Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

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Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#1 Post by Ron Kulas »

My brother traps and got a beaver. He tanned it himself and wants a pair of chopper mitts. Since the hide was not professionally tanned its not been thinned and its not as soft or pliable as I would like but the fur is great.

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In the picture below, the head is to the left. The thickest part of the hide is near the neck and down the spine. Its thinner at the belly so each mitten will have varying thickness unless the leather is thinned.

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The thickest portion is nearly a 1/4 inch. Your seeing the finger tip area (thickest) and the thin part is from the other mitt in the wrist area. These thicknesses need to be the same or the mittens will be too stiff.

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Thinning and oiling makes the hide a bit more flexible but the hide is not as flexible as a professional tanner would make them.

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Then the two halves are sewn together inside out.

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With the aid of time and a broom handle they are turned right side out. Its delicate work not to damage the hair.

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I made the liners for the mittens using polar-tech fleece. Its thick and warm and soft.

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Here my hand model wears them.

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The liners are inserted into the mittens and my hand model shows how the finished mittens look. They are heavy and thick and warm. They should last a long time.

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The Joy is in the doing.

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Shadowhntr
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Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:47 pm

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#2 Post by Shadowhntr »

Very nice Ron!
The element of surprise can never be replaced by persistence.

Carpdaddy
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Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#3 Post by Carpdaddy »

Nice work, ought to be plenty warm.

Longtrad
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Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:26 pm

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#4 Post by Longtrad »

Very cool. I have been wondering why not put the fur on the inside of these types of mittens?

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#5 Post by Ron Kulas »

You would not be able to grab or hold anything. The long slippery fur on the palm would make them useless for any task.
The Joy is in the doing.

Captainkirk
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Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#6 Post by Captainkirk »

Those look great, Ron!
Aim small, miss small!

Longtrad
Posts: 1413
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:26 pm

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#7 Post by Longtrad »

Oh i mean on the inside of the glove next to your skin, not the palm, although that version would make for one heck of a shaving brush lol.

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#8 Post by Ron Kulas »

It would be the same problem gripping things.
The Joy is in the doing.

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Shadowhntr
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Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:47 pm

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#9 Post by Shadowhntr »

Ive always considered fur mittens to be for warmth, not work.
The element of surprise can never be replaced by persistence.

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Beaver and Elk hide chopper mittens

#10 Post by Ron Kulas »

The end user with put them to work. They wont be worn sitting at a Packer game.
The Joy is in the doing.

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