Rawhide (textile)

As rawhide is the extracted hair or wool or entschuppte and referred dried skin of animals in commerce. Unlike leather is not tanned and significantly stiffer. It is mainly used the skin of mammals, but also, for example, those of snakes or fish.

The Gerber understands, however, under rawhide or rawhide a stripped, fleshed rawhide without treatment, in contrast to the leather as a finished product of the tannery.

In this article, the dried rawhide is described as a commercial product.

Production

After pulling off the inside of the skin is cleaned with a scraper of meat residues. Then the skin is stretched and dried a few days. Finally, it is left for several days in a soft water. Traditionally, wood ash is used for this purpose. During this process, the hair triggers.

Use

Rawhide is used for making bridles and reins for western horses, saddles, leather straps and lassos.

Chewing bones for dogs are often made of rawhide.

In the instrument it is used as a skin for drums or banjo.

In the construction of traditional bows rawhide is often used as a backing to protect your back from breaks.

Previously rawhide was used for stringing wooden shields, because it is more resistant than tanned leather against impact.

Transparent rawhide was used instead of glass for windows and lanterns.