I have never done brain tanning but have tanned with eggs, chemicals and the washing machine process. The only reason for not doing brains is because I normally keep the skulls whole for teaching purposes.
Why do you have to get every bit of membrane off? Wouldn't leaving the last membrane on just leave a bit thicker of a hide? Or does it interfere with something, and if it does interfere, how so?
@ElizabethIsabelle It will make the hide stiffer in the places where the membrane it still attached. It will be stronger but not so supple. Also the tanning solution make not penetrate that area properly.
I wish I had video of what I am about to tell you. then I have a question. I was out deer hunting and I have a permit for small game as well, but I took a shot today that was apparently to far because the deer moved out of the way (crossbow btw) and hit a porcupine..thats right a freakin porcupine. I was raised that you eat what you kill soo yeah..not bad actually..but can I tan the hide the same as this vid?.
@offenwrong Well I have never done a porcupine for obvious reasons living in the UK. The skin should work the same. I wouldn't know about dealing with the spines.
@seanmulhall well I really mangled that Porcupine hide but I did learn that with spines you need to lay them flat like petting the animal would do. would have gone smoother but I had opened the chest and all that pulling just tore it up. Thanks again for the video...learning process ongoing.
do you have any vids of doing a rabbit skin with head and feed still on? I am going to mount a rabbit and i can't seem to find a vid NO where on how to...
I just skinned and cooked 8 rabbits this weekend. I took the head and feet off. I do have some in the freezer with heads but not feet. I have a couple of squirrels which have everything and 1 badger, so I can make a video using them and you can replicate what I do to a rabbit. Videos will follow in a few days.
Hope the rabbit was dead before it was skinned. I love how soft rabbit fur is. Ever since I was a little girl! I like to sleep with rabbit pelts, and rabbit fur scarfs in the Winter. }) Zzzzzz
I have a question though. I am wondering if you can describe the process from skinning to storing until cleaning can be done? can you just skin it, salt it and then put in the freezer or is there something you need to do in between? What do you recommend being done?
I would like to be able to use as much as i can from what i kill. Thanks
I currently have a fox skin that has been salted and scraped/cleaned and then re-salted and stretched. Its hanging up in my shed waiting for me to tan it. The main thing is to keep it dry. Make sure you removed all of the flesh or the flies will be on it in minutes. You could freeze it indefinitely until you are ready.
Ive skinned a few rabbits but i have never tanned any of them, so I was wondering if i leave a freshly skinned rabbit pelt out overnight to dry after cleaning and rinsing properly will the pelt be ruined?
Not always. If it dries quickly you should not loose any hair but the hide will be very stiff. If you stretch the hide as it dries it will remain supple. Your hide will not be tanned but dries and supple raw hide. I have a few hides that are several years old that are just that. I have made them in to tinder bags.
you never made the next video:( your vids are by far the best and i don't no what to do next with the hide and realy need t know and carnt find a better vid on youtube
I personally dont go shooting but I would suggest going to your local hunting supplies shop and asking them for the contact details for any shoots or shooting clubs in your area.
@Nickoli93 if you know a local landowner you are friendly with ask him for written permission to shoot on his land and get yourself an air rifle. 177cal has a flatter trajectory. dont wear strong fragrances when shooting. wear green. shoot at first light or in the evening. shooting from cars works if the rabbits are near a road they will be used to cars. hope this helps pal. if u want a challenge try shooting crows. they're damn smart.
@linaynayy I dont mean to be rude or anything, but when you consider that the meat is used to feed his family and that rabbit would have dies sooner or later, he's being a good steward of what God has given us. He's being humane by killing it before it was slowly killed by a coyote or starved to death in the winter time. If you really think about it, then this is the better way for it. It helps me to know that it doesn't have a soul, as well. Please think bout it. :)
@annlayc Agreed! Also, I feel that wild game that was shot and killed as humanely as possible lived a much nicer life than animals raised for the slaughter by corporate mega-farms
@RockIsNot4TheDevil I totally agree. Have you ever seen "Food Inc."? It's a really good documentory(?) on the food industry and how terrible it is to the animals and to the meat they sell!! Squshing the small farmers to produce food that's not as good for you.
@RockIsNot4TheDevil That's great! I actually just got my first buck last season and i've got a bit of hunting fever going on. :) Do you have a any land to hunt on? We have 10 acres, which really isn't much, but it keeps us pretty well. :)
@annlayc I dont actually shot or kill anything. The animals I use are either road kill or have been shot by land owners as pest control. Either way if I did not use them they would be eaten by crows and maggots.
@seanmulhall :) It doesn't really bother me to kill an animal, just as long at it's a quick death. :) Do you find the hides in pretty good shape on the road?
Pt. 1. Your soul would be the consciousness inside of you. Your spirituality, your reasoning, your personality. In the Bible, God tells us that we(humans) are created in his image and that we are given souls. No where does it say that animals have souls and if they did, it would have been mentioned in the Bible. I hope you don't think that I believe that they don't feel pain, they do, but, that doesn't mean they have souls. I also dont think it's right to torture or harass an animal
@annlayc Pt. 2. whether it's dying or still living, if that's what your wondering. Because God gave us dominion over the animals, it's our responsibility to take care of them and to not treat they badly. BUT, we are not supposed to place animals at a higher value than humans. Meaning that a baby that is not yet born should be more important to us that a kitten.
I have only brain-tanned a deer hide so can't speak for the thickness of rabbit but in my experience the edge you are using is too sharp and would increase the risk of scoring or damaging the hide. Have you tried using either the back of a knife or a "more" dull edge? I don't think you would any harder a time removing the membrane.
In the US a flat board is used (tapered to a blunt point and with the edges rounded) instead of a pole when fleshing a pelt. This helps to prevent the blade from tearing the pelt. Special knives are used as well, called fleshing knives. They look somewhat like a draw knife. Since, when using a pole, you're working on the high point of the surface at all times, the risk of cutting through the pelt is great.
@BigAgitator This method of skinning is called "casing." The usual way to do it is to suspend the animal from a gambrel, which is a spreader with hooks at each end. The hind feet of the animal are hooked onto the gambrel where the tendons connect to the ankles. An incision is made from one ankle to the other along the "inseam" and the the pelt is detached from the ankles with a circular cut. At that point the pelt can be pulled off of the carcass like a sock, cutting around neck & front ankles.
Didnt realise I was anything like Mike Dixon apart from the accent. As for Grimbo I have spoke to him and I don't think I have upset him or if I did its now in the past.
i have salt dryed 1 sheep and 5 rabbit hides but never new to remove the membrane just the skin i will have to give that a try havent realy found much to do with the hard stiff hides. and ty for the note about the bag my salted hides see to draw moisture fast. i would like to find a way to stop that.
? we use a wire to clean the silk off the hide. than take you pig or cow brain (native's here use caribu deer any brain really) mix with hot water rub in your hide fur side and skin side(soak it kinda) than you smoke it with the punky wood. it's better than the cemical tans as you can eat it if worst come to worse. but it don't last as long as chemical tans. thiers books on "Brain Taning" o and to preseve till tan just salt the shit outa it put it bag then the freezer."kosher salt" not table.
@allthingsrandom190 if you boil the skin you risk losing a lot of the hair on the hide not oly that a cooked on membrane is all that much harder to remove or so i have heard i have not tried boiling yet
Yes if the arrows are short or you join two skins together. Tip, Do not remove the membrane, it will make the skin stiffer and tougher. Other hides like deer would be better because they are thicker.
Thanks, I also want to know everything! We have so many possom here. I've been throwing the skins away, but that's a big waste! I'm sure the process will be the same.
ok so ive gotten my first rabbit skin. i fleshed, salted, and worked it. its pretty supple, but its got piss stains on it (its white with brown spots)..... is there a common household substance that would bring out the stains? also is there a substance to make the fur softer to the touch? thx ^.^
Hi,I have a question;I am going to hunt rabbits for the first time as well as skin and tan the hide and my question is,is there anyway of tanning a rabbit hide without using dangerous chemicals such as battery acid? Because I looked for directions on google and they involve at least 1 dangerous chemical and i wish not to use such a thing though I prefer a more traditional olden method.
Hi,I am going to be hunting rabbits for the first time as well as for experience and also it's going to be my first time tanning rabbit fur. So I would like to know if there's a method without the use of dangerous chemicals involved ? Because I looked for directions on google and commonly they involve dangerous chemicals like battery acid and so i prefer a more traditional olden kind of method that does not involve dangerous chemicals.
ive been hunting rabbits for a long time now (for food and fun) and wanted to make somthing out of the hides and concidering gloves how would i tan it and keep the fur ????????
I have tanned many skins using various techniques. I will make a video explaining the better techniques. All of my hides have the fur on them. Bear with me for a month or so and I'll do the video.
If you remove the membrane it will stay soft but the skin will be prone to tearing. If you keep the membrane on it will need to be worked and broken to be come soft. Try scraping the hide (flesh side) over a stick in the ground.
So i dry the skin with salt... won't it be all crusty? I am interested in tanning hides but i'm not sure what the main ingredient is (The one that makes the hide soft and stay soft) You skin, Flesh, remove membrane, then salt and done? PM Me :D Thanks!
If you stop at the salt stage you have raw hide. This can be crushed to be made soft. If it gets wet it will turn back to fleash. My fox bag you see on my belt is salt dried only and is still very soft and I use it as a tinder bag. The fur keeps the worst of the rain out. Tannning is what will turn raw hide into leather.
The easiest way I have found is simple soap flakes like you would use on wool. Washing machine tanning also works really well. Use biologicla washing powder for this. I will do a video on washing machine tanning. Just need a few small or a good deer skin to show the process. Video coming soon though.
If you leave the membrane on and then crush and work the leather it will be strong and in time become supple. With the mebrane of they are paper thin but very soft. I used the rabbit to demonstrate this process because its all I had at the time. My tinder pouch I wear on my belt is salt dried fox. It has not been tanned and is soft and supple. I have had it for 5 years and it has no hair loss.
what i do is dry it without removing that tough last layer membrane... and i then use pig fat smeared on a river rock to actually make it softer.. u work the fat into it until its medium dry and very soft.. by leaving the membrane u make it stronger
Thanks. So is the skin is still supple but strong? Rabbit skin is paper thin when the membrane is removed. I will try your method with the next one I get.
right, so i have about 7 rabbit skins, but ive dried them before i scraped all of the excess flesh and the top membrane...so they're quite hard. is there anyway i can make the supple again?!!
Reconstituting them in water is one way if you're tanning with chemicals.
If you're tanning with brains, then you can just soak them in the brain solution once just to get them rehydrated (also starts tanning process). Then you could scrape them down, and continue on with the rest of the process.
I've just experimented with a road kill fox hide, wahing machine tanning. You wash once with Biological powder and conditioner on a cool wash. Then again with only conditioner. They string out to dry. You need to work the hide through out the drying process. You can then rub cheap skin moisturiser into it. The more you rub in the softer it will get. My fox hide has not lost any fur so far. I ahve made it into a davy crocket hat. Give it a try. Be careful with rabbit skins as they are thin.
Ok, cos I shot a squiirel yesterday and skinned it today and all I was able to do was salt it, but I want it to be quite soft or leather once its finished.
you can also use John Rinhart Tanning Cream. it's a wet tan and you can skip the pickling stage. this is a link for the first of 5 videos. he uses a deer cape but the process works pretty well for rabbits N' other small game. I just used it on a buffalo hide myself and the cream works really well. it's kind of expensive for a jug of the cream, but it's a good sized jug and for small game like rabbits and coyotes, it will last you a VERY long time and get you through a lot of pelts. best of luck!
uuhhgg... here in nebraska its rabbit crazy... all i gotta do is go into the lil canyon things here by north platte and take my ruger 10/22 with a scope, i can get lots of rabbits here lol, i need to learn how to salt and tan the skins...
Once a skin is tanned it becomes leather so you can treat it the same as any leather product. Salt dried is just raw hide- like the dogs chew. If this becomes wet it turns back to flesh.
im quite excited because i have a friend who is a farmers son he promised me to give me a lambs hide and a few rabbit hides if i teach him some guitar.
really looking forward to making some gloves or something
It depends on how much time I have. It is easier if the skin is salted for 24-48hrs before fleshing but its not essential. Also salting means you can keep the hide until you are ready for tanning. I still have this rabbit salt dried waiting to be tanned. I will tan it with my other skins when the weather cheers up.
I have never made a sheath. But with rabbit skin you would struggle. It is way to thin. You would have to glue it to some other leather the thicken and stiffen it up. I am intending to use the rabbit skins in a wool blanket smock I have in mind. That will be later though. I need 4 more rabbits first.
i would imagine these would make very warm socks sean, i'll have to try it.Have you tried the brains for tannig yet?to keep it strong but supple,i'm not sure if it works with all brains though,reindeer and deer it does but not sure about other animals?
Its quite simple. Start with the rabbit whole (not gutted). Take of the head (and the four feet if you dont want them). Inset your fingers between the skin and the flesh and work your way round the entire opening. Onceyou get about an inch or two down peel back the skin and start to peel it off the rabbit. Just like a sock. When you get to the feet pull them through. Once you are down to the tail cut carefully around the anus and cut through the tail bone. I'll video the next one.
finaly some topic that i can have some opinion about hehe.I am a lether specialist with some years of experience.
You can go 2 ways with that,modern chemical procedures or natural way. For the purpose of of bushcraft i believe you would like to go the natural way ( vegetable tanning extracts )
You dont need anything special, some buckets , acacia bark or chestnut wood powder.
the full procedure is quite long to describe here in details, if you want to exchange some ideas send me your email
I would rub the brains in after you deflesh the hide it helps to do this after you stretch it the brains contain a nutrient that helps to preserve the hide good luck
when I skin a squirrel I stretch the skin out an rub in salt then leave it in a dry warm place squirrels also have really tough thick skin which is quite forgiving for a beginner also it I read somewhere that small skins like squirrel or rabbit really only need to be dried scraped an salted which is much easier if they are stretched out on a board
I agree with you entirely. I have pegged them out on a board in the past. The rabbit skins i had this time I had skinned as a tube or sock, so pegging them out would not be ideal. Both of my skins a now dry, soft and supple. Ready to be used. Just need to make the video showing the finished skins and put it on You tube.
is it the same general idea with all other types of animal hides?
Jacob14G 2 days ago
If you make a cut in the skin is it bad and how so?
TheTrh51 1 week ago
i couldn't give a rats ass about gods rabbit turd soul or what have you...all i know, rabbits make good eating.
garrrynec 1 week ago
Do you ever salt it or anything crazy like brain tanning a deer hide?
sadeyedangel 1 month ago
@sadeyedangel
I have never done brain tanning but have tanned with eggs, chemicals and the washing machine process. The only reason for not doing brains is because I normally keep the skulls whole for teaching purposes.
seanmulhall 1 month ago
@seanmulhall
Neat, i didn't know you could use eggs! Lol.
sadeyedangel 1 month ago
use a spoon or a duller knife
oooyaaa2 1 month ago
did you ever make the other part?
SemeonDayDrift 1 month ago
@SemeonDayDrift
Not with this hide but I have made several videos on tanning hides.
seanmulhall 1 month ago
Why do you have to get every bit of membrane off? Wouldn't leaving the last membrane on just leave a bit thicker of a hide? Or does it interfere with something, and if it does interfere, how so?
ElizabethIsabelle 2 months ago
@ElizabethIsabelle It will make the hide stiffer in the places where the membrane it still attached. It will be stronger but not so supple. Also the tanning solution make not penetrate that area properly.
seanmulhall 2 months ago
how do you do that little box thing that you wrote in
imacowboy1424 2 months ago
@imacowboy1424 Its called an annotation and is on Youtube.
seanmulhall 2 months ago
I wish I had video of what I am about to tell you. then I have a question. I was out deer hunting and I have a permit for small game as well, but I took a shot today that was apparently to far because the deer moved out of the way (crossbow btw) and hit a porcupine..thats right a freakin porcupine. I was raised that you eat what you kill soo yeah..not bad actually..but can I tan the hide the same as this vid?.
offenwrong 2 months ago
@offenwrong Well I have never done a porcupine for obvious reasons living in the UK. The skin should work the same. I wouldn't know about dealing with the spines.
seanmulhall 2 months ago
@seanmulhall thanks for the reply I will give it a go and see what happens.
offenwrong 2 months ago
@seanmulhall well I really mangled that Porcupine hide but I did learn that with spines you need to lay them flat like petting the animal would do. would have gone smoother but I had opened the chest and all that pulling just tore it up. Thanks again for the video...learning process ongoing.
offenwrong 2 months ago
Thank you for the information. The Roman Army traveled with rabbitts, now I can see why. Versatility
frodogottagun 4 months ago
do you have any vids of doing a rabbit skin with head and feed still on? I am going to mount a rabbit and i can't seem to find a vid NO where on how to...
DragunzGirl 5 months ago
@DragunzGirl
I just skinned and cooked 8 rabbits this weekend. I took the head and feet off. I do have some in the freezer with heads but not feet. I have a couple of squirrels which have everything and 1 badger, so I can make a video using them and you can replicate what I do to a rabbit. Videos will follow in a few days.
seanmulhall 5 months ago
where did you get that sweater
blinky23456 5 months ago
@blinky23456
Army Surplus Store
seanmulhall 5 months ago
@seanmulhall i have been looking for one like it foe a while now but the surplus store around here never has them.
blinky23456 5 months ago
@seanmulhall yeah its almost identical to the air cadets jumper only its not navy blue.
TheRainbowGoats 3 months ago
Hope the rabbit was dead before it was skinned. I love how soft rabbit fur is. Ever since I was a little girl! I like to sleep with rabbit pelts, and rabbit fur scarfs in the Winter. }) Zzzzzz
watchensee 5 months ago
Great video !
I have a question though. I am wondering if you can describe the process from skinning to storing until cleaning can be done? can you just skin it, salt it and then put in the freezer or is there something you need to do in between? What do you recommend being done?
I would like to be able to use as much as i can from what i kill. Thanks
robhk2010 5 months ago
@robhk2010
I currently have a fox skin that has been salted and scraped/cleaned and then re-salted and stretched. Its hanging up in my shed waiting for me to tan it. The main thing is to keep it dry. Make sure you removed all of the flesh or the flies will be on it in minutes. You could freeze it indefinitely until you are ready.
seanmulhall 5 months ago
Ive skinned a few rabbits but i have never tanned any of them, so I was wondering if i leave a freshly skinned rabbit pelt out overnight to dry after cleaning and rinsing properly will the pelt be ruined?
godzilla8china 6 months ago
@godzilla8china
Not always. If it dries quickly you should not loose any hair but the hide will be very stiff. If you stretch the hide as it dries it will remain supple. Your hide will not be tanned but dries and supple raw hide. I have a few hides that are several years old that are just that. I have made them in to tinder bags.
seanmulhall 6 months ago
Waiting for the next vid. :-)
myastroflight 6 months ago
So basically after ive salted and washed the skin i just remove the flesh and membrane with my knife
Ginganinja59 7 months ago
@Ginganinja59
Yes. Then its time to tan it. Salt drying will preserve it or give you raw hide.
seanmulhall 6 months ago
And there you have it...you have a sock. xD
hokmahmilitia 7 months ago 5
@devinp4
once you've skinned it you can rinse the hide if you wish.
seanmulhall 9 months ago
do you put the rabbit fur in water first tanning hide to get all the blood off?
devinp4 9 months ago
Hey, when is the second vid coming out...I am just now starting to cull my Lagomorphs and I need some more help...
CivilianPatriot1975 9 months ago
you never made the next video:( your vids are by far the best and i don't no what to do next with the hide and realy need t know and carnt find a better vid on youtube
THEMRJISHERE 9 months ago
@THEMRJISHERE
I have a few untreated hides in the freezer at the moment. I'll defrost some and then show the whole process. Watch this space.
seanmulhall 9 months ago
Whats the best way to get into shooting and preparing rabbits, im from Devon so not far away.
Nickoli93 10 months ago
@Nickoli93
I personally dont go shooting but I would suggest going to your local hunting supplies shop and asking them for the contact details for any shoots or shooting clubs in your area.
seanmulhall 10 months ago
@Nickoli93 if you know a local landowner you are friendly with ask him for written permission to shoot on his land and get yourself an air rifle. 177cal has a flatter trajectory. dont wear strong fragrances when shooting. wear green. shoot at first light or in the evening. shooting from cars works if the rabbits are near a road they will be used to cars. hope this helps pal. if u want a challenge try shooting crows. they're damn smart.
atothekhomeboy1 9 months ago
awesome video friend! and great prcedure, will try this next time
SkipandDill 10 months ago
asshole
linaynayy 10 months ago
@linaynayy I dont mean to be rude or anything, but when you consider that the meat is used to feed his family and that rabbit would have dies sooner or later, he's being a good steward of what God has given us. He's being humane by killing it before it was slowly killed by a coyote or starved to death in the winter time. If you really think about it, then this is the better way for it. It helps me to know that it doesn't have a soul, as well. Please think bout it. :)
annlayc 9 months ago 6
@annlayc Agreed! Also, I feel that wild game that was shot and killed as humanely as possible lived a much nicer life than animals raised for the slaughter by corporate mega-farms
RockIsNot4TheDevil 3 months ago
@RockIsNot4TheDevil I totally agree. Have you ever seen "Food Inc."? It's a really good documentory(?) on the food industry and how terrible it is to the animals and to the meat they sell!! Squshing the small farmers to produce food that's not as good for you.
annlayc 3 months ago
@annlayc Sure have! Loved that documentary, it's part of what made me want to hunt this year :)
RockIsNot4TheDevil 3 months ago
@RockIsNot4TheDevil That's great! I actually just got my first buck last season and i've got a bit of hunting fever going on. :) Do you have a any land to hunt on? We have 10 acres, which really isn't much, but it keeps us pretty well. :)
annlayc 3 months ago
@annlayc I dont actually shot or kill anything. The animals I use are either road kill or have been shot by land owners as pest control. Either way if I did not use them they would be eaten by crows and maggots.
seanmulhall 3 months ago
@seanmulhall :) It doesn't really bother me to kill an animal, just as long at it's a quick death. :) Do you find the hides in pretty good shape on the road?
annlayc 2 months ago
@annlayc I am selective with the animals I pick up. So yes they are in very good conditions.
seanmulhall 2 months ago
@annlayc how do you know it doesn't have a soul? define "soul"
MaynkorX14 3 weeks ago
Pt. 1. Your soul would be the consciousness inside of you. Your spirituality, your reasoning, your personality. In the Bible, God tells us that we(humans) are created in his image and that we are given souls. No where does it say that animals have souls and if they did, it would have been mentioned in the Bible. I hope you don't think that I believe that they don't feel pain, they do, but, that doesn't mean they have souls. I also dont think it's right to torture or harass an animal
annlayc 3 weeks ago
@annlayc Pt. 2. whether it's dying or still living, if that's what your wondering. Because God gave us dominion over the animals, it's our responsibility to take care of them and to not treat they badly. BUT, we are not supposed to place animals at a higher value than humans. Meaning that a baby that is not yet born should be more important to us that a kitten.
annlayc 3 weeks ago
@annlayc @MaynkorX14 This is my answer to you.
annlayc 3 weeks ago
@annlayc No reply?
annlayc 1 week ago
Did those bunnies die of old age?
homertalk 10 months ago
@homertalk Uhm, no. He or someone else killed them. They are wild rabbits, not pets.
repticman123 8 months ago
I have only brain-tanned a deer hide so can't speak for the thickness of rabbit but in my experience the edge you are using is too sharp and would increase the risk of scoring or damaging the hide. Have you tried using either the back of a knife or a "more" dull edge? I don't think you would any harder a time removing the membrane.
WhereisWalashek 10 months ago
were are you from
TheMrjeeper 11 months ago
@TheMrjeeper
Somerset now, but from Berkshire originally.
seanmulhall 11 months ago
Did you make some lucky rabbit's feet? lol
hunterdanjones 1 year ago
@hunterdanjones
Yes lots. I personally prefer to use the tails as keyrings.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
@seanmulhall I was under the impression a rabbits foot is only lucky if it dies of old age.
kaldicuct 1 year ago
I recommend Salting the skin before attempting to scrape the flesh off, salt makes the Flesh tighter and harder to dig holes into.
cubanazo123 1 year ago
what is tanning for?
I raise rabbits and I would like to know how do to use the shin to make coats or other leather stuff can u give me any advice?
youtubsuxfv 1 year ago
@youtubsuxfv
Tanning is irreversible process that turn the skin into leather. Salt drying is only raw hide.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
what kind of oils can i use for tanning?
michelR90 1 year ago
In the US a flat board is used (tapered to a blunt point and with the edges rounded) instead of a pole when fleshing a pelt. This helps to prevent the blade from tearing the pelt. Special knives are used as well, called fleshing knives. They look somewhat like a draw knife. Since, when using a pole, you're working on the high point of the surface at all times, the risk of cutting through the pelt is great.
ArtemiaSalina 1 year ago
can you use some high-numbered sand paper? if not, can you use a butterknife?
Supertomiman 1 year ago
LOL it seems like all the rabbit vids i watch r fom the UK lol!!!!!!!!!!
gandcsportswar 1 year ago
Very good technique/ I'll have to try peeling the skins as one tube. Makes fleshing much simpler.
BigAgitator 1 year ago
@BigAgitator This method of skinning is called "casing." The usual way to do it is to suspend the animal from a gambrel, which is a spreader with hooks at each end. The hind feet of the animal are hooked onto the gambrel where the tendons connect to the ankles. An incision is made from one ankle to the other along the "inseam" and the the pelt is detached from the ankles with a circular cut. At that point the pelt can be pulled off of the carcass like a sock, cutting around neck & front ankles.
ArtemiaSalina 1 year ago
nice video
TheAirhunter69 1 year ago
Great video. Is there going to be a second part?
seanfleming5 1 year ago
@frithstar
Didnt realise I was anything like Mike Dixon apart from the accent. As for Grimbo I have spoke to him and I don't think I have upset him or if I did its now in the past.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
You've the same fleece my dad has XD
I wanna try and skin a fox i have, but i don't wanna damage it, im gonna practice with a rabbit i have :s
Nukawin 1 year ago
i have salt dryed 1 sheep and 5 rabbit hides but never new to remove the membrane just the skin i will have to give that a try havent realy found much to do with the hard stiff hides. and ty for the note about the bag my salted hides see to draw moisture fast. i would like to find a way to stop that.
wallkeror 1 year ago
Thanks for another great video!
Also, I discovered that using a butter knife works well when removing the membrane. Took a while but it turned out well and no holes.
mallowmoth 1 year ago
Could you show us the salt drying process. do you just peal the fur off and place it in salt or do you need to wash it?
ps keep up the good work!
jab15552 1 year ago
? we use a wire to clean the silk off the hide. than take you pig or cow brain (native's here use caribu deer any brain really) mix with hot water rub in your hide fur side and skin side(soak it kinda) than you smoke it with the punky wood. it's better than the cemical tans as you can eat it if worst come to worse. but it don't last as long as chemical tans. thiers books on "Brain Taning" o and to preseve till tan just salt the shit outa it put it bag then the freezer."kosher salt" not table.
mrsuperterd 1 year ago
u should try tanning skins with egg yolks, its works well 4 me...
nutter1690 1 year ago
cool vid.
VideoEntainment3908 1 year ago
Is there a follow up vid to this one? I couldn't find one... sry...
autoaimcfg 1 year ago
im totally gunna try to make socks out of these now. thanks mate
Kanesukulele 1 year ago
so then do you just put the salt on let it dry and is that it?
MrAirgunlover 1 year ago
hey sean erm could you post a video on how you skin a rabbit in that tube like way and wat do you do after you salt it ?
cornsnkaz 1 year ago
When i skin my rabbit and do not want to hide tan immediately. What should i do with the hide?
great vid
smrobot1 1 year ago
@smrobot1 once its salt dried place it in a air tight bag and it will be fine for years.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
@seanmulhall great job on the video thanks for showing me it but what do you do with it make a hat or just keep it?
hulk239239 1 year ago
@smrobot1 could u make a bowstring from this rabbit hide?
5tonyvvvv 1 year ago
could you just boil the skin?
allthingsrandom190 1 year ago
@allthingsrandom190 Im not sure?
seanmulhall 1 year ago
@allthingsrandom190 i think the fur will fall out if you boil it
BigAgitator 1 year ago
@allthingsrandom190 if you boil the skin you risk losing a lot of the hair on the hide not oly that a cooked on membrane is all that much harder to remove or so i have heard i have not tried boiling yet
pisspot7 1 year ago
thank you
devildogsrule101st 1 year ago
what do you do next? i want to tan a fox skin, but want it to be soft and flexible, not hard.... any tips?
21bucky21 1 year ago
epic, south beach diet ad.
yellowdart137 1 year ago
could you use this for a bow quiver?
ybotn 1 year ago
@ybotn
Yes if the arrows are short or you join two skins together. Tip, Do not remove the membrane, it will make the skin stiffer and tougher. Other hides like deer would be better because they are thicker.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
@seanmulhall
so dont remove the membrane like in the video?
Chopslord 1 year ago
@Chopslord If you want the skins stiff dont remove the membrane. If you want them supple and soft then do.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Thanks, I also want to know everything! We have so many possom here. I've been throwing the skins away, but that's a big waste! I'm sure the process will be the same.
LynJvV 1 year ago
make a skining vid :)
camerl2009 1 year ago
Bloody brilliant, a little editing would make it even beter
daddychew 1 year ago
hey thanks man!!!
FisandCram 1 year ago
ok so ive gotten my first rabbit skin. i fleshed, salted, and worked it. its pretty supple, but its got piss stains on it (its white with brown spots)..... is there a common household substance that would bring out the stains? also is there a substance to make the fur softer to the touch? thx ^.^
smileygriller 1 year ago
Hi,I have a question;I am going to hunt rabbits for the first time as well as skin and tan the hide and my question is,is there anyway of tanning a rabbit hide without using dangerous chemicals such as battery acid? Because I looked for directions on google and they involve at least 1 dangerous chemical and i wish not to use such a thing though I prefer a more traditional olden method.
Darkarial 1 year ago
@Darkarial
You only need an alkaline solution. Eggs, brians, soap, biological washing powder, white ash form the fire will all do the job.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Hi,I am going to be hunting rabbits for the first time as well as for experience and also it's going to be my first time tanning rabbit fur. So I would like to know if there's a method without the use of dangerous chemicals involved ? Because I looked for directions on google and commonly they involve dangerous chemicals like battery acid and so i prefer a more traditional olden kind of method that does not involve dangerous chemicals.
Darkarial 1 year ago
tatatata today junior
k3nw0rth904 1 year ago
ive been hunting rabbits for a long time now (for food and fun) and wanted to make somthing out of the hides and concidering gloves how would i tan it and keep the fur ????????
spudmanchronic 1 year ago
@spudmanchronic
I have tanned many skins using various techniques. I will make a video explaining the better techniques. All of my hides have the fur on them. Bear with me for a month or so and I'll do the video.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
how do i keep the rabbit skin soft? so it doesnt dry out and go hard?
poacher08 1 year ago
If you remove the membrane it will stay soft but the skin will be prone to tearing. If you keep the membrane on it will need to be worked and broken to be come soft. Try scraping the hide (flesh side) over a stick in the ground.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Nice army surplus jumper there
Pawnbroker00 1 year ago
Nothing wrong with army surplus. Especially when you are working with smelly roadkill hides.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
I know theres nothing wrong with it. I own the same jumper, just in black haha
Pawnbroker00 1 year ago
after all that mash the brains up and speer it on. It will be soft and nice. Rub lightly olive oil on it once a month and batabing!
jonahotwell 1 year ago
So i dry the skin with salt... won't it be all crusty? I am interested in tanning hides but i'm not sure what the main ingredient is (The one that makes the hide soft and stay soft) You skin, Flesh, remove membrane, then salt and done? PM Me :D Thanks!
Almelundmovieco 1 year ago
If you stop at the salt stage you have raw hide. This can be crushed to be made soft. If it gets wet it will turn back to fleash. My fox bag you see on my belt is salt dried only and is still very soft and I use it as a tinder bag. The fur keeps the worst of the rain out. Tannning is what will turn raw hide into leather.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Then how do i "TAN" it?
Almelundmovieco 1 year ago
Is the stuff you're taking off considered the membrane, or is it just meat that didn't come off when you skinned the rabbit?
viper516 1 year ago
Its membrane I'm removing. I had already de-fleshed it.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
What is the best cleaning agent to use on the fur and hide? (i want to keep the fur)
vladimir40k 2 years ago
The easiest way I have found is simple soap flakes like you would use on wool. Washing machine tanning also works really well. Use biologicla washing powder for this. I will do a video on washing machine tanning. Just need a few small or a good deer skin to show the process. Video coming soon though.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Can you use fire-ash to open the skin up before tanning like a deer hide?
Omnignosis 2 years ago
Yes you can.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
Just out of intrest, is the finished bag strong or a bit flimsy?
Im not sure whether to remove the membrane or not
vladimir40k 2 years ago
If you leave the membrane on and then crush and work the leather it will be strong and in time become supple. With the mebrane of they are paper thin but very soft. I used the rabbit to demonstrate this process because its all I had at the time. My tinder pouch I wear on my belt is salt dried fox. It has not been tanned and is soft and supple. I have had it for 5 years and it has no hair loss.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
Comment removed
vladimir40k 2 years ago
what i do is dry it without removing that tough last layer membrane... and i then use pig fat smeared on a river rock to actually make it softer.. u work the fat into it until its medium dry and very soft.. by leaving the membrane u make it stronger
asf4321 2 years ago
Thanks. So is the skin is still supple but strong? Rabbit skin is paper thin when the membrane is removed. I will try your method with the next one I get.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
I have nothing but respect for you Sean. But eating roadkill. I thught that was only a delicasy here in the southern U.S.
jtdrummer2112 2 years ago
see your one decent person you eat the meat and keep skins
redneckjwillo 2 years ago
right, so i have about 7 rabbit skins, but ive dried them before i scraped all of the excess flesh and the top membrane...so they're quite hard. is there anyway i can make the supple again?!!
imosquimo88 2 years ago
yea get tanning chemcals and that will do
MrCountryboy92 2 years ago
Reconstituting them in water is one way if you're tanning with chemicals.
If you're tanning with brains, then you can just soak them in the brain solution once just to get them rehydrated (also starts tanning process). Then you could scrape them down, and continue on with the rest of the process.
AZfishrman01 2 years ago
I've just experimented with a road kill fox hide, wahing machine tanning. You wash once with Biological powder and conditioner on a cool wash. Then again with only conditioner. They string out to dry. You need to work the hide through out the drying process. You can then rub cheap skin moisturiser into it. The more you rub in the softer it will get. My fox hide has not lost any fur so far. I ahve made it into a davy crocket hat. Give it a try. Be careful with rabbit skins as they are thin.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
thank you!!!!!!!!
footmaniac66 2 years ago
is that a military jumper
DivC98 2 years ago
Yes it is, army surplus.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
why kill rabbits? argh
printerwise 2 years ago
I do not hunt or trap. I pick up road kill and use the meat and skins from them. Thanks for your comment.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
tube method is called "case" skinning just so ya know, good video
pk066392 2 years ago
@pk066392
Thanks
seanmulhall 2 years ago
how do you actually tan them to turn them into leather?
PyroPeeta 2 years ago
I use a tanning kit. Its called 'K tan'. There are natural methods but I have not tried these myself.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
Ok, cos I shot a squiirel yesterday and skinned it today and all I was able to do was salt it, but I want it to be quite soft or leather once its finished.
PyroPeeta 2 years ago
Read "The Dangerous Book for Boys" It gives step by step instructions on how to tan skins into leather. I hope this helped.
somecreativename14 2 years ago
Ok, never would have thought of that. Thanks.
PyroPeeta 2 years ago
you can also use John Rinhart Tanning Cream. it's a wet tan and you can skip the pickling stage. this is a link for the first of 5 videos. he uses a deer cape but the process works pretty well for rabbits N' other small game. I just used it on a buffalo hide myself and the cream works really well. it's kind of expensive for a jug of the cream, but it's a good sized jug and for small game like rabbits and coyotes, it will last you a VERY long time and get you through a lot of pelts. best of luck!
joebob666666 2 years ago
uuhhgg... here in nebraska its rabbit crazy... all i gotta do is go into the lil canyon things here by north platte and take my ruger 10/22 with a scope, i can get lots of rabbits here lol, i need to learn how to salt and tan the skins...
SocomHAckerDude 2 years ago
when i skin a rabeeet
scavenom2008 2 years ago
can u wash the skin after u tan it or does it soak up the water
MrCemgok 2 years ago
Once a skin is tanned it becomes leather so you can treat it the same as any leather product. Salt dried is just raw hide- like the dogs chew. If this becomes wet it turns back to flesh.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
plz post the next vid for this ASAP I want to try and make a pair of fingerless gloves outta them
5katern3wb 2 years ago
do you have to dry the skin before you do this
timmy8911 2 years ago
I froze my rabbit skin after skinning it. Will it be like that after thawing.
mauserdog7 2 years ago
Yes it should be fine. I normally just salt dry them and then put them away damp free. Can be left for years like that.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
Thanks
mauserdog7 2 years ago
Is it kay to leave the second membrane if you WANT it to be a bit thicker, stiffer and rougher or would it rot?
IFknHateUTube 2 years ago
Yes it would be fine. It would be stiffer but it will loosen up in time slightly.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
Could you use the back of the blade for scraping the skin so as to be sure not to cut through the skin?
abstractthreat 2 years ago
Yes, it would be tough though.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
cheers for this.
im quite excited because i have a friend who is a farmers son he promised me to give me a lambs hide and a few rabbit hides if i teach him some guitar.
really looking forward to making some gloves or something
thanks again
corpsemunger 2 years ago
do you salt the skin before all of that?
DaDude260 2 years ago
It depends on how much time I have. It is easier if the skin is salted for 24-48hrs before fleshing but its not essential. Also salting means you can keep the hide until you are ready for tanning. I still have this rabbit salt dried waiting to be tanned. I will tan it with my other skins when the weather cheers up.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
sorry how do u make a sheath?
wildernessurvival 3 years ago
I have never made a sheath. But with rabbit skin you would struggle. It is way to thin. You would have to glue it to some other leather the thicken and stiffen it up. I am intending to use the rabbit skins in a wool blanket smock I have in mind. That will be later though. I need 4 more rabbits first.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
thx~
wildernessurvival 3 years ago
how to you make sheaths??
wildernessurvival 3 years ago
i would imagine these would make very warm socks sean, i'll have to try it.Have you tried the brains for tannig yet?to keep it strong but supple,i'm not sure if it works with all brains though,reindeer and deer it does but not sure about other animals?
luvu2luvme 3 years ago
thanks
jackfrin 3 years ago
how do you skin the rabbit whole like that
jackfrin 3 years ago
Its quite simple. Start with the rabbit whole (not gutted). Take of the head (and the four feet if you dont want them). Inset your fingers between the skin and the flesh and work your way round the entire opening. Onceyou get about an inch or two down peel back the skin and start to peel it off the rabbit. Just like a sock. When you get to the feet pull them through. Once you are down to the tail cut carefully around the anus and cut through the tail bone. I'll video the next one.
Sean
seanmulhall 3 years ago
finaly some topic that i can have some opinion about hehe.I am a lether specialist with some years of experience.
You can go 2 ways with that,modern chemical procedures or natural way. For the purpose of of bushcraft i believe you would like to go the natural way ( vegetable tanning extracts )
You dont need anything special, some buckets , acacia bark or chestnut wood powder.
the full procedure is quite long to describe here in details, if you want to exchange some ideas send me your email
regisgasparotto 3 years ago
I would rub the brains in after you deflesh the hide it helps to do this after you stretch it the brains contain a nutrient that helps to preserve the hide good luck
twhittamore 3 years ago
when I skin a squirrel I stretch the skin out an rub in salt then leave it in a dry warm place squirrels also have really tough thick skin which is quite forgiving for a beginner also it I read somewhere that small skins like squirrel or rabbit really only need to be dried scraped an salted which is much easier if they are stretched out on a board
chrispychris14 3 years ago
I agree with you entirely. I have pegged them out on a board in the past. The rabbit skins i had this time I had skinned as a tube or sock, so pegging them out would not be ideal. Both of my skins a now dry, soft and supple. Ready to be used. Just need to make the video showing the finished skins and put it on You tube.
seanmulhall 3 years ago