Deerskins into Buckskins: How to Tan with Brains, Soap or Eggs; 2nd Edition

by Matt Richards

America's Best Selling Tanning Guide. Over 165 photographs and illustrations bring you step-by-step from raw skin to velvety soft buckskin and then show you how to create beautiful garments and useful goods. You will also learn how to make rawhide and hide glue, tan in a wilderness setting and the best way to skin. History, humour and science make this book not only practical, but fun! Designed to be easily understood by the beginner yet rich with details for the experienced, this book teaches tanning as a natural process. No chemicals are needed! All the tools and materials are waiting around your home and land. While the tools are simple, having a great method is the key. This book has that method (see the following reviews). Buckskin is durable, soft, washable and warm. A hand-made garment for people all over the world for millennia, it breathes and stretches with your body, cuts the wind and won't tear on briars. It is excellent to wear hiking, hunting or around the house. Plus you don't need to hunt.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Reference, Cooking

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not kidding myself that I'll ever be in shape to use the information in this book again...but it makes me want to. From deer skin to buckskin you'll get a step by step instructional here. There are tips on how and where to obtain the skins (including ways other than hunting yourself) if you are so inclined to tan your own skins and make you own projects...jackets, other clothing, bags...whatever.

The book opens with a few words on the background and history of the use of buckskin and on the practicality of it today. After instruction on obtaining skins, cleaning, storing, and tanning them the book moves on to techniques of stitching, cutting etc. Were I younger I'd be drawn into this...part of me thinks it might be a practical book to purchase and keep on my shelves as an "in case" book. Who knows what might cmoe in handy????

:)

[Lewie Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete guide to tanning, added a lot of knowledge on the subject to the reader and gave suggestions on the craft as well. It gives insight to not only the process but the tools needed and even has a selection of vendors of supplies too. This work can be a supplement not only for a tanner but to do living history and to educate folks on the entire process of tanning. Something to keep one of the oldest craft traditions known to mankind alive and continuing. Richards does a great job in presenting and explaining the entire process and the photos and the sketches greatly add to the work. A lot of information can be found within the covers of this work. The list price of $19.95 and it can be found lower on some sights is well worth the price for the information contained.

[Joe Beeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

comprehensive well researched beginner/intermediate guide to tanning hides into buckskin with added resources to advanced tanners

[Jason Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently took a three-day hide tanning class in North Carolina where we took a fresh whitetail deer hide and worked it into buckskin. The instructor highly recommended this book as a resource. I found that the class followed the steps outlined in the book very closely. The books provides a lot of interesting scientific chemistry explanations for what is happening to the hide during the different steps tanning process. The author provides his standard steps for tanning hides then provides several variations that one could use and the pros and cons to using each. The focus of this book is on the wet scrape method. It is a great resource for making buckskin. The book includes several black and white pictures. I found some of them to be very helpful while others were not the best quality and did little to help make the point that was trying to be made.

[Sydney Messimer]

this is an excellent guide. Its very clear, easy to read and organized. I have had much success in my buckskin endeavors thanks to this great book.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this out of curiosity, not because I was interested in doing it. Gave it four stars because if I ever find myself lost in the woods and need to tan a deerskin to make myself a coat so I don't freeze to death, I could probably make a terrible version that would be better than nothing. It was easy to understand and the author was funny.

[Soup Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for tanning. I always have it on hand while tanning deerskins. I read it once for fun. Written like an interesting conversation with some jokes too!

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best and clearest written book I have read on brain tanning hides. Well illustrated and every step in the process clearly explained!

[Robert Wiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

a little long winded some times but a lot of good start to finish information

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

great information and great illustrations.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great DIY guide to natural brain-tanning of leather.

[Ken Wyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for brain tanning.

[Tim Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good primer.