Easy Squirrel Hide Tanning With Eggs Part 1

Ever want to try tanning hides but got overwhelmed by all the convoluted steps? I did, so here's the method I've used since I was a teenager that's super simple and works! I tried all the books and videos and came to the conclusion that tanning hides is dead simple, but people often severely over complicate the process. Success is largely based on experience, not on the method. As you get better with any method, you get better at all the methods. I found that I got the same results tanning hides this was as I did with the more involved methods, and success was mostly do to starting with a good hide and the patience you put into the process. This also works with larger hides.

Here's the basic steps;
First you take the hide and get all the meat off it, then tack it to a board or box with the fur side down.

Then you dump either salt or borax onto the hide, making sure to work it in to the hard to get spots. Leave it to dry out for at least a couple weeks.

Dump all the salt or borax off the hide and use a knife to scrape the membrane off the hide. It's hard to see sometimes so go over it with coarse sandpaper just to be sure.

Take several egg yolks and rub them into the hide until it's saturated and can easily stretch.

Stretch and work the hide constantly until it's totally dry. It's dry when it's totally white (or off white) and no longer cool to the touch. You can take short breaks during this.

Then smoke the hide so water doesn't ruin it (covered in the next video)