Services

At Lifetime Hides, I specialise in tanning cowhides and deer skins, creating finished pieces that are not only durable and practical, but beautiful enough to take pride of place in your home. Cowhides are finished as durable floor rugs, while deer skins are carefully tanned to retain their natural shape and character, without unnecessary trimming or alteration.

Every hide is processed entirely by hand, using traditional fleshing and finishing techniques, and tanned with commercial-grade tanning chemicals to ensure long-lasting quality. This is a slow, considered process — good tanning cannot be rushed — and each skin is hand-stretched, oiled, sanded and worked until it is ready to be returned to you.

Because no machines are used to “standardise” the result, each hide carries the subtle hallmarks of true craftsmanship. You may notice the faint trace of where a home-kill cut ran a little deep, or where a fleshing knife has gently marked the surface. These are not flaws, but quiet signatures of a product made by human hands — evidence that your hide is genuinely bespoke, one of a kind, and not mass-produced.

This individuality is especially meaningful knowing that many of the animals brought to me are favourites in the paddock, family cows, or well-known characters on the farm. My aim is always to honour that history by returning something that reflects the life of the animal and the care taken with it — a piece that is both useful and deeply personal.

Thinking of getting a hide tanned?

To achieve the best possible result, timing and preparation are important.

Getting your hide to me

Ideally, I need to receive your hide within 12 hours of the animal being butchered. This greatly reduces the risk of bacteria developing, which can cause hair loss (known as slippage) during the tanning process.

If you are able to, please wash the hide as soon as possible after removal. Hanging it over a fence or rail works well. Once clean, roll the hide up (flesh to flesh) and bring it to the tannery as soon as you can.

If same-day delivery isn’t possible, the hide can be frozen after washing. Try to ensure the hide is cool and dry before rolling and folding the hide and placing it in a large rubbish bag. Freezing the hide evenly and as quickly as possible, helps preserve the quality of the skin.

My regular drop-off days are Wednesday to Friday, however alternative times can be arranged by prior agreement.

Deer hides can be treated the same way if killed on farm. Alternatively, spread at least 1kg of salt evenly over the skin and roll flesh to flesh. This will preserve the skin for around 1 week.

Pricing & payment

Cowhides finished as floor rugs are typically priced between $500 and $650, depending on size and condition.

A 50% deposit is required when you drop off your hide, with the balance payable on completion. Deer skins range from $150 to $220 depending on size.

Timeframes

Tanning is a slow, careful process and cannot be rushed. At present, hides are taking approximately 4–5 months to complete.

I will always let you know when your hide is ready for collection. Please note that completed hides must be picked up within two weeks of notification. After this time, a storage fee of $1 per day will apply.

During the tanning process

While every care is taken, hides are natural products and occasionally issues can arise during tanning. If any significant problems occur — such as major slippage or damage that affects the final result — I will contact you to discuss the options before proceeding further.