Cow hide rug

jon f mn · Apr 4, 2023

No matter how much your daughter and granddaughter beg, DONT DO IT!. Lol. Daughter and granddaughter wanted a cow hide rug from one of grampa's cows, so we decided to do one. How hard can it be? Looks easy on the interweb. They lie tho, I'm surprised by that. I've been told that if it's on the interweb it's true. Lol. Anyway, we got started on it yesterday.

Washed it down first, that wasn't too bad. But scraping and cleaning was a chore. Scraping the meat and fat off took 4 hours and was HARD work. Then there were a couple holes that the butcher cut and needed to be sewn. Didn't realize you need a special needle for leather. Took 2 trips to town to figure that out. But it's clean, sewn, and salted now.

So 5-10 days of drying and then clean it again and tan it. Sure hope it works out, be a lot of wasted effort if not.

Mike M · Apr 4, 2023

Did you mix up the brains with warm water and then coat the hide with it ?

300jk · Apr 4, 2023

Jon I have skinned and tanned fox and coyote in the past. I bought my supplies from Van Dykes. And you are very correct in saying how much work it is. Fox and coyote werent too bad as they were smaller in size. I did also but needles, thread, and scrapers from them. Worst I ever did with a buddy was 2 skunks. Buddy has a female lets say friend who wanted a skunk fur hat. Well he started skinning them in the farm shop at our place. Hit a gland on the second one as I was scraping the first and that was it. I had to run outside. Lost the entire contents of my stomach the smell was so strong. We did end up finishing both hides and she was happy. Like I said look into Van Dykes if you havent already !

37 chief · Apr 4, 2023

Make sure they use it. When my daughters were in 4H they both raised beef steers. One daughter got grand champion, the other reserve, in different years. They both kept the hides. One hide is still in our attic for the past 40 years. Don't know what the other daughter did with hers. Stan

Richard G. · Apr 4, 2023

Was given a fresh black bear hide one time.
It was skinned too close and I threw it away.

Crazy Horse · Apr 4, 2023

A person might ask around and see if that can be done with humans, somebody might want the hide to poke needles into it for other reasons than to repairing rips or holes.

SweetFeet · Apr 4, 2023

Next step... ya gotta chew on the hide to soften it.

Sorry, could not resist. FRIENDLY GRIN

Duner Wi · Apr 4, 2023

Helps if you can justify a great deal of time effort money invested to project as educational.

Muir hill 101 · Apr 4, 2023

That will make a pretty hide when your done with it

tomturkey · Apr 4, 2023

Jon, friends of ours tanned a long horned cow hide and had it in their living area. It was a beautiful hide. When my wife and I would visit them, my wife would have an onset of allergy symptoms, we never said anything to our friends. My wife would take a anti-histamine before we went there after that. Don't know if it was the hair, the hide or what, but just be aware what may happen. gobble

sms · Apr 4, 2023

We used to use draw knives to clean big hides. Drape them over a bench.

Texas Cowboy · Apr 4, 2023

A couple of months ago I had a tiger stripe cow break a hind leg. I was able to get her in to a processor right away. I gave her to a landlord in exchange for him having the hide tanned. I wanted her done because she had my brand on her. Should be getting the hide back soon. Good Luck. Tony

Paul swpa · Apr 4, 2023

Jon, if you have a choice in tanning solutions, get the kind that you can wash the hide afterwards. My brother did several sheep hides years ago. The first ones he did, you couldn't wash them when they got dirty they had to be dry cleaned $$$. He then found a solution that you could wash them afterwards, much better, just throw in washing machine when they needed it. Made for some great tractor seat covers! Don't know what type of products are available for beef hides though. Paul

jon f mn · Apr 5, 2023

They say that you can wash it with dish soap after its done.

PJH · Apr 5, 2023

There was a very good bluegrass band in Missouri named Poco Loco. The banjo player wore a hat made from a skunk hide. I didn't get close enough to smell it.

Paul swpa · Apr 5, 2023

That's good.

Cow hide rug

jon f mn

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Mike M

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300jk

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37 chief

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Richard G.

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Crazy Horse

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SweetFeet

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Duner Wi

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Muir hill 101

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tomturkey

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sms

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Texas Cowboy

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Paul swpa

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jon f mn

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PJH

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Paul swpa

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