Tanning Hides?


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Re: Tanning Hides?

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Maybe tanning isn't the correct word, I just want the furs of the animal, and how to prepare them to last. Tanning may actually refer to the hide without any hair on it.

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No tanning is the right word, whether hair on or off. It is the only method to give you a lifetime preserve for any animal hide. There are many different methods including spreading animal brain matter into hide.

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Re: Tanning Hides?

There are various methods and products out there. some work better than others. Suffice to say, that if it seems quick and easy it is probably a bad method.

Tanning is a pain. I tan bobcat, elk, and yote hides. It is a very long process that requires quite a bit of trial and error to get things right. Lots of patience and membrane thinning is absolutely crucial. You may find it is easier to send green hides to a tannery for finishing.

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Re: Tanning Hides?

When I did it a few years ago. I used 1 pound of alum, and about 6 pounds of salt in about 5 gallons of warm water. Dissolve it all and soak hide in it for about 7 days. Make sure to cut off all fat and muscle before starting. If you want a soft finish you have to work it to death before it is too dry. I wasn't worried about that because its just a rug, so I just rubbed some neatsfoot oil on it to keep it from drying out. I got the instructions out of a book that I got while in North American Hunting Club.

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