Anyone ever use it on there fur when putting up? Coon? K-9's?

there are a few guys that do ,and it comes out pretty good .ask mike spring

On the road when most times I dont have proper drying conditions I borax all my leather sides on cats and coyotes top to bottom. Never will have a slip problem due to spoilage.I carry a large plastic flat under the bed storage packer with a lid for applying the borax.

i do.......IM NO FUR HANDLING EXPERT, but its the way i was taught.

I'm no fur hadling expert either but i never heard of useing it. Just curious how do you use it and whats it for?
shane

i dump mine inm a 5 gallon bucket, then just roll the leather side of the pelt all around in it, shake the excess off.

get plent around the head, since your not fleshing that part.

Borax is a natural preservative and mold inhibitor. Its purpose is to facilitate drying and cure the leather side in the process.It can also be used to dry and brighten up the fur side as well. Rub into the fur and then shake out the excess. The fur will stand up nicely once it is treated with the borax. Some use a mix of borax and fine saw dust to achieve the same result.

Bob, ever try borax BEFORE you flesh? A frind was telling me that, i need to try it.

I have a question ,I was told by a couple of different buyers not to put borax on the leather side because it would possibly mess with the tanning process ?? have watched people clean up the fur side and its awesome
are there any tanning people here that can confirm or deny the leather side yea or nay

oops...i think i was answered while typing..lol

It can be used Charles in that way for fleshing but I dont. A bit too costly for me. Fine hardwood saw dust or such will have about the same effect. It takes the greasy edge way down and makes for much easier fur handling.

I tan and send furs for tanning treated with borax. I have never been advised not to do this nor that it will have a negative effect.Most of the cats sold out of Nevada are treated in this manner.

I use sawdust to flesh. When I'm finished fleshing, I borax, the base of the tail, arm pits, any green belly and the face.

Thanks guys.

Borax is a dessicant(dryer) not a preservative.It also discourages bugs.It does speed drying.It will change the PH of the skin and can cause problems in tanning because of that.I don't know how many boraxed skins in a batch it takes to cause problems but I can tell that I've never had a tannery recommend it in 40 some years.Borax also heats up when it gets wet.Put a layer down,wet it with a spray bottle and feel this for yourself.Taxidermists salt hides prior to tanning.Salt draws out fluid and some oils and changes the PH of the skin to where bacteria and mold have a hard time growing.A salted hide also rehydrates quicker and this is the stage in tanning where a lot of hides slip.Don't salt your hides going to the fur buyer though.They will treat you like you have the plague and tell you it ruins a hide.Sawdust may not dry things as quickly as borax but may be a safer alternative.

Thats pretty much what i was told Taximan,but had no idea if it was true or not

A.J.,

I use a 50 - 50 mixture of Borax and Salt on all of my furs, that's the way I was taught by my dad. All the marten I send to NAFA are put up this way, and to this point haven't been downgraded. Dean Wilson was the largest fur buyer in Alaska for years, and he had nothing but compliments for our fur.

Ted

So what is right?