I thought I would show how I apply a basic tanning method to preserve a furskin for a wall hanging,later I will show the next couple steps for a garment tan.
I had a lynx pelt to work with as it was a skin that had some mange type damage on the belly so was not suitable for auction.
First pic-salting the fleshed skin.

Dry skin with salt scraped off after a couple days.
Next soaking,degreasing,rinsing.

Now the tanning-1lb of aluminum sulfate from the garden center and 1 lb of pickle salt from the grocery store and 2 gal of warm water.

After 3 days in the pickle tanning solution,you need to neutralize the wrung out skin with a handful of baking soda and a couple gal of water.
Then rinse,wring out,and lay out skin for an application of a tanning oil.If you don't have a commercial tanning oil,you can use dish soap cut with warm water 50-50.

Now after a day or two the leather will start to dry.You need to stretch the leather when it dries to break the fibers.I do this with a towel as a pad on the table for thinner skins,and for thicker skins I use a pad on the fleshing beam and a two handed breaking tool.

Next step is to sand off the bloom on the leather.For this I use a small sanding block,course sandpaper,and corn starch.

Last step is to clean the fur.For this I use a lamp oil(mineral spirits)spray on the fur,then rub it in good then a light spray of water then seal in a bag with cob grit and tumble in the dryer(with no heat)for half an hour.

Good post boco!

Wow, thanks Boco!

nice, I might have to try this

Sticky for sure!

Boco


wow, it don't look like you put much effort into showing us how to do that! (just so you know: that was criticisim that is ment to make you feel good about how great of a job you really did!)

thank you and I look forward to seeing the rest of your work on this!

Yea,I was documenting it for a demo I am doing for the Ontario convention In Blind River,so I thought some of you here might like to try it.Start off with groundhog skins or something no too valuable until you get the hang of it.It is pretty foolproof,I will put the next steps for a garment tan in the next couple days.

Thanks for this post Boco. I will try this with a coon I have in the freezer.

Finished skin after final cleaning and before garment tanning.
This skin would be good for a wallhanging as it is.

Archives?

I'm in on a ringtail. If this works out I'm gonna forget about all those commercial concoctions. I have all this stuff out here in the shed.

I have 2 deerhides oiled and drying right now that I will start breaking in a few days.

I hadnt tried the aluminium sulphate tan before so its good to see your results.

Why the corn starch for sanding? Just to keep the sand paper from sticking?

Yes the corn starch helps the sandpaper cut off the bloom,without getting plugged up,and this also helps to soften the leather.It is an easy step,just takes a couple minutes.

With a thicker hide after oiling,it is good to roll it up to let the oil penetrate in(sweating) before it starts to dry.
The tanneries do this with a machine called a kicker.

Old smoke,if you intend the skin as a wall hanging,this pickle tan is good,but if you intend to use a skin for a garment,you need to do the next step and do a garment tan.