Post by badgirlpinto on Jan 25, 2010 20:13:51 GMT -5
finally got the seasons elk fleshed and now we are starting on 14 bear rugs... lots of sewing.
Yesterday I clayed in the paws.... fast drying modeling clay is pushed in each claw chamber and then a long roll of clay is formed on top of that and the paw pulled across that and stitched down. Then as the clay dries the claws can be seperated and placed how the look best.
My boss has a very large tumbler he built himself and uses ground up cob in it,,, when he had a rug to make.. bear.. elk deer or anything but cat... he will put in a cap full of Liquid Gold wood preservative in with the cob,, run the tumbler for a bit, then put the pelt in and run it for a couple hours. It is amazing how that Liquid Gold makes the hair shine but does not leave any smell.
In order to stitch the felt to the bear hide.. we take a sponge and wet the edges,,, letting it sit a bit to soak in and soften it.
They were using large glovers needles but I told them that often times the smaller ones pass through the hide easier.. Also a lot to be said for using a thimble and a pair of pliars.
We also use one of those pressure tanners with 50 lbs of pressure in it,, tanning crystals and amonia sulfate in at first, run for two hours then add some scour to remove fat.... more tannin g crystals, some tanning oil and run for another four hours.
one cup crystals and sulfate per gallon of water for deer and double for elk or rugs.
just thought someone might be able to gleen some info from that. bgp ;D
Yesterday I clayed in the paws.... fast drying modeling clay is pushed in each claw chamber and then a long roll of clay is formed on top of that and the paw pulled across that and stitched down. Then as the clay dries the claws can be seperated and placed how the look best.
My boss has a very large tumbler he built himself and uses ground up cob in it,,, when he had a rug to make.. bear.. elk deer or anything but cat... he will put in a cap full of Liquid Gold wood preservative in with the cob,, run the tumbler for a bit, then put the pelt in and run it for a couple hours. It is amazing how that Liquid Gold makes the hair shine but does not leave any smell.
In order to stitch the felt to the bear hide.. we take a sponge and wet the edges,,, letting it sit a bit to soak in and soften it.
They were using large glovers needles but I told them that often times the smaller ones pass through the hide easier.. Also a lot to be said for using a thimble and a pair of pliars.
We also use one of those pressure tanners with 50 lbs of pressure in it,, tanning crystals and amonia sulfate in at first, run for two hours then add some scour to remove fat.... more tannin g crystals, some tanning oil and run for another four hours.
one cup crystals and sulfate per gallon of water for deer and double for elk or rugs.
just thought someone might be able to gleen some info from that. bgp ;D