... THE FIRST TANNING SOLUTION When the pelts are clean and cooled (or have been defrosted, if you've been sidetracked for a while), you're ready to begin tanning. You'll first need to round up a four- to six-gallon plastic container (a wastebasket or bucket will work fine). Then pour two gallons of room-temperature (about 70°F) water into the pail, and add either — but not both — of the following recipes. (Each formula will be adequate to tan six to nine medium-sized pelts.) TANNING RECIPE NO. 1: SALT/ALUM 1 cup of coarse or granulated salt ( not iodized) 1 cup of common alum (aluminum sulfate or any of several similar double sulfates), powdered or granulated TANNING RECIPE NO. 2: SALT/ACID 1 pound of coarse or granulated salt (about 1-3/4 cups) 1 ounce of full-strength sulfuric acid, or 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of battery acid (dilute sulfuric acid) ... HOW TO TAN RABBIT HIDES
So what do you do after you've added the pelts to recipe 1 or 2? You can't just hang it out to dry? I'm in a mood tonight, so let's go...I find it hard to believe the Cherokee or other tribes had sulfuric acid and Alum available. Soo.... how in the ....did they tan their hides? Or is tanning and drying different?
I only posted part of the article with a link to the whole thing because the article covers multiple pages. These solutions are only step one. As far as primitive tanning - don't know - for sure, this ain't it. I remember reading that they used natural plant based tannins - the same stuff that makes tea acidic.
ok ok I'll go read the answer somewhere else. Sorry if I came off too harsh. I guess my point being, add the info in whole. I'm as guilty as you in doing this, but let's build this place in case your link expires or what everelse.
Brain tanning. Every animal has exactly the right amount of brains to tan their hide. Brain Tanning Furs by George Michaud
If I recall correctly, brain tanning methods are the first chapter in Naked Into The Wilderness (by John and Geri McPherson).
I was thinking that too, and after seeing your post, I searched. Couldn't pinpoint anything on tanning, proper, from MM. Too bad he's not here right now; he could probably just walk us through it, having just completed one this weekend or something . He was pretty awesome that way.
