Thread: Leder Tanning kits - Rain water or Tap water

Hey guys,
Going through the process of tanning my first deer skin with a Leder tanning kit I picked up.
I have a nice fellow hide that has been salted and fleshed, next up I need to make the tanning brew, the guide I read online recommends rain water.

How important is this - will normal tap water do or should I try and source some?

Sourcing rainwater at this time of year is not difficult.

I'm guessing if its townie tap water it could have fluoride or other chemicals in it that might react with the tanning chemicals.

Na mate. Don't worry about the water. Need to pickle the hide first. I used an acid and dropped the pH down to about 2ish. Been a while now but think there was some salt in there. Google it. Then it gets neutralised with baking soda after a week/10 days. Then good wash with detergent and do your tanning then.

Cheers guys, I'll source some rain water then, I think I know a guy haha. That seems to be a different method than the guide for the kit says, not sure if that works right with chems.

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Usually chlorine and fluoride gas off if you leave it over night. Just a tip. Water not worth worrying about.

I have used this kit before and water dont matter dude
The skins came out great as long as you have done the prep work

Sweet, well I scored 60l of rainwater anyway. Skin has been cured for 4 days and washed, I'll stretch it out to tomorrow. I'll post pic when fully done.

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Quick Question, its stretched out on a board, and ive been rubbing the leather lube into it... how long do I leave it on the board for?

I left mine on there for at least a week just to make sure

10 days does the buiss with the kero home job.

Done, im very happy with it, 2 fuck ups when skinning it but for a first attempt at skinning and tanning im thrilled.

Whole process wasn't hard and i will do it again with my next deer

Is it a soft hide or stiff? Don't want the dipshits answering just Fletch?

Sorry, for the late reply, been out of town.

The hide is pretty soft, I took it out of the solution, let it hang for a day or two to drip try then pinned it to the board and rubbed the leather lube into it. That has made the leather reasonably soft and flexible, I haven't had to break it in at all.

You can see kinks at the neck and far legs - the board wasn't big enough so I pull the longer bits around the board and stapled them to the back so they dried that way and are the only bits needing work. I can roll it up or fold it easily.