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Post by longtrail on Jun 19, 2008 14:14:54 GMT -5
Here is a sweet little piece made by Steve Allalee(sp) out of the N.W. The wood is western red cedar, eyes are abalone, cordage is of cherry bark, reported to shrink when wet rather than stretch. Any feedback on that claim? Points are knapped from milk glass. I made the little beaver tail sheath for it. The piece is wrapped in a strip of soft brain-tan and slipped inside the sheath. About the only thing I have found a use for with it is when I am sewing, for cutting thread. I guess it could be a utensil too. I have a nice spear point, will photo it too. Dlt
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Jun 19, 2008 15:06:46 GMT -5
LT How did you tan the beaver tail?
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Post by paskinner on Jun 19, 2008 15:29:27 GMT -5
That pouch is pretty cool. I need to get some beaver tails out of the freezer and try that.
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Post by longtrail on Jun 19, 2008 23:22:47 GMT -5
It isn't tanned, it is raw. I usually have problems getting the beaver tail not to wrinkle up when it is drying. One way is to fill the item, pouch or what ever, with 20 Mule Team Borax, then shape it sort of flat or rounded. Then let it dry, shake out borax, roll a couple rocks around the inside and then proceed to contruct what ever. I have a beaver tail off of a small beaver, we let the small ones go, our neighbor doesn't, anyway I got the tail skinned out in one piece. I don't know what i will do with it but it is pretty neat. I did make a very nice shot pouch once. I made this knife sheath years ago, I know it is out of raw hide as I have never had a tanned one. I think I had things stacked on top of this one to keep it straight when it dried. Our recipe for tanning snake skin is one cup of antifreeze and four table spoons of glycerine. Roll snake skin up, place in small jar, coil side down, tighten lid, turn up side down every day for five days. Blot skin dry, work it a bit to make flexible. We tried that with the beaver tail, but it ended up tearing easily. Most of the furs I work with are raw. LIke the beaver hat below.
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Post by joanne2 on Jun 21, 2008 7:21:40 GMT -5
All your 'stuff' looks great, LT. Nice sheath here. I can't see anything wrong with using the rawhide. It has it's applications like it is. I have one beavertail.. (rawhide) I've left it totally unprotected and the only problem I've seen is that the mice have chewed the tastiest part (the ridges) off of it.. lol. I will have to make something unique out of the parts that haven't been too palateable for the mice even! someday! Thanks for the ideas. Very cool.
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Jun 21, 2008 11:08:15 GMT -5
I really like that one .I have heard that you could bark tan them but I havent tried that yet .All the ones I tried I alum tanned and they came out stiff too .Thanks for the info Ill do that next time I get one hmmmmmmmmmm maybe I have a tail in the freezer!
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Post by hawkshaman on Feb 24, 2010 16:16:19 GMT -5
That is really cool. I love effigy pieces.
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