Softening a Tanned Hide?

[Gatekeeper]

What is the secret to making a tanned hide more flexible?

I have a deer hide that I tanned last year with the hair on and I have been trying to get the stiffness out of the hide. The tanning process I used was a Vandyke’s tanning kit that I bought from Cabela’s.

I rubbed Neat’s foot oil into the hide after it dried and I have setup a farm disc in a vise and rubbed the hide over the edge of the disc trying to break the hide. Am I on the right track? Do I need to wet the hide down as I am working it? Should I add more oil?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[pintail_drake2004]

take a long section of aircraft cable and wrap one end around a tree. tie the other end off and work the flesh side of the pelt over the cable. takes about 30min to do a hide completely.

ive done this on all the hides i tan every year and it is by far the fastest and easiest way to break a hide.

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Corn Husker's Lotion

[Clay Hayes]

Your gonna have to re-wet the hide to get it soft.  I've never used that tanning formula, but if it's like the others I've used, you have to break the hide as it is drying.  Once it's dry, you can do all you want and not get it soft.

I would wet the hide, ring out as much moisture as possible, put a little oil on it, and pull and stretch the hide as it's drying.  When the hide is nearly dry use pintail's cable untill it is compleatly dry.  

ch

[Don Batten]

I use an old clothes dryer set on NO heat. before the hide has dried, I put it in for an hour and then check it. more time in the dryer as needed. works good. Don

[Shakes.602]

Corn Huskers..a Thousand and one Uses!!!  I use 'Montana "Pitch-Blend!!" Rub it in REAL Good and a Little Will Go a Long Way!  just my 2 cents!

[Gatekeeper]

Thanks everyone. I'll give it a try.

[Jerry Jeffer]

If you used a tanning kit, your hide should be broke down enough since most kits have you scrape it sufficiently etc. I would wet it a bit and just keep pulling and stretching as it dries.  Tanning requires a bit more work then most realize.