• Make hides out of a variety of animals including deer, fox and even cattle.animal-hide image by sumos from Fotolia.com
  
  Tanning a hide is a multi-step process, and is not for anyone with a weak stomach. If you have a deerskin, or skin from another animal, turn it into a hide by stripping off the fat, removing the outer fur and soaking it in a tanning solution. The result is a soft, flexible skin that can be used to make garments or just to display.
  
  

Stripping the Fat

• Before you begin the tanning process, you must remove any remaining meat or fat from the skin. To do this, use a special taxidermy knife or a butcher knife. This process can be made must faster if you have access to a mini-fleshing tool which cuts off the fat in half the time. Another tip for this process is to place your skin onto a fleshing beam, which provides a hard surface to work against.
  
  

Salt

• Regular iodized salt is one of the key ingredients when tanning a hide. After you have removed all of the fat, completely cover the skin with salt. For every 1 pound of hide, put on 1 pound of salt. The salt draws out any remaining moisture from the skin. After the salting process, remove the fur from the backside of the skin if you wish.
  
  

Tanning

• There are many different recipes you can use when tanning---a little research can go a long way. Before you proceed with your tanning recipe, soak the hides in lukewarm water until they are flexible, then commence with the tanning. If you use a recipe that calls for battery acid, read the warning labels and wear appropriate protection. During the tanning process, many people add baking soda. The baking soda neutralizes the acid of your hide so it does not agitate human skin.
  
  

Drying

• When the tanning process is complete, hang the hide over the back of a chair or other surface to drain. After the draining process, stretch the hide out to dry properly. A helpful step during the drying process is to gently scrape the underside of the hide with a wire brush. This lightens the hide and makes it softer. Allow the hide to dry in a safe place for 2 to 3 days.