EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I'd like to hear some of y'alls tips, techniques, and words of wisdom when it comes to tanning hides. I have my first deer hide in the works right now hoping it works out.

One of the main questions i have is does anyone have any tips, or tricks to getting all the fat off the skin?

4x6 landscape timber ,round of course, draw knife or a goood flat blade  and get ready to scrape ..deer is pretty easy to get down to where you can tan it ,theres kits ta do it .hair on is a Bi $@#$.hope your hair dont start slippin from soakin in solution 2 long. anyways its trial an error

How long do you usually soak yours Andy?

its tuf call,temp of water ,time of year.what you decide to cure in. i left a elk hide in 4 about 8 hrs. in alum solution was just rite .no hair slippage.even a taxi will screw up on the soak

My words of wisdom are this: Send it to a taxidermist or a tannery. I don't mean to be harsh at all, but I did taxidermy as my second job for 35 years.....tanning is a JOB that takes specific tools and if you're not set up to do it, then you're probably not going to be happy with the results. If you do choose to tackle it on your own I would suggest you get a tanning kit from one of the supply houses.....McKenzie or WASCO are 2 of the biggest.....good luck. The Ph has to be right in all your solutions or you'll get hair slippage.....so you'll need some Litmus paper.

I just thought I'd try just to try so no big deal if it doesn't work. I would like to learn though someday, this was just a spur of the moment thing.

I used this as my guidelines http://www.shanepotter.com/hidetanning.html
Is there any shot it might work? I'm on day 2 of soaking.

u hit then nail on the head with that 1 neal ,workin a hide is <WORK

http://www.huntsmart.com/Complete-Home-Hide-Tanning-Kit

I've used this kit and tanned a coyote and coon. They turned out pretty good. The one kit has done those two hides and I still have enough to do two or three more. It comes with everything you need but salt, time, and elbow grease.

J I don't know if you're planning on keeping the hair on this hide or not,.....if not, then your job just got easier. I read the directions on the link you posted, sounds about right.....they did leave out one step which is to neutralize the hide after it comes out of the 'pickle' which what we call the alum and salt water solution. You use baking soda and water to neutralize the acid in the hide after being in the pickle bath. I don't remember the exact ratio of baking soda to water but it should be easy to find. I think you should try it at least once......then you'll know what I'm talking about.....lol Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 j prince, if u try it and u get the hair to slip and want to try another hide, i have i think around 6 or 7 hides. i was wantn to make a pair of hair on buckskin pants and a jacket. your welcome to try till your hearts content, aslong as i get my hides back tanned and i will split the cost of the process.

10-4 Charles I'll see how this one goes, and go from there.

ok. i think i got several coon hides too. i even got a beaver and nutria rat that i been wanting tanned out and make into an arm rest or pillow for my couch

I might have to try my hand at a coon skin cap if i get it figured lol

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well i think we could some trading

Sounds good Charles I'll get with you after i see how this goes

i have a deer skin rug that tanned out real nice. my old man did it for me since i ruin all the ones i do. ill have to see if i can find a pic of it

I will save you a little money and you can thank me later. I used to flesh an tan my hides my self andship to fur auction, while my buddies sold to fur buyer every weekand he sorted the hides and docked them for every thing i did the work and made tripple the money . Every one thinks the furr market is dead but its far from it, i can no longer take furr for profit do to conflict  of intrest and all my takes are goverment property my best friend bought a new truck with his fur checkfrom 2011. Buy 20 mule borax pour in tub flesh hide  turn inside out hair in and dust liberly intub if you hae several we used clean cement mixer hang in furr  shed if you dont have one hang in constant shade shed do not hang in direct sun closed room with fans  for exhaust better to control moister  if for proffit buy strechers callauction house and they will send box with sale dates and shipping bags, if personal use  work hides often while cureing to make supile ( soft)  make shure after fleshing to wash blood and dirt thendust in tub while wet apply borax thourly. Kits ?we dont need no stinking kits.

hillcountry, Is Borax all you put on your hides?

Yes. But if you want it soft you must work it often i use a golf ball then baseballwhenthey are going in the house.

I hear Indian women used to chew on the hides to soften em. See how much your wife loves you and is will to sacrifice in order to make you happy... ;D ;D ;D

Then let us know how that goes

Well it's done. It looks good for now i guess hopefully it stays that way. It's a little small now after i let the edges dry out a little to much i had to trim it down. And has one hole from a little mistake while trying to flesh it. Lesson learned though. Thanks for all the help.

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/12/18/y5a7eqez.jpg)

 looks good.

anyone ever hear of using antifreeze??? I once read an article on using it and it seemed pretty simple but I lost that procedure when I moved...

   best method going and the origanal meathod  , brain tanning is the simplest of all the methods . each animal has enough brain matter to tan it's own hide .  little warm water and brain in an old food proccesor and wipe the hide down  and work , after scrapeing of course .