How to Make Your Own Fish Leather in 2 mins | The Bush Tannery

First video of the '2 Minute Tanning' series. Interested in learning more?
Visit the website: www.thebushtannery.com.au/
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*Recommended book for learning: 'Fish leather tanning and sewing' - Lotta Rahme & Dag Hartman
Order your copy here - www.lottasgarveri.se/en/books (also available in Swedish)
Happy tanning everyone!

[@gustavsbutepic4258]

So nice that our biology teacher chose this as a video to learn off of! Going to do this as soon as summer arrives! Respect!

[@MAZEMIND]

Did you do it ??? How did it turn out ???

[@Xzeebo]

Tanning salmon skins right now thanks to this video :P, making a viking lantern with fish skin as windows.

[@thebushtannery5357]

Sounds really awesome. Please send any photos to [e-mail], love to see the progress you make. All the best on your project!

[@HotHoneyMustardSauce]

watched it more than 10 times and still found it useful

[@silvericonics3518]

Thank you so much man!! I've tanned walleye, bass, and some bluegills with this! I've even made a few bracelets and this cool fish thing with some bass leather(it's hard to describe what it is)! Thank you!

[@GunHar95]

How did you remove smell?

[@blackknight9156]

Just started tanning some hybrid striped bass skin using this technique. Thanks a ton, friend.

[@thebushtannery5357]

You're so welcome. Look forward to hearing how it goes. Feel free to comment back or send me pictures of what you get up to at [e-mail] . All the best! Josh

[@blackknight9156]

@@thebushtannery5357 I would have loved to send you some pictures... but my new dog got a hold of them and well... I think you see where I am going with this. xD The skins turned out good nonetheless.

[@rabidlittlehipppy6237]

Beautifully demonstrated.

[@thebushtannery5357]

Rabid Little Hipppy Thankyou. More videos are on the way!

[@katemartin2876]

Awesome video Josh!

[@thebushtannery5357]

Kate Martin Thanks for your continued support!

[@alishalimbrick1790]

thanks so much for this video , ive been meaning to try tanning a carp hide , i'll try this method first , thanks mate, bonza!

[@Wickedstickyflowers]

Love your format

[@SurvivalKompass]

Thanks! Short and comprehensive. :-)

[@gonefishing1939]

I thought i seen everything, This is great news and i learned so much from this video. I was wondering how Cat fish would do. their skin is naturally so very tough. thanks for the video.

[@oddish2253]

Nice work well done

[@thebushtannery5357]

Oddish thanks for support! hope you found the video helpful.

[@littleLifeMoment]

That's so cool 😎

[@necrolacrimagore]

excelente tutorial. ¿Podría usar este mismo proceso para una piel de sapo que ha sido salada anteriormente?

[@anasullivan2827]

Thank you so much for this video!!! We went dip netting in Kasilof and I caught some beautiful fish that I would like to make a wallet out of. So glad to find a recipe that doesn't 'tan' and I don't have to use urine :)

[@thebushtannery5357]

You're Welcome! It's great to hear how people have been finding this video helpful. FYI I've got the small scrapers from the video now up for sale on the ETSY store: www.etsy.com/au/listing/531144792/single-handed-scraping-tool?ref=shop_home_active_1 **Perfect for doing smaller skins like fish and much easier than using a knife and tearing a hole in your hard earned skins!!

[@samsadowitz1724]

The Bush Tannery i know im late to this thread, but i would like to try this on some small saltwayer jacks to make my own sabiki rigs, and i can say that for any fish with large scales, remove them before skinning to make the procesd that much easier. Now question: can this also be done on fish that have no scales to begin with? I.e. catfish, sharks, rays, etc.

[@joemanthei695]

Sam Sadowitz yes. Wolffish is a common skin fish caught in North Atlantic & tanned.

[@pinecone3630]

Thanks, man it worked!

[@thebushtannery5357]

Awesome! Glad to hear. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already. Got another great tutorial video on the way!

[@aphidacoco]

What purpose does the egg soap oil mixture serve? can i just marinate in oil?

[@120hashim]

thanks so much for this video

[@thebushtannery5357]

You're welcome. I am happy it is helpful. Greetings from Australia. Josh

[@hildedenys4427]

Thank you for the video. I did as you showed but used coconut oil to soften the skin because I didn't have leather balsem but the skin stays hard and rigid. What is in the leather balsem that makes the leather soft?

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3W2d32uh7WUq5Y

[@theburningman5047]

Most fish, I wouldn’t exactly use to make clothing out of, but hey… it looks interesting… (I love the music, lol)

[@zacfaucheaux7934]

Can this be used on speckled trout or redfish ( red drum) for boots?

[@karls5474]

Very good vid; short, informative, to the point. What is the egg used for in the tanning process?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Karl S Hi there! The egg yolk contains similar properties to that of the brain of an animal. Instead of using brains to tan the fish skin, we are instead replicating the same chemistry using eggs, oil and soap. Much more accessible to the general population. The mixture coats the fibers of the fish skin.

[@hradcanska]

Thanks for the how-to! Just found this, so hope you're still answering questions. But why the dish soap in with the egg and oil? That's the one thing I haven't seen anywhere else, and I'm curious what that's doing, and whether using it makes a big difference or not in the final product.

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

I do this process and that is an essential component.

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

www.amazon.com/Fish-Leather-tanning-traditional-methods/dp/9163716615

[@brucesexsmith3222]

Hi. The egg and soap are to carry the oil into the fish flesh.

[@hradcanska]

Thanks, both of you! (Sorry I didn't see yours sooner, Lazy Fish Tanner!)

[@principedinero5152]

So do I wash it again after it’s in the solution or leave it

[@pneumonical]

what is the soap for? could you substitute it with anything

[@kilokrafts2039]

do you have to remove scales?

[@birdingandbushcraft2406]

Great video! I’m totally going to try it. One question no one has asked is about the sandpaper. Are we talking super coarse, super fine, somewhere in the middle? What is the reason for this step or will it be clear when I get to that stage? Thanks for sharing.

[@alchemykitchen777]

I would try something between 120 to 180 grit, trying it myself now and havent gotten to that step, but just a guess, as it's to break off the fibers, higher grit is just going to clog up.

[@WildAnaCrow]

Hey, thank you so much for this tutorial! I was wondering, why didn't you smoke the skin in the end?

[@thebushtannery5357]

You're welcome Ana. According to Lotta Rahme (a real expert on Fish tanning and leather making in Sweden) you don't need to smoke the skins. I haven't asked her why as one doesn't question such a master, although perhaps I need to as I'm still curious myself. My theory is that the smoking contains highly acidic properties such as 'tannic acid', and on such a thin and vulnerable skin such as a fish it can compromise the fibre network making it more brittle and prone to disintegrating over time. That's why my favourite fish and marine creature tanning method is bark tanning. Much stronger and longer lasting. Hope that helps. Why not experiment and see for yourself? Cheers. Josh

[@WildAnaCrow]

@@thebushtannery5357 hey! thank you so much for your answer :) that's so interesting, I've bark tanned fish skins before, and am now experimenting with this method. Let's see how they turn out eheh thank you so much for taking some time to answer my question! :)

[@angliabol]

Thanks for your video, it is very educating! I'm planning to do it with dogfish skins. What do you think, is it possible to keep the dotted texture and the hard scales that makes this fish nearly unbiteable from the outside?

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

a great reference book that has that fish skin in it is : www.amazon.com/Fish-Leather-tanning-traditional-methods/dp/9163716615

[@sauravshete6088]

Can we dye the leather at home? Give it interesting colours?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Yes you certainly can. You can use natural dyes that would normally be used for dyeing wool and silk (a.k.a. Eco dyes). Just be sure not to put your fish skins in a dye bath that is hotter than 25 C Celsius. Make sure it is cool to touch is a good rule. Then you will not cook your precious skins. Good luck!

[@silverseen8300]

Sweet! Am I able to hang dry the skin outside in cold, 20 degree weather? Or should I hang the skins in my home?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Yes you can. The process is slower in the cold. Inside is also fine if you find that more suitable with your climate.

[@silverseen8300]

Okay! Thank you! And if I'm able to catch any fish this year, I'll be sure to send a photo over of the finished results! Thanks again!

[@silverseen8300]

@@thebushtannery5357 3 years later still using this method on some walleye and stuff, thank you

[@pinecone3630]

If you leave it in the marinade for a couple hours, can you rinse it off immediately after? If so, what kind of water would you use? Cold, soapy, ect I read you reply about the matter to another person, but I wanted to know if it was okay to rinse the skin after it had been marinating for a longer time.

[@thebushtannery5357]

TheOneThatGotAwayAngling Yes you can do it later than 10-15 mins. It all depends on the temperature. Ideally you don't want it in the mixture for too long on a warm day as it will spoil and affect your skin. Because fish skin are usually much thinner than other animals it doesn't need as long to absorb solutions. Good luck with your tanning projects.

[@tylersmith1531]

Would this work for shark skin as well?

[@surrayahsjewels]

I purchased some dyed salmon skins online and they are beautiful colors but the pieces are quite stiff. If I use a leather balm on them, will it help to soften them, do you think?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Hi there. If they are chemically tanned/ dyed I would say maybe. I would need to personally see the skins. Hopefully you found a solution to your stiff skins. It's worth a try. Naturally tanned skins react better to leather balm as they are 'alive'.

[@austinmcwn]

Do you have to remove the scales? I plan on trying this with Walleye and Pike here in Canada!

[@thebushtannery5357]

The scales are harder to remove on those fish just by scraping. You can leave them on, however it may affect the absorption of the egg/ oil solution. They will most likely fall out anyway with time and usage depending on what you intend with the skins. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@austinmcwn]

Thanks for the advice! I plan on sewing the skins into wallets!

[@thebushtannery5357]

Great idea. depending on the thickness of the skin, usually determines what I'll end up using the leather for. Thinner skins are great for non structural leather craft and your more thicker skin can be used for wallets, bags etc. good luck with your project and send us a pic when you do it!

[@joemanthei695]

Austin McEwan scales left in will produce a "rougher" finish to the leather. I have sample of cod leather with small scales and the texture is rough.

[@emeraldtabbycat148]

Can this process be applied to other animal skins as well? Please explain.

[@thebushtannery5357]

toxic tabby it certainly can!! Please check out my other video on Furskin tanning. A lot more details than what I can explain in writing. Happy tanning!

[@thebushtannery5357]

toxic tabby it certainly can!! Please check out my other video on Furskin tanning. A lot more details than what I can explain in writing. Happy tanning!

[@emeraldtabbycat148]

Thanks a bunch. I'll get right on it.

[@lioncantpullout.3939]

The Bush Tannery would this work on shark hide?

[@mashrauger]

Hello! Did you happen to try tanning the shark?

[@theLadyofSpoons]

what happens if you don’t remove the scales?

[@joke3979]

Can this be used on string ray and shark? I always catch one or the other when I go fishing. It seems a shame to just throw the skin away.

[@fahoodie1852]

Jo Ke it works on any skin

[@olivergolding8927]

yes! google shagreen

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

I have done shark skin. Its like sandpaper and very tough. It was the original sand paper. www.amazon.com/Fish-Leather-tanning-traditional-methods/dp/9163716615

[@user-lc5on8zq2x]

Does it smell?

[@jensbjorkqvist6634]

After the marinade for 15 min do you rinse the skin? Yes/no? If yes, cold water or soap water? Also what kind of fish are you using? Thx for an good tut 👍

[@thebushtannery5357]

No rinsing after the marinade/ tanning solution. Otherwise this would strip the oils away before they have time to enter the skin. If the skin is too oily on the 3rd day after some softening, you can rinse in cold soapy water for 5 minutes and soften again. If too dry you need to RE-apply mixture again. It's a bit of experimenting and personal experience. So don't give up if it doesn't work. Hope this helps and thankyou for watching.

[@jensbjorkqvist6634]

The Bush Tannery ah ok, thanks for the info will do that 👍 also are you using cold or warm water fish? 🌸

[@thebushtannery5357]

Jens Björkqvist I'm using cold salt water fish in the video (Salmon, and also Duck Fish native to our coastlines). However, you can use this recipe with all aquatic creatures and even land animals as well. If it has skin, it can be tanned! Obviously no two animals or fish are the same and their skins may react differently. So this is where practice helps. You're welcome.

[@jensbjorkqvist6634]

The Bush Tannery thanks 🙏

[@justsomeguywithaboomerang1891]

Does anybody know if this would work on shark

[@sephreyes1625]

Is it possible to leatherize tuna?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Hi there. Yes it does. It works on any fish skin (or animal). Of course it depends on the size, age, health etc. Every skin is different. Even for the same species of fish you can have very different experiences. Good luck if you end up trying on the tuna. Josh

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

yes

[@sephreyes1625]

@@lazyfishtanner6393 hi, thanks for replying. It was my thesis and now I have a tuna leather bag hahaha!

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

@@sephreyes1625 very cool

[@yousifa4002]

Does it work on gar?

[@thebushtannery5357]

It sure does. Of course different species and different age, health, etc. will effect the overall quality of the fish leather (or any leather for that manner).

[@pinecone3630]

Does it have to be vegetable oil?

[@thebushtannery5357]

TheOneThatGotAwayAngling no it doesn't just have to be vegetable oil.

[@branni6538]

just pure egg yokes will do fine. No need for the soap either. You can tan and smoke all hides/skins by just using egg yokes or other natural oils.

[@Dundien-ix4kd]

does it stink out the house

[@noahpharayra7144]

What happens if the skin gets rained on when hanging for the 3 days

[@silverseen8300]

It may possibly go bad, but you could try try putting it in the solution again. You can always hang it under a sheltered place, hell I've dried some leather in my closed garage!

[@crgaillee]

WE...., I can see using it to make a small thing or two. But egg yolk? Well..., you proved it could be done. although i doubt it would work with beaver or fox. Well done.

[@alexandraandersson1665]

If i have a smoked fish, can i still tan that skin?

[@thebushtannery5357]

Theoretically you can. Whether or not the skin ends up brittle and breaking is another story. I personally haven't tried this method of making fish leather. Please comment back if you try this and let us know if it worked. Thank you, Josh

[@alexandraandersson1665]

@@thebushtannery5357 we tried and failed

[@thebushtannery5357]

@@alexandraandersson1665 Thanks for the update.

[@trendolon]

why u add egg?

[@Wickedstickyflowers]

Why egg yolks

[@lazyfishtanner6393]

This is a great reference book for all you fish skin tanners out there : www.amazon.com/Fish-Leather-tanning-traditional-methods/dp/9163716615

[@murraybrink3473]

sweet. can't see why this wouldn't work on eel skin.

[@thebushtannery5357]

Yes it works on Eel skin really well! Hope you had a chance to try it.

[@tango-bravo]

Tanning fish skin seems to be all the rage these days. Who knew?!

[@ivan55599]

That's a strange way to tan fish skin. Every other video l've seen have started softening skin immediately after taken out from egg-oil/tallow-solution. Doesn't fibres get harder when you just lay them for a half day?

[@mammi7699]

Y'all gonna call me crazy but I just woke up and in my dream me and my buddy were stranded on a tropical island and we were hunting sharks and making clothes out of their skin...

[@bashkillszombies]

Composting meat isn't very effective, and super stinky, not to mention encourages pests. Feed it to your pets instead. Or leave it outdoors, something will eat it. :P

[@thebushtannery5357]

I disagree. It actually accelerates the composting process and if handled correctly doesn't smell. Of course if you just dump the meat and scraps on an open pile and leave it then you'll have an ineffective mess. So in that respect you're right ;) Of course if you have pets that will eat it, great. But I will never leave meat scraps out for wildlife as it further interferes with the natural ecology.

[@mackhardy9083]

When I hear ukeleles and a childrens play piano making a tune for the background music, I cannot take the video seriously. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul

[@ZafarKhan-qs5ry]

Hahahaha, in 2 minutes !!!?. It took 5 dyas.

[@mattt6568]

the video length is about 2 minutes

[@Machster10]

Unwatchable due to little kid music

[@selinkiris1380]

Thank you for the video. I did as you showed but used coconut oil to soften the skin because I didn't have leather balsem but the skin stays hard and rigid. What is in the leather balsem that makes the leather soft?

[@thebushtannery5357]

You're welcome. The key to making soft fish leather (and any leathers) is the softening process combined with the use of natural oils such as coconut oil. The timing of this is also important. The 'magic window' as I call it when I am teaching people is when the skin is not dry and not wet. So when the skin is drying you want to soften it with your hands before it turns hard and rigid as you described. I hope that explanation helps you and anyone else reading this and wondering why their skins turn out hard. You can follow me on Instagram. I often post helpful hints on there as well as Facebook. Greetings from Australia, Josh