Make Buckskin from Whitetail Deer Hide - Primitive Tanning - Brain Tanning Buckskin - Deer Leather

[@coldforge]

i love hunters who use as much of the animal as they can. thank you for being an ethical hunter

[@BB49]

This video is AWESOME!!! It's the most informational video I have seen concerning the process of tanning, start to finish with extremely well defined information!!! Thank you

[@randelllmalavida]

Wow!!! What a breath of fresh air to see such an effervescence in beautiful people, such as yourselves. What does it say about the heart and soul of a person, who would show you how to save your life. Knowledge Passed down since the dawn of mankind of how to survive and stay alive. In the 21st Centurry if someone losses their cell phone, it's game over!!! What it says to me is that you have given us a gift that is pure love and for the love of life, the knowledge of the forever time, you're that what in nature is truly sublime. Randy Chavez

[@dougsmonsters4866]

"wat an amazing gift", he ponders....then promptly drags out Forrest 🤣. In all seriousness, great vid. Well done. Will give this a go

[@user-gf2xd2uh2z]

This is a really good video. I watch an unreasonable number of videos on primitive skills and survival techniques and usually they do a great job giving you the basics. Your videos do quite a bit more than that. I feel like anyone who knew ABSOLUTELY nothing about tanning a hide could watch this, understand it, and do it. I'm also very impressed with the way you address issues that may or may not occur at certain points in the processes you show. It's very easy for things to go wrong for anyone attempting these types of primitive skills for the first time and it's doubly important to remain calm and especially manage your expectations. GL to all the hunters in 2023.

[@Sockchucker]

I have no idea why I watched this but I'm glad I did. Fascinating.

[@Jc-lh4mr]

Well now you have the general idea of how to make hides. Which will come in handy for any end of work apocalypse events lol

[@megarouge61]

I believe I enjoyed your chatting with the audience as much as learning a new process😃

[@LukeA1223]

When smoking mine I tied them up above the smoke line in my tipi when I lived in the mountains on Vancouver Island. then I could just leave them stretched, working them once in a while with an elk antler butt smoothed on a rock. Good job! Brought back some good memories from before fatherhood. Thanks.

[@lunarrn]

Finally someone who can demonstrate this process without boring the living shit out of me. Thanks

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

LMAO!!!! Hehe!!! Thank you so much for such a grand compliment. :-)

[@DavidKissinger-cm3lh]

you don't need lye. soak the hide in water, rain water or from a stream. add wood ashes to the water, stir the water wood ashes up . only takes a few days to week to get the hair to slip. wood ash and water is much safer and free.

[@jamesgregory7765]

Wood ash is one of the ways to make lye. Really you’re just cutting out a step and buying one less product this way, but when you dump it it will still be mildly caustic. A good tip!

[@timothyanderson2108]

Cheers mate

[@AllOxen]

Hard wood that is....

[@tminefski]

true labor of love. That's a whole lotta man power there brother! Thanks for passing the knowledge.

[@joycedimaggio3816]

Best tanning video I've seen. Thank you! You answerEd alot of questions.

[@terrywiggs7526]

Awesome job, i had know idea it took so many steps, im doing my very first deer hide this year. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful way to live.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Have fun with the process and enjoy the fruits of your elbow grease! :-)

[@eraphtasofstet8645]

What an awesome video! Now I can make some gorgeous moccasins from my tribe, the traditional way!

[@deni9626]

Wow, what a video. I watched one yesterday where they soaked it in a swamp or muck for months. this is so great.

[@randybeeson3424]

Very good presentation. Ive watched dozens of youtubes on the subject.

[@georgecuyler7563]

Thank you for sharing the entire process of tanning

[@johnjude2685]

Seems you covered all the bases. I have a hide and started to setup for doing my first hopefully I'll enjoy it and I love DIY projects such as this. This old man wishes he had a way to learning this years ago Thanks Kids are the best hobby

[@Soviless99]

watching this again since its hunting season. this was a very helpful video sir! :)

[@johnnottahcal5725]

Just fantastic. I wish I would have learned how years ago but I’m so excited after watching your video, I gotta go- much tan work and supplies gathering to do! ✌️❤️

[@jeromemcdonald2741]

Always up for a good training in the primitive way of doing things. Thanks 😊😁

[@bucknards1898]

Very cool dude! Never seen something like this! Awesome 😎

[@christophermoon3717]

What an amazing adventure! I loved this, thanks brotha!

[@brentthebloodhound]

Awesome video! I’ve never seen this process done and now I know why it’s expensive to buy this. It’s natural and very hard work! I might try it ! Thank you!

[@davetaylor5568]

this is awesome, thanks for putting it up

[@bobrobinson4557]

Enjoyed the video and learning the process. Than you.

[@HomeSteadingHomeVideo]

This was great! Very informative! I learned alot and can't wait to tan another hide!

[@mrsdascavich5319]

best video of the full process!!!

[@andrewlast1535]

You had me at those OG cammies. Lol Like and subscribed.

[@americanpatriot2979]

Awesome video great job tanning.

[@littlebrookreader949]

So beautiful!

[@jodyferguson3068]

I love the video on how to clean and tan a hide I wanted to see how to make a pair of moccasins a pair of Buckskin pants and I've looked through all the videos and can't find anything so I guess I'll just figure it out myself

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Coming soon, full courses will be available. Contact me [e-mail]

[@danielt.3152]

One more ingredient to processing deer hide from hunt to final product - lots of hard work

[@Peter-swe]

Really good video🤘 Thanks! /Peter from Sweden

[@potatosniper5340]

Nice video. I might have to give it a go on my next kill

[@deanarogers9848]

That was AMAZING!! As a brand new Homesteader in our New Home State of Arkansas I am trying to learn as much as I can of doing things the Old Ways and better for our Land and Environment. I have never been Deer Hunting but my Husband wants to give it a try sense he has not been sense going with His Father in his young adult years. And have always wanted to tan a hide like my Great Grandmother's Cherokee family might have. I know it will be hard the first time around but it will be soon Rewarding in the end. I want to Tan Rabbit Pelts as well, will I use the same process as You did with the Deer's Skin?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Pelt tanning is a little different process, though many of the principals are the same. You want to remove the membrane (inside layer) only and then fat liquor and work till soft and dry, then smoke the pelt to finish.

[@charlesfoleysr6610]

Wild rabbit is a bit harder than domesticated rabbits. Their hide is much thinner. Easy to tear the skin.

[@jenniferbauman4802]

Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT. In Massachusetts.

[@charlesfoleysr6610]

When I worked at www pig skin tannery, your fat liquoring step was called bate. It was combination of acidifying the leather and liquoring. This remived any redidual alkaline from the dehairing process. Then the hides were pickled (acid and salt brine). They finished with a chrome liquor tan. But from here you can vegetsble tan, or brain or oil tan.

[@nouseforaname182]

Chrome is a cheep way of tanning that's quite pollutant and not good for sensitive skin (like other chemical tanning)

[@bucknards1898]

I didn’t know the deer hair was hollow! Cool

[@duanevigue1603]

Yeah, when you use it for tying flies, you make a loop with your thread and pull it tight and it flares up. Then you can trim it to shape to make poppers.

[@simonpowell2559]

Some more than others. Cariboo is hollow like a straw.

[@randallcrawford4141]

Cool I've seen and done different animal skins in different ways with tree tannins from bark or leaves instead of lye gives a different color... To soften the hide rubbing it over a log like the one you used to dehair the hide. .the Eskimo way they chew on the hide with their teeth and use animal fat and smoke the hide also so there are several methods really like how yours turned out would like to give it a try the tannins help to soften the hide I usually soak the bark a week so the tannins have the water almost black to dark brown even found black walnut very good too besides oak the I think the Cherokee Indians used a bark that died the skins a nice yellow color I also have heard of lye soap made with animals fat and ashes from the fire make lye for lye soap and just like regular lye can burn your skin so can the tannin water and stain your hands so rubber gloves should be worn . I've tanned small game animals leaving the fur on so some of the teqniqu can be tested on them just keep in mind their hides are thinner like rabbit that you have to be gentle with them so they don't tear. Snake skins we'd stretch on boards with tact's and rub salt on and dry then use a leather oil and bees wax working it over a smooth board to soften it but is thin as paper.

[@tylertoo-ct1sw]

Great science lesson.

[@CampfireKodiak]

Awesome video! Subscribed!

[@charlesleblanc6638]

You need a higher fleshing beam, that one looks hard on the back ! It's a lot of work but well worth it.

[@ToddWittenmyerBackwoodsLiving]

Nice work! I'm gonna give this a try!

[@journey.of.wheelz]

Awesome video 🙏 any chance I can get a pattern for the moccasins in the title pic?

[@crobertsson7030]

Great video. Love your passion!

[@ryandavis2928]

absolutely beautiful

[@duanehirini2078]

This is absolutely amazing. Just thinking how the hell did primitive peoples figure out this whole process without any knowledge of science!

[@coryvinyard9018]

This is so comprehensive. I'm really impressed! Do you offer a class?

[@robinworkman3621]

Amazing! I've often wondered,who was the first person to do this,how did they figure it out or even think of doing it?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

me too! :-)

[@traphunter_sekihan]

素晴らしいです！こんなに綺麗になめせるのは素晴らしいです！

[@phihelix8777]

Way cool video. Thanks for sharing.

[@wonaegun7143]

I have yet to complete a hide tanning , but Your videeo was a very complete and informative session for sure ! But I do have to ask , was it only the smoke from the burning wood chunks that was used? Hint hint!

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

As someone who cooks, there's a much faster way to separate a lot of eggs. Crack all the eggs you need into a bowl. Pick up a yolk and pass it back and forth between your fingers, allowing the white to slide into the bowl. It's more than twice as fast as the 'pass' method. When you're working with large volume, that really is the best way to do it. If you want to save your whites, be sure to wash your hands first. Whites can be frozen by themselves. Just pour them in a ziplock bag, squeeze out the air, and freeze. Don't add anything to them or they'll crystalize. Don't whisk, stir, or otherwise add air to them. To use later, just let thaw overnight in the fridge. They'll be perfectly fine to use normally. The yolks need a different technique, so they shouldn't be frozen with the whites.

[@TJHutchExotics]

Great vid! your beam would break my back! Lol

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

hehehe!

[@pomona7907]

How do you take care of the glue around the edges after you're done? I can see it's water soluble elmer's glue--do you just like, spot clean it?

[@bailey3668]

Great video How much would you sell one of those hides for. I would do it myself but my back and joints can't take it.

[@kaylahall1219]

Very beautiful!

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

thank you so much!

[@runemoe9559]

Best tanning video so far! Thank you! Does this make the hide waterproof? If not. Want to try it out and make some clothes!

[@johnjude2685]

Lye ? Is this something I shouldn't drain into my garden soil or would it benefit my garden as kind the skin itself would decompose great in my compose pile.?

[@09vanjes]

Thank you for the great video

[@Salt-Hawk-Arts]

what kind of dye did you use to make the leaf pattern on the one garment you showed?

[@jaifethroberts4193]

An easy and cheap way to get the hair off, is to put a bunch of ash in water, and let the hide soak in that. Its cheaper than lye, and a lot faster, I've had hides take 2 days to slip. Edit: Ita also safe, ya not gonna burn yourself on cold ash!

[@Blakeknight10-78]

Any measurements?

[@raydizon9669]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@Mweedy420]

great video! do you still upload new videos?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

thanks! more coming soon... I have a bunch of projects in the works, natural voice calling, natural dyes for camouflage, and others... been in the garden working away and more fruit will come to bear soon. Thanks for asking!

[@Mweedy420]

@@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey that's awesome, I look forward to all the new content! I really enjoy the primitive/old way of doing things, so thanks for keeping the knowledge alive!

[@crusader.survivor]

Thank you so much for your excellent presentation with detailed scientific explanations! That's too bad about the brains though, as I find eating brain to be quite tasty!

[@Offshore912]

Put a gallon of your campfire. Hey see in the water heater water to 140° and dpi down here later I did put it out in about three minutes do that about three times until the hair starts to fill you up. Yeah, water hot. It won’t take very long. The hair will fall off when you scrape it then you won’t have to smell the stink in the flies

[@timothyanderson2108]

May I say a inch wood chisel on the cutting the slits for lashings Bit of wood under the area chisel will cut threw

[@Tbowie13]

The old ladies at Walmart are wondering why there are no clothespins at the store! Lol I saw your antler beads, turkey leg bones make very nice beads as well, and will take dyes if you choose to turn them different colors. Enjoyed your video man. Curious, did you dye the leather in spots to get that leafy almost camo pattern on the buckskin?

[@TrevorChenier]

Amazing Chi Miigwetch Brother 🦅❤️💪🏾🙏🏾🪶

[@danno1800]

What is that called that you are scraping the hair with? Thanks

[@DukeFrazierProductions]

My God how does your back not constantly hurt with your fleshing beam so low.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Deep squats with a straight back 😂 it’s definitely time for a new, more ergonomic model!

[@davidbennett1357]

So I have just recently been getting interested in survival/homesteading type stuff, and I will freely admit that I know very little at the moment. My question is this: is it possible to make clothing that retains the animal hair? I am wondering both from an aesthetic point of view and a heat retention point of view as well. Please forgive my ignorance.....

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Good question, and the answer is yes. You can tan with the hair on. After fleshing it you want to rack it and dry scrape the membrane layer off, then apply a fat liquor and soften till dry, then smoke. It's a lot to do described in only a few words here...however I am planning on making more video on the subject. You can search for pelt tanning for more hair on info.

[@jeffhuntley2921]

Its all fun and games until you show up to the party in a deer skin banana hammock:)

[@raykemry954]

I save my wood stove ash and stir about 6 shovel fully for 25 gal I soak in a plastic 55 gal drum.stir as often as possible until Hair slips I use a pressure washer to remove both inside and outside waste and hair.wear safety gear AND gloves. I got a staff infection and almost lost my finger all due to a splinter I got under my finger nail

[@brendaschritt5998]

Great video! exactly what I’ve been searching for as I work with my first deer hide. Question - can I freeze the hide after dehairing and graining before brain or egg tanning? I find myself at a stage now where I don’t have time to continue the process at the moment.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Thanks so much! You sure can. The freezer is a good way to pause the process. You can thaw and then do the fat liquor at any point you’re ready:-) you can pause it after egging too, though when you rack it you want it to be evenly moist before softening. Have fun!

[@brendaschritt5998]

@@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey Thanks so much for the reply! And I’m happy that I can pause the process. Would actually like to try my hand at frost scraping this winter. I am a bit confused about the difference between grain and membrane on the hair side of the hide. The grain seems to be the grayish thin layer but do you take the thin layer below that (epidermis) off as well? Is this the membrane? There are some sections on my hide where a small ovals of this came off already while I was graining. Doesn’t look that good, as most of it is smooth (almost shiny) and then there are these small pockets peeling. I’m wondering if all of it should come off?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

@@brendaschritt5998 yes scrape the membrane off too while it’s wet, just like the grain layer. Then later, When you rack it to soften use the pumice stone to get the rest

[@AdilsabrPhD]

Great job! I have a question, if you don't mind please; I can't smoke the hide for several technical reasons, so I made a mixture of lard, honeybee, and liquid paraffin (1:1:2 ratio), and applied that on my hide. Will this be enough to make my hide waterproof?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

That sounds like a good water proofing mixture! though I am not sure if that will work to keep it supple if it gets wet? There are other types of commercial tanning solutions that you can get to ensure it remains soft after being wet. If it hardens you can re-soften the hide, though that is not ideal.

[@nouseforaname182]

Pretty sure you would have to aply it at least every so often, maybe requalarly sinualar to waterproofing camping gear

[@donaldroberson915]

That looks back breaking with that low flushing bean.

[@johnp.turner2000]

How long does the hide need to be in the Egg Liquor between wringings? Thanks

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

long enough to rehydrate and soften up completly, the warmer the water is the fast it goes

[@anthonybeshires9255]

just wanted to say that if you don't rack the hide you can basically stop and start as many times as you want. Jus roll the hide up and place in a ziplock bag, then continue when convenient. or place into a freezer until ready to resume. on the rack once it drys stiff it will stay stiff. I never rack a hide and they all have turned out as soft and loose as silk......

[@BAC-bm8em]

WOW that’s a lot of work.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Definitely a labor of love, sweat and elbow grease! Lol!

[@jadeddragon4254]

Dane cook 2010 ? Is that you ? Haha jk awesome video, you’ve inspired me to do this

[@chasonhayes435]

How did you keep the flies from laying eggs and the maggots from eating your skins? I always have that problem with bark tanning because it stays dormant for so long.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Make sure all the fat and flesh is off the hide, and stir your solution regularly. Also making sure the bark solution is strong enough will expedite the process.

[@ManyskunksKimCurtis]

Very good video! BUT, man, RAISE the fleshing beam to belt buckle level with sticks, 2X4s or whatever, nailed or screwed to the beam! Otherwise you WILL hurt your backs! One would think the first time youused the beam to flesh at that almost ground level, you'd have figured that out! I've done tons of them so, I'm not some idiot with an off-the-wall comment! I DO know what I'm talking about! Your end product IS very well done! SOFT and velvety!

[@StevieChilds]

Just out of curiosity, is the lye being in flake form essential? I make soap and I have lye crystals, if I can use what I have around already that'd be great 🙂 thanks for the video!

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

I imagine that the lye crystals are likely the same thing, but in smaller form they’ll have more surface area. This being the case you may not need quite as much volume to accomplish the same effect, though to be sure you may want to use roughly the same measurements. I suppose one could grind down the lye flakes into crystals and compare the volumes to get a precise amount. What kinds of soap are you making?

[@kimcurtis423]

For God's sake, man, and yours, too raise that fleshing beam to belt buckle height by screwing or nailing straight branches, 2X4s, or whatever to the beam, and save your backs! I've done hundreds of hides and I do know what I'm talking about so I'm not just making an idiotic comment! You'll thank me, later in your lives if you do much of this! Also, I've heard that if you are able to obtain pure lecithin and use it for the fatty acid for penetration, that it works better than egg yolks! I've not tried it! I'm 70 and no longer doing any of this so, if you try it on your next project, will you let us know how it worked? Since the brain is mainly lecithin, it's like using the same thing, I'm told, but less smelly and messy! You did a very good job and your end product shows it! Thanks for uploading the video! Best wishes!

[@kaylahall1219]

In commercial processes they roll it between two large metal drums. I am wondering if that can be replicated at home with an old washing machine

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

I am a fan of experimentation! You never know, it may work out great..?

[@meemurthelemur4811]

Speaking from experience, the wind knows exactly what "quiet on the set" means, it just doesn't care!😂😂😂

[@chasonhayes435]

Sorry I clicked on the video about bark tanning and it took me here. I have tanned about 40 hides with with 30 in to buckskin 5 with bark tan and the rest hair on with Mckenzie tan. I have some nice soft skins but some of them refused to soften up despite repeated dressing and wringing. Not sure what was different.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Stiffness post dressing and wringing may come from not acidifying the hide after bucking with lye or wood ash, or perhaps not having a strong enough brain/egg solution for fat liquoring, or stopping the softening process before the hide is completely dry. If you are bark tanning you will want to oil the hide afterwards to help soften it more.

[@dougsmonsters4866]

I've a hide that I bought, it's rain deer. Problem is the hair is coming of in bits. Can I use this, just sit in a field and pull out the hair lol

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

check to see if it is rotten first... if not you can use it for sure. ...soak it in lye or a wood ash solution to remove the hair faster

[@bradnecolemorris6302]

Where did you get the lime flakes?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

you may find them on tannery websites or etsy

[@johnblack9952]

I use wood ash in soaking my hides

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Wood ash works great too! Do you use the egg float method to test the strength of your solution?

[@xionix4]

PSA: You can make your own lye from running water through hardwood ashes (a lot of ashes, but doable).

[@TrekTracks74]

Killed a lot of deer, always wanted to make my own buckskin, think I’d use the brain 🧠 technique, great vid man 👍

[@thebhut3446]

Could lard or other fat be used for fat liquoring?

[@Trailsend72]

How long should you soak it in the liquor each time

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Long enough for the solution to soak back into the dermis and be soft and flexible again. + or - 10min. Some folks do 20... you can hasten the process by working the skin in the solution stretching it and making sure the liquor penetrates into the spots that are driest from wringing.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

Also forgot to mention... the warmer the water is the faster it will go. As long as you can comfortably hold your hand in the warm solution you can be sure it won't cook the hide

[@Trailsend72]

Thank you this will help alot

[@tdnolting8859]

Dang! I wanted to see the moccasins.

[@cb7172]

Rather than make a smoke bag, could you hang it in a smoke house?

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

For sure, as long as the smoke is nice and thick and it’s not too hot, it should be just fine :-)

[@ventures9560]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZouunaZtmK-bm8U ^ Len, I can't really tell how the tool is designed. Is it a square edge (like the spine of a knife)? Or is it sharpened to a wedge (like the blade of a knife)? Trying to imagine how to improvise a tool (what would work in place of it if you had to use something from nature). Thanks

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

It has a one angled edge, kind of like a draw knife for shaping wood, but really really dull.

[@vromansaltzman5276]

Hope that wasn't an aluminum hubcap they don't react well to lye.

[@AncientEarthSkillsLenMackey]

plastic for sure! Good observation 🙂