GROK: how do you tan cow hideHere is something to ponder. When checking on a slaughterhouse for my beef. I asked them, what do you do with the hides? They said, toss them in the trash and charge the customer $100.oo disposal fee. I was shocked to say the least. There isn't anyone close who tans them. They said and I couldn't find anyone. Such a waist.
My plan is to TRY to tan them myself. Even told Blondy that when we butcher Ribeye, she would have his nice heavy skin to keep warm under. That didn't go over to well. She's still hasn't forgiven me for saying that.
TWO hours later? Geez. You gotta get more sleep.mmm, early snacks...
Luckily mines not totally off the bone and still attached.I tore my bicep muscle off my shoulder four years ago. That was at the beginning of Covid and they told me I had to wait four months to have the surgery. I had to wrap my bicep up with the ace bend so it sat on top of my arm and not underneath it. When I woke up from surgery, my bicep muscle was a size of an apple and I looked up my arm and saw scar on the inside. I asked the doctor why he reattached it there and told me that my meniscus was torn and I broke a bone so I needed to put it elsewhere. it still works but it Looks quite awkward. Be careful where the doctor Rusos it because you don’t want it like I have it now…
Stoned and slick, ice and wet aluminumHey there, hope you get your medical needs worked out sooner than later.
What's with the falling, is it from slipping or is it a balance issue?
Hello OleReynard
It's PatIt's a catastrophe....
I have a couple here that will be switched to tac.I have a Remington 870 I inherited from my grandfather. It’s got a cracked stock and 45 years of lackluster cleaning. I really don’t care to shoot much 12 gauge anymore. My shoulder is ruined from a motorcycle crash and 12 gauge just hurts. They do make a gas strut stock that absorbs an advertised 60% of felt recoil.
Thought about doing that and a tactical forestock, ext mag tube and maybe a flashlight mounted. Probably live in the safe with the rest of them.
<tries to think of some sorta witty reparte>GROK: how do you tan cow hide
Answer
Tanning cow hide involves a series of steps to preserve the leather and make it usable for various applications. Here's a basic overview of how to tan cow hide using traditional methods:
Materials Needed:
Steps:
- Cow hide
- Salt (non-iodized)
- Water
- Tanning agent (like bark from oak, hemlock, or willow, or commercial tanning chemicals like chromium sulfate for chrome tanning)
- Lime or slaked lime for hair removal (in vegetable tanning)
- Sharp knife or fleshing tool
- Large drum or vat for soaking
- Wooden boards or stretchers
1. Preparation and Curing
2. Soaking
- Fleshing: Remove all flesh, fat, and membrane from the hide using a sharp knife or fleshing tool. This helps in preventing rot during the tanning process.
- Salting: Lay the hide flat, flesh side up, and cover it with a heavy layer of salt. This helps in pulling out moisture, preserving the hide, and preventing bacterial growth. Let it sit for about 24 hours, then shake off the salt and reapply fresh salt for another 24 hours.
3. Dehairing (for Vegetable Tanning)
- Rinse off the salt and soak the hide in fresh water for several days, changing the water daily to remove all salt and blood. This rehydrates the hide if it has dried.
4. Tanning
- Liming: Soak the hide in a lime solution (1 gallon of water to 1 pound of lime) for about 7 to 10 days. This process helps in loosening the hair for removal. After this, wash the hide thoroughly to remove lime or it will affect the tanning process.
- Hair Removal: Scrape off the hair and epidermis with a fleshing knife.
5. Neutralizing and Oiling
- Vegetable Tanning:
- Prepare a tanning solution using ground bark or commercial tanning extracts. Soak the hide in this solution for several weeks, depending on the thickness of the hide and the strength of the solution. The hide will gradually turn from pink to a tan color as the tannins penetrate.
- Chrome Tanning (faster but requires chemicals):
- Use chrome tanning salts mixed in water. Soak the hide in this solution, which will tan the hide much faster, often in hours rather than weeks.
6. Drying and Stretching
- After tanning, remove the hide from the solution, wash it to remove excess tanning agents, then neutralize if necessary (especially in chrome tanning).
- Apply fats or oils to the leather to make it supple.
7. Finishing
- Stretch the hide on a frame or over a board to dry flat and evenly. Regularly adjust the tension to avoid wrinkles.
Notes:
- Once dry, you can further treat the leather with conditioners, dyes, or finishes based on the intended use.
This is a simplified guide; professional tanning often involves more nuanced techniques and controls. If you're new to tanning, consider starting with smaller hides to practice before tackling a large cow hide.
- Safety: Tanning chemicals can be hazardous; use gloves, goggles, and work in well-ventilated areas.
- Environment: Tanning can be environmentally taxing due to the chemicals used, so consider the impact and disposal methods.
Congratulations brother! Grand kids are fun to spoil!I'm officially a grandpa. Vincent was born last night. 7 lb. 7oz. @7:00pm
Poor boy is going to need to be tough because his initials well be V. D. I'll do my best to toughen him up.
more coffee first
edit to correct birth weight and time
After I retired from twisting wires for a living, I did a couple of years selling auto parts at a friend's store and occasionally would pinch hit and drive into downtown Los Angeles for the daily parts run at the big distributers.GROK: how do you tan cow hide
Answer
Tanning cow hide involves a series of steps to preserve the leather and make it usable for various applications. Here's a basic overview of how to tan cow hide using traditional methods:
Materials Needed:
Steps:
- Cow hide
- Salt (non-iodized)
- Water
- Tanning agent (like bark from oak, hemlock, or willow, or commercial tanning chemicals like chromium sulfate for chrome tanning)
- Lime or slaked lime for hair removal (in vegetable tanning)
- Sharp knife or fleshing tool
- Large drum or vat for soaking
- Wooden boards or stretchers
1. Preparation and Curing
2. Soaking
- Fleshing: Remove all flesh, fat, and membrane from the hide using a sharp knife or fleshing tool. This helps in preventing rot during the tanning process.
- Salting: Lay the hide flat, flesh side up, and cover it with a heavy layer of salt. This helps in pulling out moisture, preserving the hide, and preventing bacterial growth. Let it sit for about 24 hours, then shake off the salt and reapply fresh salt for another 24 hours.
3. Dehairing (for Vegetable Tanning)
- Rinse off the salt and soak the hide in fresh water for several days, changing the water daily to remove all salt and blood. This rehydrates the hide if it has dried.
4. Tanning
- Liming: Soak the hide in a lime solution (1 gallon of water to 1 pound of lime) for about 7 to 10 days. This process helps in loosening the hair for removal. After this, wash the hide thoroughly to remove lime or it will affect the tanning process.
- Hair Removal: Scrape off the hair and epidermis with a fleshing knife.
5. Neutralizing and Oiling
- Vegetable Tanning:
- Prepare a tanning solution using ground bark or commercial tanning extracts. Soak the hide in this solution for several weeks, depending on the thickness of the hide and the strength of the solution. The hide will gradually turn from pink to a tan color as the tannins penetrate.
- Chrome Tanning (faster but requires chemicals):
- Use chrome tanning salts mixed in water. Soak the hide in this solution, which will tan the hide much faster, often in hours rather than weeks.
6. Drying and Stretching
- After tanning, remove the hide from the solution, wash it to remove excess tanning agents, then neutralize if necessary (especially in chrome tanning).
- Apply fats or oils to the leather to make it supple.
7. Finishing
- Stretch the hide on a frame or over a board to dry flat and evenly. Regularly adjust the tension to avoid wrinkles.
Notes:
- Once dry, you can further treat the leather with conditioners, dyes, or finishes based on the intended use.
This is a simplified guide; professional tanning often involves more nuanced techniques and controls. If you're new to tanning, consider starting with smaller hides to practice before tackling a large cow hide.
- Safety: Tanning chemicals can be hazardous; use gloves, goggles, and work in well-ventilated areas.
- Environment: Tanning can be environmentally taxing due to the chemicals used, so consider the impact and disposal methods.