So I smoked all 3 of these within 24 hours and used the same punk wood and came out with 3 very different colored hides! Lol. The only explanation I can come up with is that they were all tanned using a different solution.
Top- egg yolk tan Mid- brain tan & Bottom- chemical tan. All smoked about the same amount of time.
Anyone else have this happen? I think I’ll try the different methods again this year and see if that’s the case or not.
Hope everyone is having fun prepping for trapping/hunting season! Have a great day all.

I like the bottom 2 the best

Had to be the different tanning like you said.

Lol I like the bottom two but I actually like that almost chocolate brown! Goes with my color palette better lol.
Thanks for the input.

I think you got the smoking the same. Haven't done it myself but I'd have to agree with 330. They all look great. Keeping a log will help you in the future. I love darker earthtones so my favorites are the top two. I really enjoy your tanning posts keep up the good work and take care

I vote top. Nice color maybe not classic buck skin but best in my eyes.

Probably solution. Does humidity have anything to do with changed colors? I’m the site expert on home tanning as I have never done even one. lol

Thank you. a log is a good idea as I get more done, I like the darker as well. In the process of making a skirt with the middle one. I’m glad you enjoy them! This is the only place I post these that people seem to care lol. Not everyone’s cup of tea I guess. take care.

I agree. Gonna try another egg tan when I get more skins and see if it come out as nice! Just over a week to go! Unless of course our kiddos get a deer this weekend! fingers crossed!

Lol!! It’s not that it couldn’t, but I don’t believe it was the case for these. All the punk was the same, but from what I understand to much humidity can create harder spots if the hide get to much moisture during the smoking, but I’m not 100% on that. Thanks for the input!

Smoke temperature affects color. I use a hot plate. Easier to control than coals. All the same don't turn your back om it.

Yes it's the heat of the coals more than the material. I can get pretty consistent colors, but I slow smoke with a long pipe. There's a learning curve and it's not an exact science, but the difference solutions should not make a difference in smoke color.

The few that I have done it was the longer they were smoked the darker they got.

Can't really help with the reasoning for the differences in three hides.

I can offer some insight as to end use. If making 'period correct' as to 'region' garments, the top hide is perfect for 1700s Woodland buckskins.

The middle hide is perfect for 1800s Plaines buckskins.

The bottom hide looks good as a 'commercial' tanned product for modern style uses.

The darker skins blend in best in shaded woodlands.

The lighter skins blend in best with the dried plains grasses.

The 'commercial' colored hide fits well with the 'Look At Me' modern style of garment / accessories.

Very nice job on all three, by the way. The more you do the more you will learn. I would say you are well on your way.



Charlie

Thank you, that is good to know. I do feel that the darkest one had the best temp during the smoking, the lighter ones were much warmer. I’ll try and control that better

Thank you. I really didn’t realize before posting here that temp difference make a difference. Lol. I did try for low heat as I use glue to hold together at this time, but as you said there is a learning curve and these were my first ever hides. But I love a challenge. Lol. I did use a longish pipe on my stove, I’ll attach a pic, again thanks, love the insight.

I kinda thought that too but they were all done about the same amount of time. Lol. But thank you.

last time I did this I egg tanned the hides and smoked them. Now I can't recall which way was which, but using hardwoods made one color and softwoods another. I think the softwoods made them lighter and the hardwoods darker. But I have slept since then so don't hold me to it. LOL

Until Paskinner told me different I thought the egg tan was making for the lighter color, later found out brain tan can be the same color. I never used anything but eggs or brains to do a deer hide.

Back then the lighter color was what many of the end users were wanting.

Thank you so much for the info. . For now I’m just making some garments for myself for fun ( making a skirt with the middle one right now) and maybe a bag or two. Lol. My husband really wants a pair of pants so I’ll need a couple hides as he is pretty tall. Also really want to make moccasins. Thanks again, loving the whole process.

Lol it seems there is definitely a learning curve! I think I’m gonna start a log as turtledale mention and make notes on what I tanned it with, wood used and heat and try and figure out how to get the color I like. I personally like the darkest one but the middle of I really nice also. Was not super impressed with the last one, but again I’m gonna try and find the winning combo lol. The hair on hide I used McKenzie Tan because it was my first and I was so afraid the hair would slip(which it didn’t) I wanted something serious lol. Don’t know if it was necessary. Will be rrying the brain and egg tan on some of my furbearurs this year to see how it goes.

Just for the record PA Skinner likely has more brain tanning under his belt than the whole rest of the forum combined.