Recently, the Shankle family embarked on a journey to learn the art of hide tanning from primitive tanning expert Mary Elizabeth at our homestead.
Sure, we got through Part 1 - Scrapping, Scrapping, Scrapping
But there is much more to it!
Well, we thought we were done with scraping....
At the crack of dawn, we gathered to examine the scraped hides. As we appreciated our progress, Mary Elizabeth pointed out that it was premature to put away the fleshing knife. Moving the hides around, she showed us the various textures and shades of white present throughout the hides indicating different layers of skin.
We had MORE scraping to do.
After scraping the hide on a fleshing pole, oiling and stretching the hide was the next step. We soaked our hides in a lecithin solution then wringed them out like a towel. Wrapping the hide around bamboo sticks gave us more leverage to really twist them tight. Every time the hide is twisted and stretched it is important to change the orientation of the hide, so it's pulled in different directions. Breaking down fibers and soaking over and over.
This whole tanning process has truly been a team effort. First everyone taking turns scraping the hide, and then coming together to oil and stretch it. Not only does this method result in a beautifully tanned hide, but this ancient process also fosters a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among the group. We regularly found ourselves laughing, telling stories and asking question. Mary Elizabeth taught us so much that way. Her story telling and skill was entertaining and educational. The whole time staying a few steps ahead of us and keeping things moving. I imagine that is very similar to how it would have been done by primitive cultures. Experts and novices working together.
Do you have to scrape the hair and top skin layers off the hide to tan it?
To make buckskin, yes. Different methods require more or less scraping. Basically, spending less time scraping means more time trying to "push oil" through the hide.
Are there other options for tanning solutions?
Yes! There are many usable recipes for tanning/oiling your hide. Some popular methods include Lecithin, tree bark, and animal brain
What is the stretching for?
Oiling the hide and wringing it out like a towel in multiple directions pushes the oil throughout the hide while also breaking down the fibers in multiple directions. Once the hide has been evenly oiled you must stretch, work and pull the hide in all directions until it is completely dry.
For those interested in hosting or attending classes on primitive hide tanning contact Mary Elizabeth for details.
Looking for an online approach? Click the link below for to explore the online training program through Wild Abundance.
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