Judy,
I've just breezed your site and when you start talking computer stuff, my head clogs; but when you're talking braintan, I'm right there. I've been tanning for several years and have produced almost 40 skins, though I can never seem to keep them around for long.
Your first attempt was well done, but I saw a few things that might make your next try more successful. First, lengthen your beam and elevate the bottom so that the whole thing is more horizontal. This alleviates the back pain.
Second, softening the hide is easy but you do have to remove all of the epidermis and the membrane. These layers of skin prohibit the brain oil penetration. Pull the hide for ten minutes in a warm place (hard to find in Canada) and then let it sit for five minutes so some of the moisture can evaporate. Keep pulling so long as the hide feels cool to the back of your hand-this says that moisture still remains in the dermis. Softening does take a while esp. on thick northern deer skins, but stick with it.
Third, your use of the rope works, but switch to a length of 1/4" copper grounding wire available at the home stores. This doesn't wear out and still provides resistance to the skin. Also, pull the hide vigorously back and forth, constantly moving your hands to keep the fibers moving in all directions.
Fourth, smoking the hide does indeed take several hours, but you can speed the process up by using regular Elmer's Glue instead of thread to hold the edges shut. This forms an airtight seam forcing the smoke to penetrate the fibers instead of flowing between the stitches - the glue washes out with water. Also, use punk wood (wood that has rotted to the extent that you can kick it apart) instead of sawdust as it produces a greater volume of smoke and doesn't contain chemicals.
Fifth, if you note any grain or membrane on the hide during the softening, rub it with some 80grit sandpaper to break it up and then reapply some brain slurry to it.
Sixth, your hide can easily be reworked to soften it more completely. Go over both surfaces with sandpaper to shed the unwanted layers, rebrain it, and soften it again. It will come out even softer and more luxuriant than you could expect.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions, just holler. There are several good books on the subject if you're interested. Loved the mocs and muks.
Vaughn Terpack
Judy,
Absolutely you can rebrain the hide you have. The smoke will actually help the brains penetrate better.
Whatever you do, do not put lard on it!!! That's an old wive's tale and will ruin your skin. Just because some indian said it, doesn't make it true. I've found that a lot of today's natives haven't a clue. The only reason yours came out stiff is because you didn't remove the grain completely and didn't soften it well enough.
The grain, or epidermis, prohibits brain oil penetration and stretching of the fibers. With it on, the skin will be stiff regardless of how you soften it. Just sand the stiff spots, rebrain it and work it constantly until there is no cool feeling anywhere on the hide. If you do have to stop, put the skin in a plastic bag and stick it in the refrigerator until the next day. If it's going to be a while, double bag it and put it in the freezer. That'll keep it forever.
I've just finished a goat skin and it came out fantastic. If you have goats in your area, and I know you do, pick up a skin and tan it during the warm season. The skin is so thin it makes great clothes. Wonderful stuff.
On the fleshing beam, its top should hit you somewhere between the navel and the base of the sternum. All of the books show it hitting you 3" below the navel but this allows the back to bend and creates back pain. With it elevated above the navel, the muscles of the upper chest and back do the work and the spine stays straight. No back pain, no muscle spasms. Even though every tanner I know uses the waist beam, they won't change its height because it is "tradition". They all suffer from back problems! I guess I'm just not man enough to stand the pain, so I go with the higher, more horizontal beam. Your use of the PVC pipe is right on, congratulations!
Whatever you do, keep tanning. It is entirely too fun and rewarding. If you need any support, answers, networks, just drop me a line. I'll look forward to reading your web page now that I'm on it. Thanks.
Vaughn Terpack, tanner.
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