Buffalo pelt help!?

[tyger]

Thanks for all the Suggestions!

I was confused about the oiling thing, I wasn't sure what oiling the skin side would do the hair on the reverse side. It never crossed my mind that they thought I might apply oil to the hair side, even to a novice like me that would be an obvious no-no, I was just talking about exposed hide side.

So if I am stretching it I would re-wet the hide or can I do that dry too?

Thanks again!

Yep, if you talked to somebody who takled to the taxidermist who told that somebody to tell you..........ya got trouble already!
What I do is follow the directions. See this page at van Dykes.

to quote van Dykes:
Stiff Hides:

The hide has not been thinned down enough. The thinner the hide is shaved down the more flexible it will be. Thinning or shaving the hide may be done after the hide is tnned if you have done a thorough job of tanning.

or

The tanned hide was not broken properly. Breaking of the hide refers to the actual breaking down of the fibrous structure ot the skin. This can be accomplished by tumbling, sanding, or working the hide over a thin dull edge of a piece of metal or wood (a disc blade works very well). The longer a hide is broken, the softer and more pliable it will become.

or
If the hide has dried out, reapply some tanning oil and thin or re-break the hide.

This last item is yours. In all liklihood, it is too late to thin the hide without tearing it or poking holes. I have used Neatsfoot oil, and the oil that comes with the Lutan F kit. You cannot beat Lutan F for general skin tanning.

[hylander]

Great info! Thanks!