tanned
- Thread starter slipp
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
What would it cost?
- Location
- interior b.c.
I tried to tan an elk hide in four pieces. Got the hair to slip using lime but then they were like boards. Sure wish I would have sent it to a professional. A Chilcotin Lady south of McLeese Lake is doing my deer hide from last fall by traditional methods . . . Should be ready by next June.
http://www.trapsandfur.com/
Transcanada trapline has a tanning service. They look after the royalties and everything.
I would imagine they want the fur properly put up though. Did you skin, flesh stretch and dry it?
Transcanada trapline has a tanning service. They look after the royalties and everything.
I would imagine they want the fur properly put up though. Did you skin, flesh stretch and dry it?
Here's a step by step of how I did a raccoon. You'll knotice that I'm learning through the thread as I go. Lots of good info on this site, and as it's "paleo" or natural, it doesn't cost you $100 in supplies. Do some reading and you'll find it's surprisingly simple, if not labour intensive.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/1804
Goes from roadkill to skinned and tanned in 3 pages with pics. I'd recommend rabbit to learn on, as they're less fatty, though the skin is thinner. Trim the paws and head, as they're the most difficult. If you want to thin it considerably after drying I found that a belt sander does wonders. Just make sure that you don't wear holes in any raised sections.
I'm going to be quite clear on this, it's not an easy job - at least not the first time. I started on a raccoon and it was a sharp learning curve, but I went from a road killed raccoon and no knowledge to having tanned several critters successfully. I'd try larger skins, but I just don't have access to them, so it's rabbits and road kill for now.
I actually was interested in this, I found the biggest issue was the fat coming off the hide. I'd agree that if you're not careful it's going to start smelling very fast, but if you follow some basics you'll be ok.
Firstly, hose down all the areas you work - for example, you'll see in those pictures a slurry of soap suds, salts, and liquid fat on the concrete. I made sure to toss some boiling water on it after. To be honest, I never knoticed much smell other than when working on it, but I also buried all of the remains and extras deep. I've heard that bears are the worst for fat - sometimes having skins so oily that they almost can't be cleaned. In that case it was suggested skinning as deep as possible, putting in a vat/drum with 3 boxes of borax and boric acid, hot water, and lots of soap/detergent. After it was laid flat and refleshed with a pressure washer (I know, ingenious). A member on that sight does skins professionally, and processes a LOT per month, all with pressure washers. Also signifigantly lessens the risk of slicing a hole in the skin, or your hand. Anyways, I'd give more personal experience, but as you can see, I'm working small right now.
