Help Needed - Hide Tanning
- Thread starter 44fordy
- Start date
44fordy said:
Salt it well. You should get considerable "run off" Take off the wet salt and salt it again.
Search the internet for tanning methods. The easiest I have found is Alum/Borax tan.
Some people use the animals brains, never did that one!
Some peopel also smoke cure it. Although I dont know how that will work in humid areas. I'll do a quick search and maybe I can find the one I use
Brain tanning.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13998.asp
Best is a big bag of pickling salt.
Road salt granuals are to big to make good contact with the hide. Unless you are going to pulverize it.
The idea of salt, besides keeping bugs away, is to dry out the pelt as fast as possible
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13998.asp
Best is a big bag of pickling salt.
Road salt granuals are to big to make good contact with the hide. Unless you are going to pulverize it.
The idea of salt, besides keeping bugs away, is to dry out the pelt as fast as possible
skin out the animal very carefully, then thoroughly salt the skin with lots of rock salt; store the hides in a dry spot untill your ready to tan. I know they have courses through a company called Survival in the Bush which is based in Hanover Ontario Dr. Gino Ferri is the owner ex teacher of mine who taught me. Info on the web. It is hard work if you don't want to do it yourself this company will do it for you for a small fee.
Greenfields
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower mainland BC
I had a hide tanned (deer) recently and it stinks of the chemicals used to tan it. Any suggestions on how to get rid of the smell?
cheers
Brian
cheers
Brian
wont stop the decaying process. That is why they use BORAX. If you just want to nail it to the wall, dont worry about all the "working of the hide". That is to make it mor subtle in case you want to make something out of it like gloves etc!
open-sights
Regular
- Location
- Aldergrove BC
I have used nothing but salt on Rabbit furs and on a weasel that was killed in a Pack Rat set one time, but the weasle only lasted a few months before the hide was eaten by some unseen bugs and the rabbit seemed to do very well until a bird of prey ended up stealing it, It was hung on a patio in "Gangs of New York" fashion - The point is that other than being stiff it held together and did not loose fir at all for the months I had them.
Hair on, you really need to scrape every little bit of fat off the hide and soak it in salt solution(change it often) when you take it out you have to dry it and when it's dry it gets stiff.You need to stretch it over a log or your railing(back and forth until it gets softer)Flea powder keeps the bugs out.Hair off-get a kit from tandy-if they still sell it.Good luck
I have tanned bear, deer ,coyotes, etc with this solution. tanning is a lot of work but it will look good and last. You need enough to soak entire hide. First scrape all fat of hide and wash it out good in soapy water to get all blood and dirt out. Solution is one gallon soft water, one ounce commercial strenght sulfuric acid ( from Co-op), and one quart salt (fine water softner salt). Soak hide for 3 days remove wring dry, and soak overnight in pail of water with 1/2 cup sal soda to neutralize acid. Do not smell fumes when pouring acid into water, wear gloves and safty glasses. Work hide over a round object like the end of a baseball bat. Do not let hide dry hard, if it does wet it with water. Keep working it as drys. Treat finished hide with neatsfoots oil.
open-sights
Regular
- Location
- Aldergrove BC
This is good stuff, but quick questions, What is soft water? and what is sal soda? are both available to purchase? Thankstracker said:
Sorry I have been turkey hunting. Soft water is treated with water softner salt, most homes have it. Hard water would be straight from the ground. I used baking soda instead of sal. Use a hockey stick to turn the hide in the solution and make sure the hide is loose and not rolled tight. If you can not get commercial sulfric use battery acid but you have to add more because it is diluted. Use a plastic pail.
