Traditional Fur Tanning Course

This hands on weekend class offers the opportunity to learn the ancient skill of traditional hide tanning. Transforming a raw material into soft, supple, long lasting durable material using time honoured natural methods. This course is is anchored in practical skill, observation & respect for the animal.

Over this 3-day workshop, participants will learn the knowledge & skills on how to turn a raw animal skin into a beautiful preserved natural material. 

Participants will be working with fox hides for this workshop that have been ethically sourced by local hunters, these skins are otherwise thrown into landfill, so by reclaiming them & tanning them, we are not only reclaiming the ancient skill of tanning but also giving new meaning to the animals.

Participants will work as a group, fleshing on fleshing beams, cleaning & preparing the hide for the application of emulsified fats before continuing with the process of hand-softening and to finish up smoking the hide. This is a quite a physical skill, no previous experience required but a dedication to the physical labour is needed. There will be repetitious motions using the arms & shoulders, a lot of standing & bending over. All part of the labour of love involved with this process.

What you will learn:

• How to source skins 

• Basics on skilfull skinning techniques 

• How to remove the flesh & membrane

• Dressing the hide with emulsified fats

• Pre-softening methods

• Hand-Softening the hide

• Tools needed & where to source them

• Smoking the hide 

• Creative uses of hides

• Connection to traditional tanners around the world

There will be room for discussion about other traditional tanning methods as well like buckskin making & vegetable tanning etc.

You will be provided with a fox fur each and the tools & materials needed to tan the skin.

You will leave with your very own fat-tanned fur hide and a whole new skillset to embark on.

Traditional Tanning is a very niche skill these days, though most don't consider it, we have a very long & fascinating history with leather/animal hides & have really got to where we are today thanks to the ancient technologies of stone age leather methods. This is a beautiful skill to reclaim, especially if you are a hunter, have access to animal hides or have a deep curiosity to learn. There is something quite remarkable about working with skins in this way, using all natural materials, to create a beautiful fur hide that is preserved. It not only empowers a relationship with the animal but also with the natural resources needed to tan them.

Location & Facilities:

This course will be limited to 10 people and is located on private property 20 minutes from Wollombi NSW.

It is quite a remote property situated in the beautiful sandstone bush land, No reception unless you are with Optus. So come prepared for a screen free weekend.

It is a camping course, BYO camping set up, tent, swag, van etc.

Dinners will be catered, BYO breakfast & lunches. Bush kitchen available for communal use.

Each participant is expected to be self sufficient with their camping set-up. Access to rain water for drinking, composting bush toilet & outdoor shower.

Exchange: $650

Your Instructors:

Eva & Will have been traditional tanning for the last 7 years. They have devoted countless months of their lives to tanning of varying degrees. Primarily focusing on fat tanning & vegetable/bark tanning methods, with varying techniques of frame softening & hand softening. They have experience with fur on, fur off, grain on, grain off, buckskin with a wide range of animals sourced ethically. In more recent years, they have learnt from Traditional Leather expert Dr Theresa Kamper & continue to be mentored by Theresa. All of their tanning projects have taken place in their backyards over the years with their home-tanning set-up using natural materials sourced around them. They both have tanned & hand crafted their own buckskin clothing, hates, knife sheaths, belts, pouches & continue to create with the leather they tan.