Which furs NOT to use?

i4Marc

i4Marc

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Oct 19, 2011
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I was admiring Paul's latest batch of sheaths in another post. They were laid out on a fur background which reminded me that I want to cover some sheaths with fur. Fallow deer is attractive but I read that deer is not the best fur to use because the hairs are hollow and won't stand up to much use. Some may say that "deer use it all the time and it works for them" but I want to be sure. So my question is, what furs are not recommended for a hard working sheath? I also have goat, elk, cow and impala HOH. Are any of those NOT recommended?
 
The background for my photos is an Axis Deer hide. I have used Axis and White Tail Deer hides in or on furniture items like custom director's chairs etc, and then inlays only, but I just don't use hair on hides for anything else. For one thing it's too thick for inlays and overlays and yet not strong or stiff enough to be a sheath without an internal body of veg. tan. You , or course can do whatever you like, but for me, I just don't use hair on for any of my sheath work.

Paul
 
Paul,

My intention was to use it as a decorative outer layer over vegetable tanned interior. Hides like goat and Impala are fairly thin skinned and supple and should be ok (I think....but what do I know?). You have vastly more experience than I but in my mind's eye I see that it is doable with the right hide. I have an axis deer hide I would like to use but was worried about the durability of the hair structure. On the custom director's chairs you have done, have you or your clients had any issues with deer hides wearing prematurely?
 
Any tanned hair on will, with time, shed hair and get "bald" but it takes quite a while, generally measured in years. The director's chairs were styled with large inlay panels and have worn, (or not worn) very well. If you use about a 6 Oz core then a hair on of about 4/5 oz should do okay. The longevity of the hair on depends on the anticipated abrasive wear it will get. My Axis hides tanned out at about 5/6 oz plus the hair which made them not real good candidates for other than flat panel application. They were and still are great for that.

Paul
 
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