Beavertail

[razorback]

For those who use beavertail wraps on their bows, is it rawhide or tanned. I have a friend who traps and I believe he throws the tails away. I was thinking of getting them and making them into wraps.

[Roy from Pa]

Tanned works best, but either is fine for a guy from NY..  

[Dan Landis]

I've only done a few and they were raw.  Just fitted after fleshing out and stitched it up, then left it to dry for several days.

[BigJim]

IF you plan on putting it on a nice bow, you are going to want it tanned or they end up crispy like fish skins.

Green tails are nearly worthless...I say nearly as I have a great use for them after they have been tanned.

I purchased two 55 gallon drums of beaver tails this spring and paid the man double of what he was selling them for just so he would save me the larger tails. The man is a fur buyer and typically sells the green tails whole for $1 each and I paid him $2 each.
But after acquiring them, they get expensive to process.

BIgJim

[razorback]

I guess you get them professionally processed but if not, how do you do it. From my research they seem to be difficult to tan like normal hides.

[typical2]

I tried to tan some with Krowtann 2000.  It didn't work.  I'm sure it is my inexperience with the tanning process.  I would love to see a "How To" on tanning bravertails.  Mine are crispy.  

I looked into getting some tanned and I was quoted $70.  Yikes!

[newhouse114]

You might try doing a vegetable tan on them. After fleshing, put in a plastic bag or bucket of water until the scaly surface skin sloughs off. Then degrease several times. Put several pounds of alder bark in a tub full of water, add beaver tails and forget about them for about four months. Stir on occasion and make sure they don't dry out. Oil with neatsfoot oil and work until dry.

[canopyboy]

I figured it was a NW guy telling us to use alder bark. I miss living out where alder is all around.

[razorback]

Yep, haven't seen too many Alders in the Adirondacks    
Isn't the scaly surface what is wanted for bow handles. I thought it was the texture tat was the desirable part.

[Roy from Pa]

What's a guy from Fairfax Station, Virginia know about Beaver anyways?  

[BigJim]

When the outer scale sluffs off, the leather flesh remaining still has the "scale" effect to it.
It is going to come off one way or another, but if you don't get it off first, the results are less desirable
BigJIm

[canopyboy]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
What's a guy from Fairfax Station, Virginia know about Beaver anyways?    

My wife went to Oregon State...

[razorback]

Thanks Jim.
I'll look into veg tanning options for this part of the country. I've got hemlock and I know that was used extensively in early tanning industry. Time do go back to school and start doing some research.

[fujimo]

oak has lots of tannins in it too, and i believe some of the willows too..
 but sure that most of you guys have oak around.

[razorback]

No Oak in my part of the world but plenty of species that are high in tannins such as birch, spruce and hemlock. Looks like a long process but might not need a full tanning for beavertail handle wraps.

[fujimo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yviqltiFbdU&feature=player_detailpage

believe this is the way to go- read good reports on this technique- i also have a few tails that need tanning   :eek:  
let me know how it goes!!

[AkDan]

you could just send them to Moyles and be done with it.   They're easy to split and dry...or at least easier than I had ever expected anyways.  I gave them to my trapping partner to make stuff for his grandkids with.

[BigJim]

I have searched and searched to find some one who specializes in tanning tails.
They do a fantastic job, but I still loose about 10% as it is very difficult to get them thin enough for bow grips and they frequently get holes that can't be worked around.
BigJim