Here is the rough outline for brain tanning a deer hide, as I learned it at Way of the Hunt
- skinning: front of legs, back of legs. (30min-1hr). Peel, don't cut.
- fleshing: scrape off the fat & meat
- preserving: salt or freeze the skin.
- salt:
- hair side down
- pour on & rub in salt
- fold over, roll up
- put in bag & tie
- poke hole in bag
- put in bucket w/lid
- Alkaline soak: use 4 inches of wood ash in the bottom of bucket, fill with water (2-6 days [done when hair falls off])
- graining: scrape off fur and grain (1-2hr)
- soak in creek for 1-3 days
- balance PH: 1/2cup apple cider vinegar to 4 gal water in bucket. stir hide for 15min
- dry: hang to dry for a bit, then stuff into a bucket with holes on the bottom. hide will dry to form inside the bucket
- wait: let it sit for 2 years
- Brain solution: 1-2 brains per hide. slightly cooked, then blended
- soak hide in brain solution overnight
- wring and drain 3 times until there are no drips
- stretch and work all day until soft, and a finger poke bounces back
- smoking:
- sew holes
- glue edges together into bag shape
- hang and attach to chimney
- smoke both sides for 1 hr
- use punky hardwood
- ventilate: thoroughly air it out, or else the smoke smell will make you sick