Working With Buckskin

[HomesteaderWife]

I figured I would include some photos here, not only to help me keep a log of what I've been working on, but to hopefully share and discuss with others any ideas. I tanned about 10 pieces from some responsibly sourced hides at the end of the season, so I've been making alot. I had a thread looking for ideas on bracelets, but as alot of other ideas popped up I figured I'd keep track here!

Have you made something with buckskin (deer hide, or even just general leather) you'd like to share?


Drying the buckskin on the line


Christmas stockings and small coin pouch


Buckskin bracelets (burned and painted)


Neck pouch for storing something like a striker set and starter material. The .410 shells for size reference


Latest project, the buckskin pony

 

[sourland]

Neat project - neat results - especially like the fox.

 

[archeryrob]

How are you breaking it?
Are you brain or egg tanning?

I did it and the amount of time required for breaking made me loose interest in it. I got a fleshing beam that folds up to the wall in the garage, but my thumbs can't handle all that pulling any more. I'd be interested in your process breaking and smoking.

 

[tn_artist]

I have a traditional Sioux style dress (regalia) that I made of tanned leather. I didn't process the leather, bought it on the Cherokee reservation. I used the leftover leather to make a matching turtle shell medicine bag. I will drag them out and get pictures after I wake up again. (Yep, I'm going back to sleep)
Nice work. I LOVE the horse!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@archeryrob - I've stuck with alum/salt tanning over the years, which even though it's said to be one of the tougher tans to break afterwards, I am familiar and comfortable with this. I'm going to try next year and cut a less than suitable hide up and try egg, bark, and maybe one other method on those pieces. Because we get the hides from others sources, alot of the times brains aren't available as they keep them. My husband made a big Poplar fleshing beam for me that works great. Breaking is a chore for sure- to start, I have a wringing beam set up to get as much excess water out as I can. I try to watch my weather and hang everything on the line after in some good, mild sun. I watch the color of the hides and occasionally go out and stretch a section here and there to test if it's ready to take down. Hair-on hides, I lay on the floor of the shop hair side down and put a towel on one section where I put pressure with the knees, then I use a small pry bar (no rust or it stains the hide) to push away from me with a bit of force. If the hide's ready to stretch, it's pretty easy. Found the pry bar tip on a video somewhere and it worked so well I stayed using that. Dehaired buckskin is different, because if you do this it's really easy to put holes in it. So I let it get really close to dry then take it over the smoothed edge of a 2 inch thick board and stretch with pressure back and forth. I've used breaking sticks, stretched by hand, tried using a chair to stretch, but these things help. Main point to take away is don't let your hide be 100% dry when you try to stretch it. Also, I've recently started using a neatsfoot oil mix to apply to flesh side before stretching and had good results. I have a smoking system with essentially a tipi over a fire pit right now until we can build the smoking system I'm planning. It's a long process with having to watch and monitor it, and achieving the right color is difficult. The hides need to be 100% dry and stretched before smoking. All in all, my least favorite parts still remain the fleshing mainly for how quick it has to be done for such strenuous work (when you have a can of hides you've got to get done at the same time, it's a half-day job to flesh them all).

@tn_artist - Oh my goodness, please do share those photos! I've got a piece saved to try making center-seam moccasins for the first time. (I would really love to make at least a skirt at some point, but I'm not the best at sewing things like that) so I give you so much credit for being able to make those cool things!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

From a few years ago, when the buckskin wasn't my best quality:


Deer hide quiver, children's size!


First buckskin bag, and I made a leg bone button to fasten it with


First made buckskin stocking

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Well, Buckskin Pony needed a friend and so we put together a special little video making another deer hide doll. In light of everyone being at home, especially with little ones not in school, this was meant to be a cute and family friendly little clip to bring everyone along.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Just got a nifty tool to help make lace, so turned out a nice big bag of buckskin lacing today for all sorts of crafts. I can attest that once you get the hang of it, this lace cutter tool has been a big help.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

After getting the lace maker- I was able to make my new bag the way I wanted it. No button on it yet, but I will be making it from deer bone. Also, a new experiment - I dyed a bracelet piece with a sort of watered-down blueberry juice mixture and let it soak in there for awhile. It seems to be holding up fine- cut a piece off and it had soaked through all the way. Dried out fine and makes a nice bracelet.

 

[archeryrob]

You should try groundhogs and squirrels for laces. Both have very thick hides.