How to tan a hide

Tanning a hide can be time-consuming and may take a bit of practice to get perfect, but it is a real wilderness skill. Once you have learned this skill, you can make sure that very little of your kill goes to waste.

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh hide, removed in one piece with as few holes as possible
  • Sharp knife
  • Plastic garbage can (large outdoor size)
  • 1 gallon hardwood ashes
  • 2 lb. slaked lime
  • Dull knife
  • 2 quarts vinegar
  • Plastic bucket
  • 1 lb. alum
  • 2 1/2 lb. salt
  • Sheet of plywood
  • Nails
  • Neatsfoot oil
  • Small towels and rags
  • Sawhorse or chair back
  • Fine grit sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the hide out on a flat, solid surface like a work table and use a very sharp knife to scrape off the flesh and fatty tissue. You must get every bit of this off if the tanning is to work properly. If you plan to keep the hair on, go right to step 4; if you prefer a hairless hide, proceed as below.

    • 2

      Mix fireplace ashes and lime in plastic trash can with 5 gallons of water, stirring until dissolved. Add the hide, stir, then let it sit for 2 to 3 days, stirring several times a day, until the hair comes off. Remove the hide and rinse it with water several times.

    • 3

      Place the hide on a flat, solid surface with the hair side up. Scrape off the hair with a dull knife or the back of a knife blade. Rinse the skin again with water, then soak the hide in the garbage can in a mixture of 2 quarts of vinegar and 10 gallons of water for 24 hours, stirring every few hours. Empty the garbage can and fill it with clean water; then soak the hide in the clean water for another 8 to 12 hours.

    • 4

      Dissolve 1 lb. alum in 1 gallon of warm water in the bucket. Dissolve 2 1/2 lb. of salt in 4 gallons of water in the garbage can. Pour the alum solution into the garbage can, mixing well. Soak the skin in this for 6 to 8 days, stirring well twice a day. Remove the skin and drain thoroughly, rinsing with running water for 10 to 15 minutes.

    • 5

      Nail the wet hide to the sheet of plywood, flesh side facing outward. Keep the hide out of direct sunlight, and allow it to dry partially. When the hide is nearly dry, rub it lightly with warm Neatsfoot oil. Remove it from the board and oil it on the other side if you did not leave the hair on. Use a small towel to blot the excess oil.

    • 6

      Dampen, but do not soak, the hide with a moist cloth. Pull the skin back and forth, with the hair side out, over a chair back or saw horse until it is soft and supple. Apply a little warm Neatsfoot oil to the hide as you work. If you are working a hairless skin, work both sides.

    • 7

      Rub the skin side or sides with a little fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any remaining roughness. Once your skin is done, you may use it to make boots, clothing, a rug, or any other type of leatherwork.