Leather working, tanning hides, etc.

[wayacoyote]

A friend gave me a tanned deer hide with hair on. It is over a decade old with some hair falling out (mostly around the edges I think). I don't know what to do with it. I was/am looking for a green hide to tan. I'm grateful for this one, but for it to do my projects, I need the hair off. Any one know about stripping the hair from a chemically (yes, I know ALL tanning is chemically done) tanned hide?
or
anyone have a recommendation for a use? and how to recondition?

[iddee]

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/sho...d.php?t=284117

A thread about just that.

[Michael Bush]

I've always used ashes or lye (lye doesn't turn the hide dark) and soaked it until the hair was falling out. Then rinse repeatedly until it's the water is nice and clear and you're sure you've got all the lye out.

[wayacoyote]

Thanks Iddee, Michael.

I too use lye (spread wood ashes onto hide, wet it down, roll it up) as Michael and the link Iddee gave suggest. I'm willing to try it even though this one has already been tanned. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks again.