acid/alum free tanning rabbit, possible?
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These are two, that I have.
http://goingferal.wordpress.com/2010/02 ... chnology/#
Brain tan v. Bark tanning
"I think of buckskin as a functional equivelent to cotton, and bark tan as an equivalent to a plastic rainjacket. "
http://www.alpharubicon.com/primitive/t ... agoona.htm
using brains and dung
{my edit: I suspect that RT does have a sticky, but I do not know where it is either.}
http://goingferal.wordpress.com/2010/02 ... chnology/#
Brain tan v. Bark tanning
"I think of buckskin as a functional equivelent to cotton, and bark tan as an equivalent to a plastic rainjacket. "
http://www.alpharubicon.com/primitive/t ... agoona.htm
using brains and dung
{my edit: I suspect that RT does have a sticky, but I do not know where it is either.}
skysthelimit
Well-known member
black tea works, and tree bark from garden stores.
Try googling tanning hides with tea... lots of info there. Apparently one can use eggs too. As soon as I put in tanning hides with a number of alternatives popped up.
This thread should really be in the Rabbits for Fur forum. I'm going to move it for you.
This thread should really be in the Rabbits for Fur forum. I'm going to move it for you.
skysthelimit
Well-known member
Not sure, as I have only studied it but decided to use alum. Not sure if you can get a big can of lose leaf black tea, like the tins sold at Asia food stores. That's probably about a lb or so of tea. Boil it down and that will probably be enough from what I've read.
I'm thinking of using the broad dock leaves, they are high in oxalate (sp) acid, to tan my sheep skin.<br /><br />__________ Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:06 pm __________<br /><br />People have been using tea to get a skin tan, and dye their hair as well.
I'm thinking of using the broad dock leaves, they are high in oxalate (sp) acid, to tan my sheep skin.<br /><br />__________ Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:06 pm __________<br /><br />People have been using tea to get a skin tan, and dye their hair as well.
skysthelimit
Well-known member
Yes, but it takes a lot of dock to do it, http://www.braintan.com/barktan/
I would sooner stick with the black tea or a bag of wood bark from a garden store.
I would sooner stick with the black tea or a bag of wood bark from a garden store.
dragonladyleanne
Well-known member
Acorns can also be boiled and the resulting brown water used to tan hides. http://www.ehow.com/how_8465280_tan-ani ... z1yrZaiUtF
Of course, that IS tannic acid, I just assumed you meant not buying commercial acids. You might also try http://forgottenbooks.org and download Aboriginal Skin Dressing. You can download up to 50 books for free.
Of course, that IS tannic acid, I just assumed you meant not buying commercial acids. You might also try http://forgottenbooks.org and download Aboriginal Skin Dressing. You can download up to 50 books for free.
http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/botany/tandye.htm
Trees I have here are Smooth Sumac, list say's I can use their leaves. Mentions waiting for the fall when they turn red, reason for that? I have a lot of 1-3ft saplings I need to pull out. Could I just pull, hang to dry and then use those leaves? Or even also use the wood?
Trees I have here are Smooth Sumac, list say's I can use their leaves. Mentions waiting for the fall when they turn red, reason for that? I have a lot of 1-3ft saplings I need to pull out. Could I just pull, hang to dry and then use those leaves? Or even also use the wood?
skysthelimit
Well-known member
Acorns are great, I'd try them too if I could get a hold of some.
There is more tannin in the leaf when they are darker.
You can also use grapes, grapes and wine contain tannin.
There is more tannin in the leaf when they are darker.
You can also use grapes, grapes and wine contain tannin.
Well, the Sumac I have tons of. I pull them out 2-3 times a year and more just keep showing up. Plus I have 2 or 3 mature trees to pull from.
Found a site that said to dry leaves when they are dark green in late summer.
Found a site that said to dry leaves when they are dark green in late summer.
skysthelimit
Well-known member
ChickiesnBunnies":20ifg66f said:
Good and you can store them somewhere dry until you get enough to make a brew from.
dragonladyleanne
Well-known member
Interesting, a waste of good wine, but if the wine is bad . . . ? Lots of brewers in the SCA, maybe I should ask for failed experiments!skysthelimit":282hfmii said:
Stormy
Well-known member
Forgive my ignorance, what is wrong with alum? I just pulled up a recipe in Mother Earth News that calls for it. I am new (again - been 25 years) to tanning.
alum is short for "Aluminium" and acid is usually "battery acid"Stormy":19c8ykvm said:
- for me: an attempt to find natural ways to do things and to keep un-needed items off my property,
that have toxicity. Check out "Sulfates" from Wiki's Aluminium page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium
Stormy
Well-known member
skysthelimit":1773d992 said:
Thanks for the link - looks like it can stain the fur. Maybe not so good for white pelts!<br /><br />__________ Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:43 am __________<br /><br />
Piper":1773d992 said:
Hi Piper, thanks - I didn't realize this... Here's the Mother Earth News recipe, which calls for sulphuric acid, not battery acid. I imagine you wouldn't want to drink it but is it really that toxic to work with/the environment? If so, I'm rather shocked it'd be in this magazine: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-H ... spx?page=2
People have told me about a brain tanning workshop in my area at oaec.org - googling it, here's a book (I imagine its on Amazon as well) http://www.braintan.com/theword.html
Since I froze my pelts without scraping the connective tissue off first (it was so hard to get off!) as per the Mother Earth News article, since the first tanning solution is supposed to loosen things up, I may go that route for this first round. I'm going to look into the tea tanning mentioned... although I imagine that will stain furs as well...
ReiLossefalme
Active member
Battery acid is dilute sulfuric acid.
skysthelimit
Well-known member
I imagine it would stain the fur as well. I haven't tanned any white pelts, and I am using alum. Alum is used for pickling and baking, so it's natural enough for me.Stormy":36cz0gln said:
As far as brain, they say that the animal itself will supply enough brain to tan it's own hide.
