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Post by froggiefarmer on Mar 15, 2012 1:28:17 GMT -5
I'm new to the forums and new to the topic of braintanning. But it's something we've wanted to do for a long time. As chance would have it, the same time we decided to take the plunge and get started with tanning, we'll be butchering four hogs this weekend. Each hog is about 200#. We've got some of the classic braintanning books (authors: Matt Richards, Jim Riggs and Edholm/Wilder) but they don't talk about tanning pig hides. I found an older forum thread here about tanning a head-on pig hide that someone got from a butcher, but without enough detail to really figure out what they were talking about. Can we use the above-listed books to braintan these hides we're going to have? If not, what different step(s) will we need to follow? TIA.......
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Post by paulette on Mar 15, 2012 9:44:28 GMT -5
Well looks like I need to get started on my own 'classic'! the reason they don't talk about tanning pig hides is because none of the methods.. well they fringe on it.. but most will suggest bark or vegetable tanning.. why?? because pig hides are so GREASY.. so cleaning them up is the main thing.. My power washer and turbo nozzle cleans up pig hides rather well! I just love the machine and attachment for cleaning up skins.. very very nice.. anyway any pig is greasy! and yes. One sure can clean them up and 'brain' tan them.. really it's the smoke.. but if they're TOO greasy and the smoke you use TOO HOT then you can also GREASE BURN them..however bear in mind that it really DOESN"T get much better for leather.. good STRONG leather it produces those PIG SKINS! so.. I would suggest a powerwasher..a good healthy one with some POWER! I have a belt drive so it's definately a commercial type that I am now using. (i have put the machines that were direct drive in the shop before.. fleshing bison skins.. that was the 2400 psi.. I now use a 3500 psi.. that means that it will run a good long time without need for the shop! either way quality is not 'cheap. but I plan to do this forever.. cause it's FUN!.. the ones at the chain stores are great but the life span on them is a mere several hundred hours.. If you don't have a turbo nozzle don't even USE one..why bother? they just don't WORK without the turbo nozzle.. the machines and nozzles can save one an unbelievable amount of time and labor.. just incredible.. and it IS like having a canyon river at your fingertips! SO.... What else did you need to know? Basically skin is skin, only pig skin is extremely greasy there are a lot of variables with skins.. but these piggies can be challenging now! a 200lb pig is fairly small pig.. so can perhaps tan one that is cleaned up GREAT easily without the need to thin the skin itself.. (another chapter in tanning) BUT.. if one could clean them up very well and DEGREASE them properly, then yes they can certainly be tanned like any other skin, any method.. remember that it is the aldehydes that do the tanning AND they all take a long time to stake and stretch DRY.. they don't soften themselves! there is indeed STILL a lot of painstaking elbow grease involved with this tanning stuff.. BUT.. yep.. the end product is just great leather so I don't want to totally discourage newbies.. just want you to know a little bit about what kind of ride you're in for!! Glad somebody still joins and posts to this forum! Good to hear from you! Happy to help if I am any for you! I'm new to the forums and new to the topic of braintanning. But it's something we've wanted to do for a long time. As chance would have it, the same time we decided to take the plunge and get started with tanning, we'll be butchering four hogs this weekend. Each hog is about 200#. We've got some of the classic braintanning books (authors: Matt Richards, Jim Riggs and Edholm/Wilder) but they don't talk about tanning pig hides. I found an older forum thread here about tanning a head-on pig hide that someone got from a butcher, but without enough detail to really figure out what they were talking about. Can we use the above-listed books to braintan these hides we're going to have? If not, what different step(s) will we need to follow? TIA.......
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Post by paulette on Mar 16, 2012 23:05:36 GMT -5
Lol. That 'older' head on pig thread was mine ;-) FWIW
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Post by chrissy45859 on Apr 14, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5
I am happy to find some post on brain tanning farm raised hogs. It turns out I have brain tanned a few deer hides, and I love it. I butchered a small hog a few weeks ago, and fleshed it just the other day. Fleshing all that fat really wasn't too bad. Does any one know if I follow the same steps as brain tanning deer? My process is to buck in a KOH solution a few days, then grain over the weekend. I am very petite, so it takes me twice as long to do the physical steps as the average person. But do I still buck a hog hide? Does it have mucus like a deer hide? Will the grain raise and when I grain will it be obvious to seperate the layers like the deer hide? What do you folks know? Have you worked a hog hide like a deer hide with brain tanning? Or might that not be the best method?
Thanks, and since I am new to this site I suspect I will get lost in all it has to offer. I can't belive I haven't found it before now. Chrissy in N. Alabama
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