deer hide into rawhide

[nugget]

Yes you got it Horatio1226 That is the way to do it.once it is on the rack to stretch  take and squeegy all the excess water off of it.On both sides. It will quicken the process. If all goes right you should have useable rawhide in less than a few days.

[horatio1226]

Thanks nugget. I really appreciate your input. Brian

[bowmac]

I do mine like Ferret, have been for the past 30 years or so. IMO I think it makes for the best rawhide or for brainning. Just make sure you get the dermis layer off also.

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Ozark you can but ya got to rinse it real good to get the lye from the ash out. As far as rawhide goes you want the epidermal layer to stay on for the best rawhide. You only have to remove the epidermal layer if you are going to make braintan. Mike Smyth

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I used to flesh my hides, and then soak for a few days in a mixture of water and Red Devil lye. After wiping the hair off, I'd then soak it for a day in a second mixture, this time water and apple cider vinegar to neutralize the lye. After that, I'd stretch them on a frame to dry.

Unfortunately, I don't remember the mixture ratios for the two solutions.

[tomh]

the Deerskin to Buckskins book is a great resource, tells about rawhide too. I did mine the way Jason said, and the came out great. Made a nice drum from one skin. They seem not to stink too bad with the lye water. But I seem to recall them making lye controlled substance because of meth heads using it to cook their drugs. First Sudafed and now soap!

I made a bunch of buckskin too and they came out beautiful, but dang near gave me arthritis in my hands. It is a ton of work.