Preparation

• Prepare the hide by removing any small pieces of meat and fat. Soak the skin in water then place it over a wooden beam so that you can reach all sides of the pelt. Use a knife to scrape off the excess meat. If you are tanning leather this is where you remove the hair and outer skin from the leather. Rub urine, quicklime or wood ash over the hair to loosen the hair. Scrape it off with a knife once it is loosened. Prevent the hide from rotting and stiffening by rubbing the hide with egg yolk, salt or animal fat.
  
  

Braining

• The most primitive and most reliable way to tan the hide is to use the brains of the animal killed. Take the brain of the animal and cook it in 1 cup of water until the brain is tender. An animal provides enough brain matter to tan its own hide. Blend the brain in a blender until it is smooth. Wet your hide so that it will absorb the brain matter. Do not overwet the hide as this will keep the brain from seeping into the hide. Apply the brain matter to the hide making sure it is rubbed in deeply. Let the hide sit for a day or more until it is tanned.
  
  

Softening

• After the hide has been cured with the brain mixture you can soften the hide. Place the hide in a frame so that it can be stretched and pounded on. With a flat paddle, pound the hide generously. If you wish you can take the hide out of the frame on occasion to stretch it. Stretching and paddling it will keep the hide from shrinking and will make it soft to the touch.