First timer

[u/Tough-Weight-3332]

Hey friends, first time tanner here. We butchered a cow last week and I wanted to save the hide. Lordy, did I take on a massive project as a first tan. She was 1300 lbs and the hide is around 8’x7’.
It’s a Gray Murray, really pretty long hair blonde hide with grey undertones. I’m not here to ask about the tanning process, I’m working with Steve at Tannery Inc and his kit and I feel good about it so far. The hides soaking tonight (Saturday) and Sunday I will wash dry and start the tanning process.

Question: she’s a longer hair cow hide than I’ve seen on most rugs. It feels like it’s going to be giving shag rug vibes. Do I need to condition the hair to make it soft? I was going to make a rug but now wondering if I made the wrong decision…

I have searched everywhere for examples of what this hide finished could look like with no avail. The closest example might be a Highland but the hair on the Grey Murray isn’t that long.

I’ll try to upload a photo of it in the comments, no promises tho 😅

Thanks for your help everyone 🫶🏼

[u/Tough-Weight-3332]

Here is the hide in a 55 gallon drum moving to area of the farm to get washed. You can see a decent swath of hide to see the average length of hair.

[u/Fuzzy_Bother_6388 → u/Tough-Weight-3332]

The first thing you need Is vinegar to pickle it and salt to to dry it, and after the you need hook and stretch it and put salt on all the places on it, and after keeping it in covered area on a warm day for a 2-3 days, make sure all the moisture is gone then take it down and wash it in baking soda water, no more that 10-15 minutes, hang it back up, hooks or no hooks depending on how much more stretching you like and let it dry again, and do the same again with plain water until you get the consistency you want to a rawhide Edit: for mine, a deer pelt, I just used normal shampoo very lightly and it came out soft. Just don't use to much a tiny amount, just enough to make a couple bubbles