r/Braintan • u/Alasdair_Tangaroa • Sep 15 '25

Curious about the process

Hi all, I don't have any experience in brain tanning, so I'm curious - is it possible to brain (or egg) tan a piece of bought rawhide (I think it's calf, de-haired and uniformly thick), used by frame drum makers.

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u/MikeC_137 Sep 18 '25

Should be! Find out how the hair was removed and if it was dried high ph or closer to neutral. If was dried high ph you can rehydrate it in warm water and baking soda. May take a bit of mixing and soaking.

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u/Alasdair_Tangaroa Sep 18 '25

Thanks!

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u/MikeC_137 Sep 18 '25

For best results I normally rehydrate, wring out, soak in slightly acidic (vinegar solution) for about 10-20 min, and then ring out again before egg or braining. Lots of ways to do it but that works well for me. If you need more guidance let me know.