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Post by paskinner on Feb 5, 2009 16:27:49 GMT -5
One of the disadvantages or perceived disadvantages of bucking is knowing when the hide is fully rinsed and "back to normal" Here is how I do it. I might be overly paranoid, but I want to be sure the ph is below 7. I check it in a couple spots, but especially on the neck or whatever the thickest area is-for example on elk, it would be the rump. If you just check on the surface, I don't feel you are really getting a true reading. Hope this is helpful to someone.
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Post by beaudro on Feb 6, 2009 7:31:23 GMT -5
Good video PA, it helps me to leave them neutralizing a little longer, even though many of mine look fine after short time I still have to watch for a spot, each side of the rump. Several hides in the past have come out with a quarter size spot every time. I started leaving them longer and the problem is solved now.
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Post by 3balls on Feb 6, 2009 8:55:12 GMT -5
looky there! pa. you done went and learnt me somthing again, and so early in the day. i always just test the water in the bucket. guess that could explain a few things, cool better hides to come.
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Post by joanne2 on Feb 6, 2009 10:01:20 GMT -5
Use the ammonium sulphate when you use the buck.. saves water and helps neutralize the skins really good and really quick.. Stuff is really great.. I was impressed and amazed and not too much does that for me any more. You can bubble your bucked hides much easier. and you can use your washing machine to help get your bucked skins neutralized much quicker and easier.. My old bud Bob K over on braintan does 3 at a time using his washer and the A.S. all the time. I don't blame him.. I like that too. And He does hundreds of hides like PA, does too.. man, these guys are GOOD. they are professionals braintanners.. listen to them!
Also, when you buck, it is a good idea to make sure it's not still in there!.. If I do personally decide to buck hides ever again, and I could.. (it would be KOH) the bucking ingredient of choosy buckers.. I won't do it without using the pH meters or strips, you can bet on that.. if you soften a hide with the bucking stuff still in it.. it might never come out right, at least without a struggle. hehe. LO,L Brainless braintanning..heheheh..funny stuff, PA. Have fun! I can tell that you are and that you are an authority on braintanning hides and skins.., While you're laughing all the way to the bank.. I hope that you are putting money away for medical insurance for yourself. No matter what way you're backyard braintanning for a living, it's hard on your arms and joints, and you may really pay the price for it later! You're young..and like my teenager you think that you know all the ins and outs and answers pretty much.. don't try and deny it, cause I've tanned LOTS of hides, You are still young. and I do recall YOU personally telling me that some days you don't EVEN want to look at another deerskin to tan..hehehe.. ..
There are folks out there that have put themselves right in this place of pain, and they aren't braggin on that. Either. They aren't telling you about the braces that they wear on their wrists or the pain meds they are taking just to get going everyday. Mark my words PA.. you are working and honestly I'll grant you that.. it is admireable to do so.. but you'll pay for this exersion that youre putting forth.. you will. You can't just do hundreds of deerskins tanning without hurting yourself in the long run. Indian tribes braintanning might have bucked hides then again they might not have but they were freaking smart..they all tanned hides not just one indian.. not everyone was a chief either.. there are chiefs and there are indians.. remember that.
Sometimes I wonder if this braintanning thing isn't more brain or brawn and you should be too.. anyone considering this crap for a living.
Make sure and brain twice no matter what, huh? Just a little insurance.. If you're hides aren't bubbling chances are they're not going to soften up cause the brains or soap or oils are just not penetrating.. just soaking, scraping, wringing, braining.. numerous times for BOTH methods..bucked or unbucked.. knock yourself out.. teach us oh wise ones, lol.. The great bucking debates.. let's start our engines boys!! We'll give ya a run for your money!
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Post by fishinmusician on Feb 6, 2009 10:18:49 GMT -5
Thanks PA! How does that ph meter work for you? Could you let me know what brand or model? I use the ph strips, but I've thought of getting a ph meter, too. I guess some of the cheaper models aren't very accurate. I've alway wrung my hide to check the ph water. I never thought about a specific area to test. Learn something everyday!! Later... Dave
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Post by paskinner on Feb 6, 2009 13:26:56 GMT -5
Dave, The meter is a Milwaukee, I think. I just buy cheap ones on ebay. They are supposed to be accurate within one tenth. I like them a lot better than ph paper, much easier to read than colors for me. People who have a creek nearby might not have to mess with this stuff, but I ditched bucking for a long time and the main reason that I could not count on the hides being perfectly rinsed, which leads to lots of frustration, as some others have no doubt experianced.
Yeah, this stuff is hard on ya and I aint that young! But so is blacksmithing, I hear, and horseshoeing and so was the factory job I had before I started this. But, I had the old numb hand sydrome from my factory job, at least now I get it from doing something I want to be doing. Those wrist braces are annoying-I try to wear the thing but it gets in the way to much when I'm working. I don't want to debate methods, I'll let that dead horse lie, he's been beat enough!
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Post by joanne2 on Feb 6, 2009 13:37:42 GMT -5
Well I hope to build a big tumbler PA (don't laugh)and well let's face it..no matter which method you choose. you know when a skin has been broke and will soften and when they're 80% dry.. i expect to have to stake them to break them.. that's when you put them in the TUMBLERS when you know already that they are going to soften anyhow....so.. I'm just going to go for it. It's just me myself and I here and I look at this huge stack of hides and think.. dang, just how in the heck am I going to devote all the time to soften each one? LOL.. so anywho.. I'm going to GO FOR IT. what have I got to lose. Time? money spent building a tumbler.. hey if it works for the tanneries and they do.. you just need to have all the right, I dont what you call them....I'm sure there is a word anyway,.. all the stars have to line up in the sky(perfectly)..hehehhe.. who knows.. something has to beat working so hard just to tan a bunch of skins so you can make stuff with them!
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Post by longtrail on Feb 6, 2009 13:53:00 GMT -5
Yawn.
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Post by longtrail on Feb 6, 2009 14:07:15 GMT -5
Sorry.
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Post by joanne2 on Feb 6, 2009 14:36:36 GMT -5
Hey.. no sleeping around here.. WAKE UP! Time to work on some Hides! Brain tan, presmoke.. bucktan.. you name it.. just wake up and get tanning!
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Post by paskinner on Feb 6, 2009 14:51:24 GMT -5
So, you're going to tumble them with sawdust or something until they are mostly dry and finish by staking? Might work.
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Post by joanne2 on Feb 6, 2009 15:30:43 GMT -5
Something like that. I sure hope so.. time and some effort and bucks will tell I'm sure. I'll let ya know. Course I don't know traditional purists might not like it..but to me I don't care so much about purism but saving myself WORK and joint, muscles and tendons..we'll just have to see.
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