Jason, is your ranch a hunting ranch? How do you deal with bullet holes in the hides?
Jason, is your ranch a hunting ranch? How do you deal with bullet holes in the hides?
As a matter of fact it it, Jack. We try to avoid having bullet holes in the hide by utilizing careful shot placement. If we can, we will try a neck shot on the deer just so there aren't any holes in the finished hide. Sometimes that clear of a shot isn't available though. Instead of risking injury to the animal, a shot through the vitals is sometimes necessary. On these two benches, one hide was blemish free, the other had an entry and exit hole. I had to cut around the holes in a football-ish shape. Then I pulled the hole together and stitched it shut by hand. I ran a bead of superglue over the stitches to help keep them in place. Hand stitching through tanned deer hide is no easy feat!
If you can build your project to that level of fit and finish then everything in the genre is your oyster.
Jason,
I made the same bench from those plans this summer. Great to see the through tenons. I like the square pegs. I used one of the Jeff Jewitt mission finish techniques, but I like yours better. Mine got a little dark.
Thanks for all of the encouraging comments guys! This was a pretty satisfying project to take on. I had just rid myself of all of my power tools except for my bandsaw. I learned a lot and really appreciate the precision that hand tools offer. Every through tenon fit like a glove and had zero gap where it came through. I'm thinking a big 'ol Morris chair with Axis hide cushions might be next.
Very cool Jason....gives me ideas using a couple of moose hanging around the back yard.... Did you tan the hides yourself? Thats one of the big issues I've had...we usually give our hides to the elders on one of the local reserves. I've always been intimidated by the thought of treating my own hides...