Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

How to Make Tanned Hides Soft

The secret to making tanned hides soft lies in working them again and again during the tanning process, which takes place while the hide is drying out. Any work done on the hide after it is dry will not contribute to making it soft. You can work a hide multiple times until you are satisfied with how soft it is, as long as it's not dry. Another technique that can help soften a hide is using sandpaper to smooth the skin. Both methods are easy to do and will help make a tanned hide very soft.

Things You'll Need

• Fat liquor or tanning oil (like sulfated
neatsfoot oil)
• Household ammonia
• Warm water
• Paintbrush
• Sheet of plastic
• Electric fan
• Sheet of plywood
• Nails (No. 6 finish)
• Sandpaper block

Instructions

- 1
  Mix 3-1/2 oz. of sulfated neatsfoot oil with 3-1/2 oz. of warm water and 1 oz. of household ammonia.
- 2
  Place the hide on a flat surface with the hair facing down. Apply the oil mixture to the hide, spreading it around evenly with a paintbrush. Let the mixture soak in for 30 minutes, then apply another layer of the mixture. Some hides, such as raccoon hides, which are more oily, will require less of the oil mixture.
- 3
  Cover the hide with a piece of plastic and let it sit overnight.
- 4
  Drape the hide with the hair facing up over a fence or sawhorse to let the hair dry. You can use a fan to speed the drying process.
- 5
  Nail the hide to a piece of plywood with the hair facing down. Stretch the skin slightly using nails with a No. 6 finish spaced every 6 inches around the hide. Store the hide at room temperature while the hide is drying.
- 6
  Remove the hide from the plywood when it is still damp and begin working it, stretching it on all sides and drawing it back and forth over the back of a chair. To ensure a soft hide, you must work it repeatedly while the hide is still moist.
- 7
  Run a sandpaper block over the hide to further soften the skin. Thin out thicker sections of the hide by using the sandpaper block to shave away the skin.

Animals & Science