Tanning/Fur Blanket Question

[Therian]

I was told you could tan ANY animal simply by using its brains and that every animal had the "perfect" amount of brain to tan the entire animal. Is this true and is there a detailed guide as to the entire process out there? I like the idea of free tanning as its safe,natural, and most importantly CHEAP Also how would I go about keeping the fur so I could make jackets or blankets out of it as well? My mother was heart broken after she was forced to sell her rabbit jacket for food when I was a kid....imagine the look on her face if she got that for her next birthday


I was reading this site here about how to make a rabbit blanket http://www.primitiveways.com/rabbit_skin_blanket.html it looks GREAT but to make a king-sized blanket I would be looking at 100 rabbit skins and it would be kind of heavy. Is there a lighter version of this out there such as a patch type blanket that lays it out flat vs twining them?


My thought is if I could just cut the skins into squares and then simply sew them into the size I want, it would still be warm BUT wouldn't be so thick that I over heat



*edit*
Also I was curious I noticed a LOT of NZW/Cali mixed kits being sold and harvested in my area and almost NO ONE is using the hides, if I was to ask for people to keep the hides for me would simply cooling in a bucket of water and then freezing them work? My biggest thought is getting the blood out of the fur after it thawed but most people wont want to do all the work of ensuring its clean.

 

[Evvie]

I think the only issue with putting the rabbit skins together like quilt squares is the possibility that the stitching might fall apart, or that the blanket might crease and fold at the edges and not fold like fabric. But if you put a backing on it I think those problems might be handled. Then again, I've never worked with skins so it might work out really well!

This thread,
acid-alum-free-tanning-rabbit-possible-t9066.html
has a lot of info on brain tanning and other natural tanning alternatives.

 

[SarahMelisse]

I would love a rabbit fur jacket! Make two.

 

[Therian]

I think the only issue with putting the rabbit skins together like quilt squares is the possibility that the stitching might fall apart, or that the blanket might crease and fold at the edges and not fold like fabric. But if you put a backing on it I think those problems might be handled. Then again, I've never worked with skins so it might work out really well!

I actually planned to do just that, I also figured it would be a good start project for any novice failures and to get the learning curve out of the way.

I would love a rabbit fur jacket! Make two.

LOL, sadly with the rate I get skins it will take a good minute to get the first one made Since she had a white one then I'm looking at a good 3 batch of kits from each cali doe, If they're good first time mommies I should have the hides needed within two liters but I always assume they will be horrible the first time lol.




Appreciate the link, I saw that last night but I'm always looking for ways that work for normal people. I find a lot of what I read on the net varies from rabbit raisers I meet in feed shops and what not. Some advice works out better and some don't but I always appreciate perspective

 

[OneAcreFarm]

This is a great video from a furrier in Germany that walks thru the steps they use to make a fur blanket....

http://www.master-furrier.com/fur-infor ... 6167579a90

 

[Therian]

This is a great video from a furrier in Germany that walks thru the steps they use to make a fur blanket....

http://www.master-furrier.com/fur-infor ... 6167579a90

You sir are a gift from God on rabbits Between you and Maggie almost any question I have gets answered, thanks for sharing your knowledge and a video is superb since I'm a visual learner.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

This is a great video from a furrier in Germany that walks thru the steps they use to make a fur blanket....

http://www.master-furrier.com/fur-infor ... 6167579a90

You sir are a gift from God on rabbits Between you and Maggie almost any question I have gets answered, thanks for sharing your knowledge and a video is superb since I'm a visual learner.

Thank you, I try... :cheesysmile: ...oh...I am a girl... :mrgreen:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

My Sistah, Sir OAF. It has a certain ring to it.

 

[reereechickens]

Great link to the blanket making video. How old would the rabbits need to be? Would 12 weeks be ok? As far as the scraping the fat would that take long using the Mother Earth alum method? Does it have a strong smell while they are green? I guess I just need to try it out! :lol:

opcorn:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Great link to the blanket making video. How old would the rabbits need to be? Would 12 weeks be ok? As far as the scraping the fat would that take long using the Mother Earth alum method? Does it have a strong smell while they are green? I guess I just need to try it out! :lol:

opcorn:

I am thinking 16 wks - 24wks works best for plush furs...We have done one batch using the MEN alum method....it smells like processed lunch meat while it is processing...The fat/connective tissue came off fairly easily, just don't forget to "recharge" the solution before you put them back in after fleshing them.

 

[Therian]

Thank you, I try... :cheesysmile: ...oh...I am a girl... :mrgreen:

Not wise to confuse that from a lady from Texas...dangerous results :lol:



Alright so lemme see if I get this process straight. We will pretend I just dispatched the rabbit and have a fresh hide in hand. I will be doing 12-14 week hides unless there is a issue there? I know I lose some hide BUT they're primarily my food and the hides are a side project (unless I can find a profit later down )

1) Soak hide in water to cool down
2) clean hide/fur of blood
3) pull inside out and remove any fat or skin
4) take the thin membrane off without exposing the hair
5) mix warm water and rabbit brain
6) lay rabbit on a clean surface (or to a rack)
7) smear brain mix all over the inside of hide (not hair side)
8 ) immediately start to work the hide and soften it till desired result (Not entirely sure how to accomplish this feat yet)
9) Continue step 8 till its dry
10) Success


Right direction here? I dunno if some steps are needed but I think I might be missing a cleaning step with water somewhere, not many good rabbit videos out there....also no tanners around that would be willing to let me learn off them :/

 

[3mina]

The very easiest way to complete step eight is an old dryer and softballs.
The hides require stretching while they are drying, if you don't complete this step you get nice stiff boards of leather that will break when you try to make them flexible. (Ask me how I know this) if you think you're finished you probably have another hour or so of working the hide. If it feels at all clammy it needs more stretching and drying.

 

[Evvie]

I read that with brain tanning there is a smoking step? Or is that just crazy me thinking up things again?

 

[Therian]

I read that with brain tanning there is a smoking step? Or is that just crazy me thinking up things again?

There is but most smoking steps I have seen have no fur so not sure if smoking is necessary.

 

[Evvie]

I read that with brain tanning there is a smoking step? Or is that just crazy me thinking up things again?

There is but most smoking steps I have seen have no fur so not sure if smoking is necessary.

From all the tutorials I read, smoking is done to make the pelts easier to clean and discourage bugs from eating it. It's a treatment for the skin, not the fur.

 

[3mina]

The recipe I had used sulphuric acid and borax

 

[Therian]

The recipe I had used sulphuric acid and borax

Goal was to use a process that ancestors would have used before they could go to the store for everything.

I read that with brain tanning there is a smoking step? Or is that just crazy me thinking up things again?

There is but most smoking steps I have seen have no fur so not sure if smoking is necessary.

From all the tutorials I read, smoking is done to make the pelts easier to clean and discourage bugs from eating it. It's a treatment for the skin, not the fur.

Guess I will need to make a pallet smoke shack then. Luckily with small hides I can just make a simple pallet shack to keep my muts out and use a tarp for the roof. I tell you I knew hides were not easy but this is slowly becoming ridiculous at everything needed

 

[Piper]

I live, in the middle of Texas, and we have burn bans much of the year. I wonder how a bbq, with a smoker, would work?

 

[reereechickens]

Thanks OAF!

 

[Therian]

I live, in the middle of Texas, and we have burn bans much of the year. I wonder how a bbq, with a smoker, would work?

My only thought is the smell of the coal/propane on the fur...id imagine it would leave a smell. A smoker from like basspro though that uses electricity with optional wood chips might work but they're small and expensive unless you can find a beat up used one.


This isn't a brain tan solution but this appears to be the only steps they take
http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/01 ... bit-pelts/

I still think I will smoke my hides and find a brain solution but getting closer to finding my solution