Rawhide THIN
Finish state
THIN = thin calf/goat rawhide
Pick for drum heads, banjo heads and fine lacing where 0.3–1.5 mm thickness and uniform tension response matter.
Values for the THIN condition
Other Rawhide tempers and conditions
Rawhide is listed in 2 conditions; see the grade overview at Rawhide.
- COMP
- THIN
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressed / laminated rawhide mallet plug | Pick for hammer and mallet faces: discs of hide compressed and bonded into a dense, high-impact, non-marring plug. | — | 55 | 8 | — | 0.19 W/m·K |
THINThis page Thin calf/goat rawhide | Pick for drum heads, banjo heads and fine lacing where 0.3–1.5 mm thickness and uniform tension response matter. | — | 90 | 15 | — | 0.16 W/m·K |
What is Rawhide THIN?
Rawhide THIN is Rawhide supplied in the THIN condition — pick for drum heads, banjo heads and fine lacing where 0.3–1.5 mm thickness and uniform tension response matter. Rawhide THIN has a tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 1.5 GPa (0.218 Msi). Rawhide THIN has a density of 1 g/cm³ (0.0361 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of natural material grades.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 15%, better than 86% of natural material grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 12 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 93% of natural material grades
- Difficult to machine — 50/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 88% of natural material grades
- Heavy — 1 g/cm³ (0.0361 lb/in³), worse than 79% of natural material grades
- Low stiffness — 1.5 GPa (0.218 Msi), worse than 77% of natural material grades
Rawhide THIN properties
Typical room-temperature values for Rawhide THIN; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Rawhide reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Rawhide THIN has a density of 1 g/cm³ (0.0361 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of natural material grades.
Mechanical7
Rawhide THIN has a tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 1.5 GPa (0.218 Msi).
Thermal5
Rawhide THIN is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 60 µm/m·K (33.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Rawhide THIN is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 8 kV/mm (203.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 57% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Rawhide THIN takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 87% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 100%.
Manufacturability2
Rawhide THIN's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Rawhide THIN
Is Rawhide easy to machine?
Cut dry with sharp knives, punches or die/laser (watch scorch odour); light turning and drilling possible but keep speeds low to avoid heat-shrinking the collagen.
Can Rawhide be welded?
Not weldable — join by lacing, riveting, sewing, or hide-glue/PVA/contact adhesive bonding.
Can Rawhide be formed, bent or molded?
Soak in cool water until pliable, stretch or mould over a form, then air-dry under tension — it hardens and holds the shape (shrinks a few percent).
What surface finishes work on Rawhide?
Sand and burnish for a horn-like surface; seal with shellac, wax, oil or varnish to block moisture uptake and mould growth; do not dry above ~60 °C.
Rawhide chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| collagen (type I protein)dry-matter basis, after dehairing/fleshing | 80 – 93 | 88 |
| moisture (bound water)equilibrium at ~20 °C / 60 % RH; strongly affects stiffness | 8 – 16 | 12 |
| fat / lipids | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| non-collagenous protein (elastin, kerati | 1 – 5 | 2 |
| ash / mineral residuelime/salt residues from curing | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
Rawhide THIN — frequently asked
What is Rawhide THIN used for?
Rawhide THIN is typically used for mallet heads, drum skins, lacing/thongs and gear/pulley facing (historical). In short: toughest natural hide; non-marring strike face; hardens to shape on drying.
What is the tensile strength of Rawhide THIN?
Rawhide THIN has a typical tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) — stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Rawhide THIN easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades). Cut dry with sharp knives, punches or die/laser (watch scorch odour); light turning and drilling possible but keep speeds low to avoid heat-shrinking the collagen.
Can Rawhide THIN be welded?
Not weldable — join by lacing, riveting, sewing, or hide-glue/PVA/contact adhesive bonding.
What surface finishes work on Rawhide THIN?
Sand and burnish for a horn-like surface; seal with shellac, wax, oil or varnish to block moisture uptake and mould growth; do not dry above ~60 °C.
Can Rawhide THIN be formed, bent or molded?
Soak in cool water until pliable, stretch or mould over a form, then air-dry under tension — it hardens and holds the shape (shrinks a few percent).
What is the maximum service temperature of Rawhide THIN?
Rawhide THIN is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook — natural and biological materials data — ASM International (1988)
- The Mechanical Design of Organisms / collagen tissue mechanics data — Princeton University Press (1979)
- Leather and hide property compilations (SLTC/UNIDO leather processing data) — UNIDO (2010)
- Rawhide mallet and hammer-face insert product data — Garland / Nupla tool catalogues (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.