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The Scraper
The primary tool was scraper—blade set in handle, held at precise angle, pulled across hide to remove flesh and grain. The blade needed to be sharp but not so sharp it cut through hide. The angle needed to be exact—too steep and it dug in, too shallow and it slid without cutting.
Traditional scrapers were made from stone, bone, or later iron. The bone scraper—made from split large animal leg bone—was common, durable, and effective. The curved inner surface of bone provided natural scraping edge that could be resharpened by grinding.
The Stretching Frame
Large hides were stretched on frames—wooden rectangles with holes around perimeter through which rawhide lacing was threaded, pulling hide taut. This stretching allowed working all areas, provided tension during scraping, ensured even drying.
Small furs were stretched on specialized forms—board cut to animal’s approximate size, skin stretched over it and tacked down, allowing even treatment and preventing shrinkage during drying.
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