Tan Your Hide!: Home Tanning Leathers & Furs (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In these plastic and vinyl times, few materials are more luxurious than a piece of well-tanned genuine leather or a soft, warm fur..." (more)
Key Phrases: Phyllis Hobson, Herb Kollmorgen

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A step-by-step guide to making vests, belts, and wallets by home tanning and hand-working furs and leathers. 138,000 copies in print.

From the Back Cover

Fur hats and mittens. Leather vests. Belts. Knife sheaths. Wallets. These are just a few of the things that you can make by home tanning and hand-working your own furs and leathers.

In Tan Your Hide!, Phyllis Hobson explains just what you need to tan your own leather and fur, and all the steps involved in doing it right. The end result is a handsome and durable homemade article that will last for many years.

The cost? Very little -- mainly your own labor and a few simple tools. And once you have tanned your furs and leathers, Steve Edwards explains how to make basic leather and fur products, with patterns that you can follow for certain success.

The authors tell:
* what tools and chemicals you'll need
* how to select the hide
* the steps for tanning leather and fur
* how to test for tanning
* old-time Indian tanning methods
* how to make your own dyes
* what qualities of leather to look for
* which tools you need for leatherworking
* basic leatherworking techniques
* where to find tools and supplies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Reprint edition (January 6, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882661019
• ISBN-13: 978-0882661018
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,751 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough detail for successful tanning, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

No offense to the author, but this book just doesn't have enough detail to successfully teach you to tan a hide. I tan and teach home tanning for a living, and I regularly meet folks who have used this book as their reference and failed to produce anything remotely like leather. There is nothing inaccurate about the information but their just isn't enough detail. Tanning is a fairly simple craft, but it is very tactile and precise. You need to know the details, the ins and outs. Amazon.com sells two books that I highly recommend if you wish to learn home-tanning: DEERSKINS INTO BUCKSKINS: How to Tan With Natural Materials, and Wetscrape Braintan Buckskin. Get one or both and you'll get the results you're looking for.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars don't buy it, November 10, 2002

By	mike procter (Sharbot Lake, Ontario) - See all my reviews

Besides being light on details, the copy I got had several key pages missing - there but just blank. Shows a lack of attention to detail. If you are just getting started in the tanning/leather/rawhide business it is an OK read about history and techniques but there are better books on the market. Get this one from the library.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tan Your Hide, July 6, 2009

By	Angela Gustafson (Midpines, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this book for my husband who is just starting to deal with rabbits. He loved it and we received it very timely and in great condition. Thank you for your excellent service.