Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Sheep skins that need help. [OFF TOPIC]
Buck wrote:
>
> Help needed.
Buck,
I assume you told her about how brain tan hides, etc. are worked to make
them dry soft and not turn to rawhide again? I really can't think of any
thing other than getting some water soluble tanning oil and spraying it
onto the back side of the pelts mixed with water and carefully working
the leather until it softens up. I don't think there is any easy way to
restore these other than infusing with lanolin or other appropriate oils
and working the hides. Hopefully they are not "fried" but just stiff.
She could make or have made a simple breaking board of 1X6 with a sharp
rounded chisel shape at the upper end and mounted vertically so as to be
waist high. That would facilitate the breaking and working of the
leather side after it is moistened and oiled. (I think a combination of
oil and moisture will be required to break the hide again).
The "Cree" method might work, though I still think moisture is needed.
And caution her that steam or any heat is the absolute last thing she
should use. Tumbling in a cold dryer after they have been moistened with
oil and water might ease the labor of softening but I think it will
require a modified "breaking" action, per the board.
I'm sorry but I do not remember where I came up with the tanning oil I
have but it was/is available. I've had my gal. can for 25 years. I
remain........
YMOS
Capt. Lahti'
>
> Seems to be a little slow on the hist_list right now, enclosed is part of a letter I received, this young lady has a problem with several sheep hides and needs some suggestions on how to save them.
>
> Any ideas, I contacted the Denver Natural Histroy Museum, but haven't heard back with the Holidays, etc., (these hides have the wool on them), we have covered brain tan to commerical, so someone should have an idea on restoring life to old/new hides that are stiff I would think.
> I would appreciate it very much if I could get some information on how to restore some sheepskin pelts that my Sister-In-Law WASHED AND DRIED in her machines!!! They are still in one piece, but the leather is dried out and brittle.
>
> I had heard of a way that the Cree used to restore hides and leather products using fats/or lanolin with cornmeal and rubbing it briskly with a rolling pin....
>
> Hopefully, this method makes sense to you? I do have lots of lanolin as I make my own soaps and I definitely would like to see these skins restored for her, but I would prefer to try to do it myself.
>
> I was thinking that maybe if I could slowly steam some moisture back into the hide until it was more supple, then I could work in the lanolin to help retain some of the moisture after the hide dried.
>
> I have read some of the old pioneering techniques on tanning hides, but there is very little out there other than people trying to sell me their miracle chemicals for a fortune! That is definitely not for me, I do not buy from the internet as I cannot actually see and smell the products offered, and I am tired of these "miracle" products when there are more natural methods that work so much better!
>
> Could you please forward me any information you might have gathered?
