How do I care for my Hollow Bone hide?

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See our page on Hide Care for washing and maintaining your hide. These instructions are intended for Hollow Bone hides only.

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What is a Mineral Tanned Artisan Hide?

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Most of the Hollow Bone hides are mineral tanned, chrome-free, in a commercial tannery here in California, utilizing classic, antique tanning machinery. The tanning industry has not always been so easy on the environment. If you research chrome tanning, you can learn a lot more. You'll also see that it is illegal in California. Compared to our Smoke Tanned Traditional Hides, a finished Artisan Hide has a more uniform look and feel, and a supple skin consistency.

 

What is a Smoke Tanned Traditional Hide?

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Each Smoke Tanned Traditional Hide is tanned in-house, by hand, using old-world traditional tanning practices. Each hide is one of a kind, made with love and care. Compared with the Artisan Hides, a finished Traditional Hide has a natural, organic quality and feel, that is more characteristic of a handmade item. The final stage of the process is a smoking method using decayed wood from the forests, known as “punk wood”. After smoking, all hides are hand-washed using organic liquid soap, and then a blend of natural organic oils and rose water are applied. Your hide will remain smokey for up to a few weeks. Smoke Tanning is also the method taught in our Hide Tanning classes.

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All Hollow Bone hides, both artisan and traditional, have been carefully chosen for their unique quality and potential. 

All Hollow Bone hides are a byproduct of the meat industry, and are rescued from the waste stream.

All Hollow Bone hides have some remnants of vegetable matter that tell the story of the life of the animal.​

 

Do you offer wholesale, custom orders or private label work?

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Sometimes! Please fill out a contact form describing what you're looking for and we can go from there.

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I signed up for an in-person class but I need to cancel. Can I receive a refund?

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Because classes are very small and there is a lot of work that goes in to preparation, refunds will not be given. Thank you for your understanding.

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Are classes cancelled for extreme weather conditions?

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In very rare circumstances, a class may need to be cancelled due to extreme weather, such as a wildfire. If this happens, you will be notified via email and your deposit refunded. Hollow Bone is not responsible for any other travel expenses you have paid. Please keep in mind, extreme means EXTREME. Our area is regularly quite hot and we do not cancel classes for that.

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Do you offer expedited shipping?

 

We do not. The logistics are not sustainable for a rural operation of our size. All orders are processed within 7 days. You will receive a notification when your order has been fulfilled. This means that it has been boxed and prepared for shipping via UPS.

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