Good stuff though. Some say it makes stronger leather than lime. I'm skeptical either way. There are a lot of compromises in tanning.

[@pikeknifeandforge4632]

SkillCult yeah

[@craigslitzer4857]

SkillCult Potassium Hydroxide is the water soluble component of wood ash. Old fashioned lye water with sifted & leached wood ash

[@grahamwilson7865]

Always keep your old lime and keep using. Add a little new lime each time. This generates a mines in the solution that help dehair the pelt.

[@lonestarz71]

Thanks for video. Can I use the same process ( minus the lime) to make my hide soft and supple but keep the hair on?

[@JoeHyPhotography]

Is there a way to make leather as opposed to buckskin via braintanning?

[@ThomasShue]

this is a thing of beauty. A real woman. simply stunning.

[@randy1ization]

Yes, no make up, no fake up, no push up , just woman!!!

[@sethmcclain7213]

This woman is awesome. Person of passion in what she does

[@duck9310]

tf u mean she ugly af

[@TheOneWithComments]

Get out of here with that Thomas we're over here trying to learn about tanning and all you have to say about the video is how attractive you think the woman is.

[@Dbeattie299]

When Shit Hits The Fan women like that will indeed survive.

[@aheadsup6492]

Aweome looking class i may have to check out that website ad see what i can find. id love to take that class.

[@joecliffordson]

A Headsup

[@nerdhound5891]

How on earth did people discover this technique?

[@opie2708]

Nerdhound aliens

[@FuKItM4n]

Started with rawhide, and over time were found new ways to make it more to their liking... go hundreds of years and a lot of steps came into play that all made it a "better" leather.

[@kiralypeter88]

It all started with good genetics that created societies and geniuses that lead to all the goodies we know and use today.

[@transplantedhomestead2432]

American Indian learn thousand yr ago. Past it down

[@davidbeppler3032]

Economics at work. If my hides are better than yours my family can eat better, have healthier children, more beautiful wives. Each generation experiments until something works. ;)

[@Stjarnljus]

So many beautiful skins and tools and processes. I love watching you work^^ Why the eggs though? And how much vinegar? I never learned to use that, it sound very interesting.

[@johnkirby5637]

As most people do , I came here to learn tanning , which I have . More importantly I discovered another one of Gods magnificent women . Thank you for being you and giving us all inspiration and hope for the future !

[@GoodOlBoy1976]

This is very nice to learn new ways of working with animal skins.

[@paparomesoutdoors711]

Great video, in depth look at the entire process, Thank you for sharing.

[@hamidhami3473]

Well, You guys work so hard, I appreciate,

[@inthefight]

After doing all of this can you use the skin to make a seat cover for a four-wheeler? It will be subject to the weather at all times. Will it last or the rain mess it up

[@gumecindogarcia1070]

This video is the easiest to follow. I tan hides but it takes a long time. Since the price has gone up I'm willing to do them again

[@HyenaChannel2014]

This is a really cool video! I've got a beautiful fox tail that I skinned from a roadkill fox just a couple of days ago and I'm at the stage of salting it and preserving it, but can I egg tan it? I want to know the best way I can preserve a tail and make it really durable. Do I just pour an egg yolk mixture into the tail cavity and let it absorb before smoking it some days later?

[@pyrofful]

Question: Would alum pickling a animal hide and working it till its dry then brain tanning give me a nicer and stronger end result? I like how alum pickle leaves it but now want to try brain tanning. Should i combine it? Is it worth the effort? Or just brain tanning will leave you with the best overall hide/skin. Thanks in advance!

[@timhill2849]

holy crap. thats alot of work for some hide.pretty awesome though. thanks for sharing.

[@missymangold871]

Great video! Best one I've found on tanning a skin! Just wondering what she'll was being used? Was it used for all the scraping of that skin? What is the name of the scraping tool? If I have a skin but not ready to take it can it be put in the freezer? What other alternatives will keep it til your ready to begin the process? Thank you!!

[@jenrasmuson4372]

The shell was used as a scraper and the other tool was a draw knife that was also used as a scraper. Draw knives are usually used for taking bark off of trees to build log cabins, but it's cool I can also use it as a scraper. The instructor said that the hides were frozen, so you can do that until they are used. That's how they are typically preserved until they can be worked.

[@rickmorris338]

Where do you get your hydrated lime? Can this be used for eggs to preserve them?

[@jimnowak3960]

How does a person attend one of your classes? I would love to see the procress first hand.

[@murphfee617]

Thats Awesome Go Maine !!!!! Iwent to H.I.O.B.S. "If anyone here knows what that is Please drop a like," When I was a teen in Northern Maine.The most exciting thing I've ever done back in 94 then again in 96. Thanks for the video I learned alot quickly. Go wildcats.

[@niallebhann3631]

Different than what I've read and applied but the results are so much better. Think I'll make a bracer. Cause bow strings hurt when they whip that arm.

[@laserbeam002]

My father taught me how to tan hides to save the fur but never learned about how the fur was removed. Thank you for posting. I'll be trying this soon on a couple coyotes.

[@karlo8093]

Very good demonstration. Thanks!

[@astlan33]

Thank you guys for sharing this knowledge

[@josephbenton3471]

Some people use a blender, but not Hannah... She uses her hands to mush it up because she's amazing.

[@greenstreet5287]

im so sad this is in maine. im in ohio and really wanted to attend a few of these classes. great info

[@dougspizman6751]

Hello there, I noticed that you did not use a stretched board or string panel..... new technique to me. How do you feel about the stretching process on a board or rack?

[@ee222]

during the smoking stage, should the former "meat side" be facing in to the smoke or the "fur side" or does it matter since both sides have been scrapped? -- great vid! thanks for sharing!!

[@dariuszrosa3034]

Hello. Great video! I have tanned properly my first rabbit skin thanks to you! But I have a small problem, after stretching hide on a stick it is not flat, so its hard to do anything from it, becouse it has more and less stretched areas. I wonder if you could give me a recipe for that :)?

[@dudester873]

Wow -- this was amazing. I never thought "tanning" was such an involving process. Those skins look just like those worn by Native Americans and Davy Crocket. Thanks so much for posting this process and have a Jabba-sized thumbs up! :-D

[@coaxsanford832]

Good information,enjoyed the video.

[@myname1715]

Say I was stranded in the woods somewhere for a good long time. If I wanted to make some kind of clothing with hide how would I do it if I didn't have the resources you have? What steps would be necessary?

[@primitiveskills]

There are many techniques, each producing a different quality of hide. The highest quality would be brain tanning. Each animal, except maybe moose and politicians, has a enough brain in its skull to tan their own hide. The effort and time increase in using this method is marginal, but the softness and insulate property of the hide is worth it. Another method of off grid tanning is using tannic acid from oak, beech, sweet fern, or hemlock. It takes longer and you can get a soft hide, but not as nice as a brain tan. Urine is used this way as well. Lastly, the lazy approach is rot tanning. Lay your hide hair down on the forest floor and cover it in leaf mulch. Cover that in rocks to protect it from predators and scavengers and than, after the snow has come and gone (over winter) unearth your hide and stake it out until dry. It will have mold stains and be a bit crinkly, but it won't smell and it does make serviceable clothing.

[@MicahFunk]

Primitive Skills You are smart, witty, industrious, and beautiful. I really appreciate you sharing your skills! Thank you!

[@jeremymtz360]

looks amazing out there hopefully I can get out there before I move to maine

[@fasiapulekaufusi6632]

In central asia, they a very similar but more simple method.

[@stephenh7336]

So instead of lime could you use wood ash? Instead of the rinsing ever so often could you weight it down in the creek with a constant flow? Instead of distilled vinegar could you use homemade ACV? And lastly, how long did it take to get used to that brain smell?

[@johnblack9952]

Nothing works as good as Ash water! 👌👍😉

[@ericcorse]

What kind of thread do you use? Do you ever darken the hides with black walnut husks? I knew the process was involved but not to this extent but you can't beat nice buckskin.

[@kerryhurd7738]

Great video love it you are a awesome teacher keep up the great work

[@daviddrum6700]

I have tanned two deer hides, but they seem to be stiff in areas. Can I re-brain them or is there another way to soften them. They seem to be stiffer than the ones in the video.

[@billfivehouse7268]

Wow this is a LOT of work!

[@kullcraven]

Awesome video :) Thanks for sharing .

[@loser-by-choice1269]

I never knew the brain was used in tanning, that was really interesting to learn.

[@keepthefaith1912]

Real neat...that's a lot of work...

[@kennethjohnson9169]

OK I have understood this technique for a while, What I want to know is how do I make leather that holds the hair? I don't want the hair to slip but I do want tannd soft hides.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

so you just skip the lime process if you want the fur left on for winter clothes/ blankets?

[@p90pdack68]

So is an alternate method to soak the hide in urine to help remove the hair, or is that not acidic enough?

[@praecantrix]

this is fascinating. great video thanks

[@LionAstrology]

=) great video thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@1xsol]

Well Done. Excellent

[@brianwinters9533]

Would that be considered smart leather?

[@pelementmaker]

i would love to sew myself a pair of pants with braintan, but i wonder how they would hold up on chilly days, is there any insulation in them? i will only be using them in summer, maybe late spring, early fall since im located in northern norway :)

[@moonlightbushcrafter4919]

Krestian Kvart You could either keep the hair on and sew it on the inside as insulation or sew some wool to keep you warm.

[@theofilo5]

Those informations are enough so I can make it at home or there are informations missing?

[@ryanlewis194]

I had no idea ! Awesome 👍

[@ArmageddonAfterparty]

Damn, you have a lot of strength!

[@Walibnzas]

Love the instructor. :-)

[@VestigialHead]

Good to see skills like this being promoted. Too many hand crafting skills have disappeared due to modern living. We may need to relearn this sort of thing in a SHTF situation.

[@arewethereyet5675]

Ty. I loved it and subscribed.

[@daviddrum6700]

What was the double handled tool used to scrape the hair off? It looked like a file? The fleshing tool---did you make it or buy it?

[@mikefaraday7772]

David Drum answered your own question mate, its called a fleshing tool or fleshing knife

[@charleswong6523]

But what if I want to keep the fur?

[@МаксимВерхозин-с6п]

Удивила... Такая красатуля, а такой нелегкой работы не гнушается!

[@leesanders6490]

Hannah has a really beautiful "Earth Mother" vibe going on. It takes me back. Thanks.

[@TheSchmidt62]

Awesome information! Thank you!

[@davidcoy4558]

Great video! Good job