[TheForge] OT - Hides in ones Blacksmith shop

[Saint Phlip]

On Feb 18, 2008 3:56 PM, Wes Marquart <marquart at arlinn-tower.com> wrote:
>
> I have some elk hide I was going to use for the main bellows.  The buffalo
> was going to be used for hinges and valves.

OH, OK, that makes sense. Might still be pretty heavy for valves,
though- after all, you want them to open and close ;-)

> Some other things the buffalo hide was destined for: belts, possible drum
> head, and for the soles of some new boots.

Would make a good belt- machine or human-, and absolutely excellent
boot soles. Would also be excellent for making cases.

>
> Yeah, that stuff is [heavy].  And we do have a line on 6 more from the same
> place.  Biggest problem with it is that those suckers were heavily salted
> then hung over a barn beam to dry - I think the over kill on the salt is why
> we were having problems getting the hair to slip free.
>
> -Wes

Yeah. Salt takes all the moisture out, which is what you want it to
do. Likely what you should have done was soak it in plain water first,
until it was pliable, THEN do the wood ash (or lye) thing.

You've got a great find- I'd love to find one myself, for a couple of
projects ;-)


-- 
Saint Phlip

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Priorities:

It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.

.I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary
notices I have read with pleasure. -Clarence Darrow