Brain Tanning Deer Hide

[tuseroni]

have you ever tried soaking the hide in a solution of wood ash (ash from a fire) and water (this makes a weak lye that dissolves the hair) could save you from needing to cut the hair.

also in your process i dont see you using a stake, is that what the hanging and stretching was all about?

[richardelam100]

I've always heard you have to cook the brains. But you did not, from what I could tell. So...do you or do you not cook them?

Jesus is coming soon.

Richard

eoutheast Tennessee

[bighuntingboy1994]

how do i make a blanket out or deer skin?

[oPromileska]

Hi, I just wanted to ask you how long is the hide(with brain mixture) in that freezing box? And is that knife for scraping sharp as for example drawknife? Because I dont want to cut through the hide. Thanks alot

[Ghoppa77]

@oPromileska LEt it sit in the container of brain solution for a an hour or so, just long enough to really soak in a good amount...the knife is a spokeshave, which I believe is the same as a drawknife,, I use both the back and the front sharp end depending on what the hide is like and on the right angle you won;t cut through the hide...peace and good luck

[dogbone222]

@Ghoppa77 how do i take the brain out of the skull?

[mogges1]

How many deer hide's does it take to make a shirt an a pear on pants.Are would there be a better choice of hide that would be better for clothing

[mogges1]

HA reminds me of scrambled eggs and ketchup.LOL

[waynejeffress]

Very well done...vid. No extraneous bull....to the point and very informative. Thanks

[pseudoweapon]

What if you want to keep the fur on the skin? How do you do that?

[NarlepoaxIII]

Can you Hair-on brain tan?

[tuseroni]

@NarlepoaxIII from what i understand of the procedure you can, but you cannot get the brains on the fur side.

[archercalloway]

Just got done fleshing and de-hairing my first deer hide. Two issues.

First I had trouble getting all the epidermis off. Was that just because of the tool I was using or could it have been because I waited a bit to long to get started. Also, I had a ton of hair stuck to the hide, mostly the flesh side. Will that come off during my stretching phase?

[DmanDanstube]

killer man! i will give it a try! thank you for all the info! 

[keyub1]

How long do your keep the hide in the cooler with the brain tannin?

[archercalloway]

@keyub1 I was about to ask the same question. I assume overnight but await his answer.

[DmanDanstube]

i also here you can use a bar of soup if you dont have the brains?. i got 2 good size hides. want to make a nice buck skin jacket for ice fishing. how do we water proof the skin so we dont get the rot on. thanks man!

[Ghoppa77]

@DmanDanstube Smoke it, smoking it will put the colour into it and the water proofing...

[zerosk2]

dude awesome vid i always wanted to learn and now i know i was hoping to make a jacket and maybe a satchel out of buck skin.; my grandmother used a method of rubbing the brain on the hide like rubbing an eraser until it was gone

[EnlightendPlain]

Do you know how to tan a coyote hide but leave the fur on, using tannic acid from oak bark, or could i just use any type of tree bark?

[MrNellie2200]

The creator?

[archercalloway]

@MrNellie2200 You don't understand or your trying to pick a fight?

[TheTribeOfBenjamin]

I can't tell you how many times I watched his video. It has helped me tremendously. thanks for posting.

ben

[facestomp88]

Just don't tell my wife I'm using her mixer and bowl...haha

[student4life4362]

An amazing video, well done.

[KoalaBear9526]

If I wanted to make a rug I'd just soak it in water then scrap just the flesh off then dry it ?

[Ghoppa77]

@KoalaBear9526 I am not sure what to do to make a rug, but I do know you do not soak it, the hair will come off, sorry brother, can;t help you with this one.

Peace,

Steven

[TheTribeOfBenjamin]

@KoalaBear9526 Hi, I have found that if you completely dry out the hide using salt, the hair will be locked solid. I use a lot of stock salt until there is no moisture left in the hide. from there I would begin tanning the flesh side. hope this helps.

[S0XF0X]

@KoalaBear9526 If you just let a hide dry (don't soak if you want the fur), it'll harden and warp. You have to work it.

[DontTreadOnMi]

Thanks for posting, this was an incredibly informative video!

[MerryChicky]

Thanks for posting this. I'm writing a story in which one of the main characters tans her own hides. I've heard about brain tanning, but never seen it. Your video gave me a good idea of how it's done, just in case the process shows up in the story.

[Ghoppa77]

Not too long, a couple hours, htere is no set time..

[mcrob10792]

i got a qustion how long do you soke it in the brain?

[slamgirl65]

Thanks so much. My dad is a hunter and I've always wanted to do something with the hides. I think I'm gonna try this next season.

[powerline880s]

your "son" gave it a try?

[74Nighthawk]

Great video, the only problem I'm having now is scrapping the epidermis off. Any suggestions? Thanks. Thunderwind

[quikjustin]

sweet vidio ! thanks

[moofasa1211]

HELP ME PLEASE,

What is the name of the Curved Blade you use to scrap the SKIN and where can I get one ??

Also how do you know how much water to use in the brain solution, and is it JUST brain and WATER ? or do you add anything else ?

Please and thank you so much for sharing this info, I have always wanted to try it, I see I shouldn't keep this type of fur but also look forward to trying on other things as well. many blessings.

[Ghoppa77]

@moofasa1211 Hey man, the double handled blade is called a spoke shave, I bought it at Lee Valley, you can check any hardware/carpentary store too or make your own...use enough water to soak you hide but not a huge amount...there is no measurement, just let it soak in longer I guess if it is more diluted...nothing else but brain and water...good luck and have fun

[moofasa1211]

@Ghoppa77 Thank you I will and may you and yours as well.

[ChemicalMikeUK]

@Ghoppa77 ive seen a ray mears vid where they use oats as well as brains a well

[ryleeg]

what about smoking it?

[Ghoppa77]

@ryleeg yeah, I didn;t talk about that, it is the last step...I want to make a new video this spring showing more of each step and including the smoking step.

Thanks man

[noxionous]

It'll get you f'd up good!

[jacobjoes]

Strawberry Milkshake!!

[chainlinkdreams]

diggin that trash bag poncho.

[taylormorris1993]

Dont tell my wife, HAHAHAHAHAHAH

[canoesail]

I am working on a few hides right now for a ceremonial dress. How long do you leave the bare hide in the brains?  It looks like you don't cook your brains--is that a different technique from what's used after dry scraping? Thanks for this awesome video! It inspired me to wet scrape my final hide. Moana

[canoesail]

I am working on a few hides right now for a ceremonial dress. How long do you leave the bare hide in the brains? It looks like you don't cook your brains--is that a different technique from what's used after dry scraping? Thanks for this awesome video! It inspired me to wet scrape my final hide. Moana

[Themousewolf]

What would you do differently if you wanted to save the hair?

[Ghoppa77]

@Themousewolf Haven't done it yet myself but from what I have been told, no water soaking, fresh off the animal or frozen then thawed and brain paste the flesh side, rub it in by hand, fold it in half and let it sit for an hour or two and all else is the same process, stretch it out and scrape it until completely dry. Good luck, I want to try this too.

Peace,

Steven

[Themousewolf]

@Ghoppa77 thank you

[attackrat24]

@Themousewolf depending what your useing the hide for if it is for decoration you can leave the hair on but not recommended for clothing because the hair on a deer, elk and moose are hollow making them fragile and break off easy .

[IamMohawk]

shekon my friend this is an awesome video you did a great job. Peace. Jim

[Ghoppa77]

@IamMohawk Miigwetch to you, glad you enjoyed it, it was very fun to make...peace to you.

Steven

[flamefinger1989]

hi friend i was just wondering if you are blackfoot trad???

[cutiechick0334]

I am making my first buck skin. I am just about to put the hide in the brains. Is it suposed to smell awfull? I mean it really stinks and doesn't look near as white as your.

[Ghoppa77]

@cutiechick0334 Sometimes they rot too much and might not work out as well as you hope, fresh of the animal and then frozen is best, but if you have a smelly hide, go with it and see what happens. You'll get used to the smell...lol...good luck

[plmcmm]

for how long do you leave the hide in the brain solution?

[Ghoppa77]

@plmcmm Anywhere from and hour to four hours, ring it out and soak it again ring it, repeat if you want. As long as the hide is good and satuated with the brain juice...lol.

Peace,

Steven

[plmcmm]

@Ghoppa77 Thanks for you answer Steven

[shredderman4]

where can i get that double handled blade?

[Coyoteraynn]

how long do you leave hide in the brain solution before using paddles and stretchingh it? and what is the ratio for water to brains in the solution (is it important)

[clayguy1]

I've linked to your video on my video today.. thank you for this video... I'm sculpting an Indian wearing a poncho style war shirt of buckskin and I try and explain the process as best I could. Your video will fill in what I don't know about it.. I also put your video on my blog. Hope you don't mind

[Ghoppa77]

@clayguy1 kewl, glad it helps and please share...

Peace

[clayguy1]

I've linked to your video on my video today.. thank you for this video... I'm sculpting an Indian wearing a poncho style war shirt of buckskin and I try and explain the process as best I could. Your video will fill in what I don't know about it..

[TheMrsVolfie]

do you save the brains in the freezer until you need it?

Also do you smoke the hide to watersproof it?

[Ghoppa77]

@TheMrsVolfie Yes and yes...

[Ozephier]

I have learned you can also just salt it and let it dry as long as the area is well ventilated to prevent bacteria growth. If your shelf you have it on doesn't flow well with air it can create "hot spots" which promotes bacteria growth. If you get bacteria growth your hide will not last as long tanned. The hair eventually falls out. If done right the hide may last many many years

[Ozephier]

how long did it take you to flesh this hide real time?

[fz75]

Shall I cook the brain or not. before making it the tanning solution?

[fz75]

Shall I cook the brain or not. before making it the tanning solution?

[jagal812]

so can you leave the hair on when brain tanning if you want to make a blanket or something similar?

[SilentHillWren]

I thought after the hide was brained and dried it had to be smoked to keep it from rehardening if it ever got wet. (?)

[reluctantprophet7]

so if you were keeping the hair on the hide, would soaking it make the hair fall out? or would you want to only cover the other side and keep the hair side dry?

[Ghoppa77]

@reluctantprophet7 Hair on...haven't done, what I HEARD...is that you have the hide moist and spread the brain paste on the skin side and do the same process...I will find out though and maybe make another video, fine tune this one up a bit.

Peace

[CancerLover87]

thank you for the enlightenment

[Ghoppa77]

@CancerLover87 thank you and you're welcome

[BigWheelaCatPeelaYea]

how long does the hide stay in the brain tan solution?

[Ghoppa77]

@BigWheelaCatPeelaYea hour or more, not tooo long, just enough to soak the hide

[spartanlegend87]

I have recently found a way to aquire skins (untanned cow hide) and was wondering if you might know what i can replace the brains with. Awesome informative video, thanks.

[Ghoppa77]

@spartanlegend87 egg whites or piss and all the same steps apply, never done it but that is what I am told

[Russellkhan]

@spartanlegend87 If you have a good butcher in your area, they may be able to order cow or pig brain that you can buy, though I'm not sure of this, its popularity has dropped immensely since the mad cow scare a couple years ago.

[ackpacket]

Say I just downed a bear and I want to preserve the hide, with my end goal being a super soft bear skin with the fur still on one side.

Should I flesh the hide, then salt it? Or should I salt the hide first until i'm ready to flesh it.

[Ghoppa77]

@ackpacket don;t know, sorry for the late reply

[tbmuex]

Meegwetch from southern Ontario

[goldenscales]

Did anyone know that every animal has the exact amount of brain matter to tan it's hide?

Amazing.

[tbmuex]

@goldenscales They're all just as stupid to get shot, so no, it doesn't matter.

JK.

It varies with the actual sizes you've caught but there are alot of similarities in sizes.

[hendotintco]

anybody know where to see how to tan a hide(fur-intact) not just make leather?

[mcmikeblues]

@hendotintco just dont do the step with taking the fur off

[haha48]

how long do you let the hide sit in the brain tan ?

[longhunter96]

Do you ever smoke yours?

 -Ben

[haha48]

thats if you want a darker color

[LiveBreatheOutdoors]

finally, a good hide tanning video! short, sweet and to the point! THANK YOU!!!!!!

[theer1ca]

For those of you who want a hair-on hide: I read somewhere that if you want to do the brain solution with hair on, that you should do the following:

Dilute brains solution by: one brain to one gallon of warm, but NOT hot, water.

After the hide has been salted/frozen, re-hydrated, and flesh/fat has been removed (very well), use a paint brush and put the brain solution on the skin. Let it sit for about an hour.

-continued-

[theer1ca]

Come back, and re-apply the brain solution, letting it sit for about another hour.

Afterward, fold the skin flesh-to-flesh, roll it up, and set it someplace cool for the night.

The next morning, apply the last brain solution application, and then stretch the skin out in your frame.

From there, follow his padding/stretching/softening techniques. :]

Also, when you apply this brain mixture, be sure that the skin is not too dry, and not too damp. The goal is for the solution to soak in.

[jethrow3000]

great video. i have seen brain tanned elk hides with hair on. would i tan it like a regular hide but just not scrape the hair off? how would i do it?

[barnardjb]

If I want to keep the fur ON do I just skip the part where it is taken off?

[BREATHxOFxHEAVEN]

if i dont want to take the hair off can i just skip the step where you take the fur off but do everything else the same?

[madamemaya]

I can't tell what you're doing with the wooden paddles from just the pictures and what you're saying. How do you go about that part?

[BREATHxOFxHEAVEN]

i think he dips the paddles in the brain/water solution and then mashes them into the hide to soften and smooth it up. im not 100% but thats my guess

[BlackbirdSpecOps]

@BREATHxOFxHEAVEN The brain is already in the hide. The paddle is used to push the brain through the epidermal layers until dry. I usually put on 4 applications of brain to make it super soft. You use the paddle until it dries, re apply the brain solutio, etc.

[flyingsquirrel1958]

the fleshing beam really caught my attention is there any way to get the plans to build one and the videos awsome thanks

[NeoQuello]

won't that scraping knife get thru the skin if you do it too hard.. ?

[SchleyFam1]

Nice video neej. I'm making regalia for the first time and i want to get as much of the materials myself. I havnt met anyone in my area that knows how to tan hides traditionally. If you have any more videos could you post them? I would appreciate any help on how to tan the hides with the fur intact. Thanks. Chris

[washingtongirl123]

How long does it soak in the brain solution?

[K1NF]

@washingtongirl123 , Read down through the comments, he answers your question.

[jimmyfuckinmusic]

Awesome vid brother!! thanks.

[700NE]

Great how-to video Thanks

[sdime59]

thank you this is very very helpful.nice well explained video....quick question will this process work on any animal like cow etc thank you,,,,much respects

[asaklettern]

i am wanting to learn how to tan a hide. i know u showed the tools but where can i get them? can i make my own and does the knife need to be sharp? thanks

[elkman392989]

Does it matter what type of brain and can you freeze the brains to save for later

[Ghoppa77]

Does not matter to my knowledge, and yes you can freeze them until you are ready to use them, thats what I do

[tbmuex]

@Ghoppa77 As long as it is pure game you can use just about anything.

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

Nope. Dave Canterbury just did a video where he tanned a fox hide with pig brains. Worked just fine.

Not sure about the freezing.

[Ghoppa77]

@elkman392989 Yes you can freeze it to save for later, any brain, preferably the brain of the animal (Deer hide - deer brain) for example. But you can use an buck brain to tan a doe hide, egg whites also work and piss if you're desparate...lol

Peace

[toghestiy]

nice thanks!!

[toghestiy]

How long do you soak it in the brain solution??

[Ghoppa77]

an hour or two, not too lnong though, not more than a half day anyway, rotting might begin.

[Ghoppa77]

Thank you, missed that and made the correction.

Peace,

Steven

[2aj0]

ha ha dont tell your wife

[Gonamez]

very good video! helped me alot!

one question though, can i wash the skin in water after tanning it?

[Ghoppa77]

Good question...I have not smoked mine yet after tanning it and do not know the answer...but...I will look into this, it has to be good for that or else it would not be efficienat for clothing before modern textiles...I will find out and get back to you when I know.

Peace and thank you for your comment.

Steven

[JJB11B]

Thank you for this video. I am an Avid hunter and want to get the most out of my game.....

[laieboy57]

very good video

[wirejumper]

how long was the hide in the brain solution before you stretched it.

great video by the way.

[Ghoppa77]

A couple hours, you can take it out and ring it out and then put it back in the brain solution again. This will make sure the solution reaches through the hide and help break the fibers more easily.

Peace,

Steven