I’ve no real interest in tanning (though I love the finished product), but I could listen to you explain just about anything you’re passionate about.

Thanks Steven, very useful. That Horn knife is a beautiful tool. I bid on a horn drawknife a few months ago, but somebody else knew what it was.

Love this. Hunted most of my life, now I been "hungry" for the hide process, tanning etc. I'm a newbie on that end.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

Cool, it's really fun to tan hides. The transformation is amazing to watch.

Thank you for spending your time to make this video. Super helpful

Thanks, Steven! I am not into tanning and leather making, but with a growing arsenal of axes and knives I realize the need for proper (and preferably good-looking) leather sheaths for protection of the tools and myself. Your videos should provide me with all the knowledge and skills needed for homemade leather sheaths. I should be able to get some hides for free now that hunting season is around the corner

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

Deer skin doesn't make awesome sheaths, though it depends on how it's tanned. It can also be doubled up though. The Sami use thin reindeer hide, but they layer it up. cattle hide is hard to beat for any kind of stiff item like that. It is more dense than other thick hides available in the states and canada, such as moose, elk and buffalo. Horse is okay, but not as dense and cattle skin.

I purchase hides and furs, some from large merchants and others directly from Hunter/trapper/tanners (preferred source). The more I learn about the process, the more I completely respect the huge amount of work and know-how it takes to produce these amazing materials. The animals give their lives, and the tanner contributes his sweat and experience. Thank you for uploading these videos.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

From all accounts, trapping is a labor of love. All the trappers I know complain endlessly about working for 2.00 and hour lol. I think the reward is being outside, exploring and the challenge of outsmarting the quarry. Skinning and fleshing all those pelts doesn't sound like a good time to me, but some are remarkably fast at it. I'm interested in seeing a micro-tannery movement where traditional/natural tanners can become certified and get fair wages for exceptional product with low environmental impact.

Awesome video keep up the great work

Super! I have some rawhide that I'm trying to use for a drum. It came with a wicked rough flesh side. I knew there was a way to smooth it and now I need a fleshing knife.

@SkillCult

3 жыл бұрын

watch my videos on rawhide axe brace collar. I thin some rawhide on that with a kitchen knife. I think video #2

I really love your videos and I thought it was really nice that you gave Coon Creek Outdoors a good review because Stu has helped me more than anyone in my trapping. This was my first video of yours but it won't be my last.

@SkillCult

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, he seems great. I'm not that great with fur handling and tanning.

Hello Steven. Very nice video and post. I have always worked with a planer's blade, to which I have just recently made wooden handles (after long yearsof plain piping...it never seemed urgent enough to go through the bother of making a decent handle, and now ofcourse I feel silly) . Anyway after watching thisvideo I finally see the point of using a curved knife with a broad beam - I bet it saves a lot of moving the hide around. too bad it's not very likely I'll ever find a log large enough to make such a beam here. unless I buy some expansive imported lumber. I guess I'll begin with trying to solve this problem and then start worrying about making a curved knife... thanks as usual for all the great info.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

Consider either 10 or 12 inch PVC, or laminating something. I've never done it, but I think you could set up a jig to mill 2x4 on a tablesaw to a slight wedge in order to laminate a beam up. I suppose that even basic lumber is expensive there though. As long as there are no knots, it probably doesn't matter too much what wood you use. I think you could probably armour the face of a beam with PVC, but cutting open a smaller diameter piece and heating it until you can form it to the beam face. If you have something that has an unsuitable working face, but is the right shape. Curved knives are nice.

Very nice collection you have acquired there. Most importantly is that you use them. I'm convinced you must be about 150 years old to have gained all the knowledge and experience you share with us. Thanks for the effort.

@siddhi.a.c6380

5 жыл бұрын

actually, he has a friend that is 150 years old... they talk about bludgeoning, music, esoteric agendas

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

We met on bludgeoning.com

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

Not only am I only 51, but I've been severly hobbled for the past almost 20 years. I could have accomplished so much more.

@nonyobussiness3440

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult are you referring to marriage?

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

No

wow that great information thanks Joe

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks :). Those boots are awesome :D

@mvblitzyo

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult Rt on ! Well let me know when your wanting a new pair I’m more than happy to send another pair your Chanel mean a lot to me and hopefully all the viewers 👍🏼

I'm 58 always wanted to try it I'm just trying coyote little discouraging fleshing couple tears sewed them going to try hunters and trappers tanning solution i have another coyote and beaver I'm going to try different method thanks for vid

This is fantastic, I’m putting together everything I need to start tanning now. I’ll be forging some fleshing knives myself, is there any critical geometry I need to be concerned with? Thanks so much for these videos, hugely valuable knowledge you’re sharing.

@SkillCult

2 жыл бұрын

Yay, tanning is fun! There is one on tools for bark tanning, don't miss that one.

I really enjoyed watching. I must say I could watch you explain/demonstrate anything. You're a great teacher. I need to flesh 2 cowhides to get the rawhide I need for drum skins. Can you recommend a knife to use or something that will make due. Much thanks.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I'm recommending the Weibe 12" flesher. amzn.to/2J1YuJJ I haven't got around to using it much yet actually, but it seems really good for the price and should do about everything for a home tanner. The price is right, its stainless steel, it's a good length, decent handles and allegedly it is tempered tool steel, which many cheap ones are not.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

And thanks for the compliment :)

I forged a fleshing knife inspired by yours and has worked quite well having fleshed a few lamb skins and a cattle hide. It was made from an old leaf spring and didn't do any heat treatment at all, and is holding the edge very well. Actually, I made it double beveled but I am actually not sure if it is supposed be like that? Look like the Wiebe 12" is single beveled. I

@SkillCult

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, mine is single and they almost all are. double bevel obviously can work, you're just adjustin g the angle. If it's working, but maybe leave it, but I'd make the next one single. I have dome ideas on new designs, but never get around to making them. too many projects :)

I turned a undesirable drawknife into my latest scraper, not super happy with it. I also used my Mora drawknife, with its straight handles, it really makes a sour drawknife as the handles like to roll in your hands, it is too flimsy for a fleshing tool though. Thinking of getting a fresh flat bar of tool steal and making a fleshing tool. too many projects. Great over view as usual, thanks.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I had a drawknife out there, but forgot to mention it. Unmodified, they are really only good for use on upright beams pulling downward. Most don't seem like they would make great tanning knives if modified. You have a forge right? think about using a large file. Good, free steel and easy enough to pound out something 20" long with 11" working edge and tapered tangs in antler handles, similar to that one I showed that I like. As long as you don't care if it's pretty and have a belt grinder to get rid of the teeth, it should be pretty easy.

@downeastprimitiveskills7688

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult I pulled the handles off the reattached the handles straight like the knives you show. It wouldn't work very well with typical 90 degree handles, for sure.

Could one make a fleshing knife from a draw knife? One that had straight handles (or heat and hammer the tangs straight) and dull the sharp edge some? I've seen curved ones. Would it be too thin?

@SkillCult

2 жыл бұрын

You could, but I wouldn't really recommend it. I don't think it will make the best tool, and you'd also ruin a good drawknife. I like the Wiebe 12 inch flesher. There should be a link in most of my video descriptions. it's about 30 to 35.00 . If you have some forging skills, it's easy to bang one out of a piece of narrow leaf spring.

can you ellll me the best place to buy finished tanned hides to make a mountainjacket from?

@SkillCult

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I can't . I don't know who is selling good hides now. You might search for braintan for sale on the internet.

An easy option is to use a backward blade in a buck saw. Buck saw is easier to hold vertically, than a horizontal skinning/scraping blade. Use the 90 degree angle spine for doing all the dehairing, scraping. If you have a hacksaw blade w mini-teeth, you can use that for scraping the fibers on the pelt. Using an old wringer washer roller machine, you are able to roll roll roll, and wrap up the pelt onto the rollers, and squeezing out (more and more) water and oil/fats in the skin. Can adjust the roller pressures for also squeezing and rendering the softness and stretching the pelt. Then reverse the pelt, and turn around, so that the other side and direction of rolling can be done. Far easier than pulling, stretching, and using pelt hoops w/o having to pierce holes in the pelt and tying up. With a loosely tie together loop of the pelt, you can slowly process the pelt through a liquid solute, and press/roll out the pelt over and over. Then do the reverse.

@johnlord8337

5 жыл бұрын

Doing the brain tanning solute in the wringer washer tub, allows you to press the brain oils into the skin, while rolling and softening/smoothing all the skin fibers for a soft and interwoven fibers buckskin.

@johnlord8337

5 жыл бұрын

Using the wringer rollers, and having a hacksaw blade in a bucksaw, allows you to hold the bucksaw hacksaw, scraping and cutting/fluffing the skin, while the rollers to all the hard work.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure I know what kind of saw you mean.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I know some braintanners that use wringers. I have one, but it's not running.

Can I freeze and defrost to help loosen the fur, instead of chemicals or soaking for a long time? I’m planning on making deer skin chews for shelter dogs.

@SkillCult

5 ай бұрын

No, it doesn't affect the fur. you might be able to scald, but it will probably shrink the skin. You can use lime. It is not toxic. In processing corn for tortillas, the cornn is soaked in lime and it is not even really rinsed out. It's just calcium carbonate when it dries. Do a short liming, just as long as it takes, then rinse in a few changes of water. Once it dries the lime turns back into calcium carbonate, same as shells or limestone.

@SkillCult

5 ай бұрын

I have a video on what type of lime to use in tanning.

what kind of blade?

Steven ... serious question not like the comment below, but have u used a " couriers knife " to thin down hides that you have tanned especially around the neck area ? Or do you revert to modern electric motored rotary fleshing/ thinning machines . Cheers new zealand .

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I haven't used the rotary fleshers and not used the couriers knives much either. They were the only option I know of for thinning hides, aside from small stuff by leather workers, before splitters. I still need to make a plank for the courier's knives. You don't use them on a rounded beam, it's a perfetly flat hardwood plank, that is closer to vertical. There is also a special steel for making and maintaining the bur, which I've never even seen a picture or drawing of.

@markdudley3831

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult .. Steven, thankx for the answer and so quickly... but how do u thin down the neck skin on a buck deer for or during tanning . Cheers nz

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

You can do it with a turned edge when the skin is in a sort of leathery, partly dry, rawhide state, like I show in the rawhide axe collar videos. kzread.info/dash/bejne/g6Fmra58ZNmbdaw.html But it's not easy to control and traditionally it doesn't seem to have been done that I have ever seen. If you tan it first (barktanned) try something like the currier's knife. You might get away with a machete or heavy chefs knife with a turned edge. Braintan is too soft to do that after tanning. Some hides, namely buffalo that I know of, can be thinned by dry scraping from the flesh side, but it doesn't seem to work on all skins, and not on deer.

@markdudley3831

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult . cool man thanks for answering .. cheers nz

What are you thinking about Mad Deer, relative to tanning and consuming venison? Is this not an emerging, and rapidly at that, problem? Sorry, been off the web for a while, not even posting from the right account here, but if you've covered this elsewhere, my apologies.

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

It's not really on my radar yet. Last I heard it was still not in California, but I haven't paid attention this year.

@alphanumeric1529

5 жыл бұрын

@@SkillCult From what I hear, it is spreading rapidly in the western states. I don't know if a governmental agency on the county/state/federal level is going to even know about it, or give you accurate information about it. Lived in California for 30 years, can't even recall what the wildlife management department is called (thanks Lyme, or red herring lyme), but out here DNR might be the best bet. Honestly, I'm a bit shook. Don't know if I'm going to pull a deer tag this year until I find out what's really going on. We're in Utah, so a couple of states closer to ground zero. Wwhat's so bad about this prion disease in deer is that its a slow incubation, on the scale of years, so an infected deer can be shedding infection particles for two years before it dies. That is very bad. If I remember correctly, it was Finland that put down an entire herd of caribou that had some infectious members. This was thousands of caribou. There were several other herds active there, but that was a major proportion of the entire caribou population. NEways, I'm sure you're aware. I'm an old timer like you, so I've been seasoned, I don't believe much of the hype I hear, but something about prions, little invisible shits that drive you mad then kill you, f that.

I am interested in tanning , can you please help me out, How can I contact you ?

I've looked through many comments and haven't found a source for purchasing a quality flesher. I'm urgently looking for a fleshing tool. I've got several sheep skins I need to process asap. Is there an online shop that you would suggest for a quality flesher for someone with small hands?

@pattywest8371

Жыл бұрын

Nevermind, found it. Great information. Thank you for awesome videos.

@SkillCult

Жыл бұрын

Hi Patty. You should do fine with the weibe 12 inch flesher. it's easy to find. there is an affiliate link in the video description. I think the handles are slightly undersized. If they are too big, just shave them down with a rasp. It will come too sharp though. watch my vid on fleshing deer hides. at the end I talk a little big about sharpness for different tasks. i also have a very long series on tanning some sheep and cattle with bark. If you are into tanning with the hair off, which I recommend if you are a beginner, check it out. kzread.info/head/PL60FnyEY-eJBsE5mbHhW2gQMILnndQN9o

@pattywest8371

Жыл бұрын

Thank you again for your response and all your great videos.

Wow!do you got one extra knife like the big one that you might want to sell ?

@generallee7252

3 жыл бұрын

I thought about gettin one from and then i tought why gettin it from ebay when i can buy it from you and support you work ..i learned allot from you over the years by the way

@SkillCult

3 жыл бұрын

No, nothing I want to part with :). They are infrequent on ebay, but come up occasionally.

Steven ..... missing your ropes? replaced them with a cap ?? Just kidding ... cool vid like always .. cheers from new zealand

How sharp are the fleshing knifes?

@SkillCult

Жыл бұрын

Mostly not very sharp. I need to make a video on that. It is difficult to judge. I use a test of shaving my thumbnail. I pretty muuch never want it to catch easily on the thumbnail with just a light tap. It should take a little push to shave some of the nail off for most fleshing that I do. For graining buckskins, I want it duller, where it will shave the nail, but only with quite a bit of pressure.

I found out this past fall that cow hides are not worth nothing and my butcher could not get rid of them. I air dried some and salted others. I wish I had knew about you sooner. haha. I am hoping my hides will be ok and I can do something with them when it warms up a bit. Right now I have access to a draw knife only. It is all experimental of course so if it is a flop I have next fall's butchering. :)

@SkillCult

4 жыл бұрын

One thing you can do is cut the skin into parts and tan only the best parts. they are easier to handle too, and you can do one section, or even just a square to get the process working. a cattle hide, or even a side or butt is a lot to start with for learning on.

@McCoysOakHillFarm

4 жыл бұрын

I did cut them in half down the spine, because they were really heavy even for animal only 1 1/2 years old. I was really wrestling with just a half. Thanks :)

Lol I saw that . Haha darn jays. And I feel it would fly like a bomarang, just won't come back. They do make good soil fertilizer for fruit trees.

@SkillCult

4 жыл бұрын

:D

thanks

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome

Where can I find these knives.

@SkillCult

4 жыл бұрын

I have a link to the Weibe knife I've been recommending on my amazon store page www.skillcult.com/amazon-store it is affordable and I like the design pretty well.

@micahspur

4 жыл бұрын

@@SkillCult what about the ones that r serrated?

@SkillCult

4 жыл бұрын

@@micahspur I've never owned one.

❤️

i like using a Necker they make a good fleshing knife

@hunterhawkins2005

5 жыл бұрын

real nice collection tho

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

What kind of stuff do you use it for. I need to get that thing working, but my initial impression is that I'm not going to be crazy about it for the stuff I do.

@hunterhawkins2005

5 жыл бұрын

Me and my dad do lots of fur trapping , so it many gets used for fleshing furs . The few buckskins we have tried to tan, we did dry scrape so we didn't use it except for fleshing the meat off . It is nice to be able to have the two side sharp/dull . we have the model 600

I have a deer skin and idk how to do the flessing part or whatever it is called

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/oHmXrLirpbvQXdY.html

@texasgrown2021

5 жыл бұрын

Oh ok thank u

@texasgrown2021

5 жыл бұрын

So where can i get that knife at

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

@@texasgrown2021 I think this is a good one to get. It seems like good quality and it's still affordable. The weight and shape are good. amzn.to/2D7RZ99

Oh, that's pretty neat! I thought that was a pizza cutter. That's what the local shop uses. 😜I feel silly...

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

I've seen people use pizza and cake knives, they are usually very thin.

more tanning videos

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

currently planning, lets hope I can manifest them...

@jakobgrunstein1092

5 жыл бұрын

SkillCult i know you can do it

5:46 impossible!

Spikin Rassin

* adds video to collection for apocalypse survival *

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

🙂👍

So am I hunting eBay or haunting eBay? I'm great at both. 👻😏

Ok. I never get to say "FIRST". So I'm saying FIRST!

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

kaching!

It looks as if a Scythe could be converted into a flashing knife.

@SkillCult

5 ай бұрын

I have done that. I used a heavy american brush blade and basically folded the blade in on itself, like rolling it inward, at the ends to make tangs for the handles. It worked, but it disappeared some years back. Not my favorite knife though. If you have a forge, might as well bang one out of a leaf spring instead. I like the wiebe 12 inch flesher though. it doesn't rust, affordable and does almost everything a home tanner would need.

All them knives?? Now that's just greedy!

@SkillCult

5 жыл бұрын

There are even more actually, but I don't know where they all are! I'm actually not really attached to most of them. Teaching tanning workshops we might have 6 beams running at a time, so there are a lot just from that. Others are experiments or stuff I wanted to try out.

@rubygray7749

5 жыл бұрын

Wish I was close enough to do some of your workshops. You do so many things (extremely well) that I would like to learn.