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		| Bogue Sponsor
 
  
 Location: Palmy
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:41 am     Hide Breaking |   |  
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				| Hey Y'all 
 Question.
 Whats the easiest way to break hides prior to oiling.
 
 Got a few cats (Not pets, feral) need softening prior to hatting.
 
 Cheers
 Bogue
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		| David Isdale 
 
 
 Location: Christchurch
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:39 pm |   |  
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				| As near as I can tell, with lots of time and elbow grease ^_^ 
 I know a couple of people who cure their own bunny skins, and the way they break them is skin-side down over a straight-backed dining chair, and work it back and forth.  Over, and over, and over.  Then they work any spots still tough (due to inadequate scraping or whatever) by hand, a bit like they're trying to get rid of a stubborn stain.
 
 Hope this helps in some way, if not I can try and get one of them to post to this list.
 
 Hehe, I was wondering if anyone out there was using period cat
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		| Bogue Sponsor
 
  
 Location: Palmy
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:24 pm     of furs and skins |   |  
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				| Hi David 
 They all come from the newly closed landfill and the ones I have now are part of the late summer cull. Just waiting for next summer.
 Three tanned and 4 in the freezer waiting for the motivation.
 
 
 Trying to remember where I read about period cat farming for the fur trade. Makes for better documentation (any help on that front appreciated).
 
 Cheers
 Bogue
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		| mmy 
 
 
 Location: wellington
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:18 pm |   |  
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				| There was an archaeological dig in Denmark which found a cat fur farm. The assumption it was a fur farm was based on the age and condition of the cat skeletons found in great numbers on the site. 
 It is mentioned in one of my Danish books, if I trawl the footnotes I can probably find the actual citation if you want to go try and get the publication of the find (if it was indeed published). It'll be in Danish though.
 
 hope that's some help.
 
 /maggie
 (SCA Darton - Wellington)
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		| VĂkarr 
 
 
 
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:49 pm |   |  
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				|  	  | mmy wrote: |  	  | There was an archaeological dig in Denmark which found a cat fur farm. The assumption it was a fur farm was based on the age and condition of the cat skeletons found in great numbers on the site. | 
 
 Do you have any info on what actual color of furs were used?
 
 V.
 _________________
 Nil Bastardi Carborundum
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		| mmy 
 
 
 Location: wellington
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:06 pm |   |  
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				| no, this was a purely skeletal find. No fur that I'm aware of. |  | 
	
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		| Bogue Sponsor
 
  
 Location: Palmy
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:28 pm     Fur farming felines |   |  
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				| and then Maggie said 
 
  	  | Quote: |  	  | It is mentioned in one of my Danish books, if I trawl the footnotes I can probably find the actual citation if you want to go try and get the publication of the find (if it was indeed published). It'll be in Danish though. | 
 
 In fact I think it was on another list that I first heard of it (prabably Ildhafn when my wife Kate was on it).
 
 Will give it a miss for know (not being fluent in Danish). Just knowing it exists is sufficient.
 
 Thanks Maggie (I still blame you for me being in this game. Not a thing to be ashamed of.)
 
 Cheers
 Bogue
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		| mmy 
 
 
 Location: wellington
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:13 pm     Re: Fur farming felines |   |  
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				|  	  | Bogue wrote: |  	  | Thanks Maggie (I still blame you for me being in this game. Not a thing to be ashamed of.)
 
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 uhm.... you're welcome.
 
 I'm sorry, but I have no idea who you are, so I don't know how to feel about that blame.
   
 /maggie
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		| wuzzle 
 
 
 Location: levin
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:29 pm     make a staking blade |   |  
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				| Hi bogue I had help from dawson and made a staker (blunt blade of metal)
 when roughend ie with 800 odd grit wet and
 dry paper becomes a flesher
 my blade is aprox 1foot long with a crescent shaped
 curve you use by moving skins back and foward over
 blade.mine is mobile so I can lend for a weekend
 and you can get a pattern+soften some skins
 to really soften take onto a pole beam of wood
 and repeat the blade process I use a totara pole
 just sanded down smooth vice or g clamp it and
 go for it
 can do a workshop for lunch and twds sword!
 wuzzle
 _________________
 Float Sink or Swim as Yee please but Know   you are always watched for even in the
 masses is clarity obtained by your Betters
 and no one of Upwright Character fooled
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