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battery acid tanning question #7015789
10/12/20 07:11 PM
10/12/20 07:11 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,673
Illinois
foxkidd44 Offline OP
trapper
foxkidd44  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,673
Illinois
ok gang,,,,, I've tanned deer hides using battery acid....lots, ...but havn't done smaller skins........how long to leave a coon in the acid bath?? I don't wanna leave it in too long and destroy it.


Stand by your principles, Stand by your guns, and victory complete and permanent is sure at last.
Abraham Lincoln
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015815
10/12/20 07:46 PM
10/12/20 07:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,679
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline
trapper
Actor  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,679
Newark, Ohio 83 years
I haven't tried coon with acid, but have done a bunch of muskrats and a couple mink, which I leave in the acid for 24 hours. The instructions I have for doing heavier skin, i.e., coon and beaver, say to leave them in there about 3 days. To check and see if they are completed... take a sharp scalpel knife, along the thicker part of the hide and slice a small slim strip off of the edge... if it has been in the bath long enough, the edge of the hide will be white clear through. If not it will have a thin part that is pink. I have several coon in freezer to do, but just haven't done them yet.

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015817
10/12/20 07:52 PM
10/12/20 07:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570
Dunbar, Wisconsin
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Pike River Offline
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Pike River  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570
Dunbar, Wisconsin
What pH are you aiming for? I've used citric acid in the past.

Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015851
10/12/20 08:31 PM
10/12/20 08:31 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,147
Happy Valley
CoonsBane Offline
trapper
CoonsBane  Offline
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Happy Valley
I was under the impression that as long as you maintained the proper pH, a hide could remain in the acid indefinitely. Within reason obviously.

Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015874
10/12/20 08:52 PM
10/12/20 08:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
pH and salinity needs to be maintained. Purely acid and no salt can damage the fibers.

Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015888
10/12/20 09:14 PM
10/12/20 09:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,518
MB
J
Jurassic Park Offline
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MB
Is it impossible for you to get acid that is meant for tanning?


Cold as ice!
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7015894
10/12/20 09:24 PM
10/12/20 09:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
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Alaska and Washington State
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning; sulfuric being one of the most corrosive. Some of the other common acids used are; oxalic, citric, strong vinegar. Lactic acid has been used and you can't forget the original tannic acid derived from tree bark.

I like oxalic acid, it's strong but manageable.

The way you test to see if the skin has been in the pickle solution (water, acid and salt) long enough is to put an indent into a thick part of the skin with your thumb nail. If the imprint bounces right back out it's not done; the nail imprint should remain in the skin. The rinse and neutralize with baking soda and water.

BTW, keep your pH under 2.0

Last edited by waggler; 10/12/20 09:25 PM.

"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: waggler] #7016098
10/13/20 02:31 AM
10/13/20 02:31 AM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570
Dunbar, Wisconsin
P
Pike River Offline
trapper
Pike River  Offline
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P

Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570
Dunbar, Wisconsin
Originally Posted by waggler
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning; sulfuric being one of the most corrosive. Some of the other common acids used are; oxalic, citric, strong vinegar. Lactic acid has been used and you can't forget the original tannic acid derived from tree bark.

I like oxalic acid, it's strong but manageable.

The way you test to see if the skin has been in the pickle solution (water, acid and salt) long enough is to put an indent into a thick part of the skin with your thumb nail. If the imprint bounces right back out it's not done; the nail imprint should remain in the skin. The rinse and neutralize with baking soda and water.

BTW, keep your pH under 2.0

What pH are you neutralizing in and how long? This has been my hardest struggle. I made a batch of hats once that as I started working them my hands began tingling.

Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: waggler] #7016150
10/13/20 07:01 AM
10/13/20 07:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Originally Posted by waggler
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning; sulfuric being one of the most corrosive. Some of the other common acids used are; oxalic, citric, strong vinegar. Lactic acid has been used and you can't forget the original tannic acid derived from tree bark.

I like oxalic acid, it's strong but manageable.

The way you test to see if the skin has been in the pickle solution (water, acid and salt) long enough is to put an indent into a thick part of the skin with your thumb nail. If the imprint bounces right back out it's not done; the nail imprint should remain in the skin. The rinse and neutralize with baking soda and water.

BTW, keep your pH under 2.0

You forgot formic but it's best left alone because that crap will burn you out. Krowtanns formula is mostly a formicn acid pickle

Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: Pike River] #7016204
10/13/20 08:41 AM
10/13/20 08:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
Originally Posted by Pike River
Originally Posted by waggler
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning; sulfuric being one of the most corrosive. Some of the other common acids used are; oxalic, citric, strong vinegar. Lactic acid has been used and you can't forget the original tannic acid derived from tree bark.

I like oxalic acid, it's strong but manageable.

The way you test to see if the skin has been in the pickle solution (water, acid and salt) long enough is to put an indent into a thick part of the skin with your thumb nail. If the imprint bounces right back out it's not done; the nail imprint should remain in the skin. The rinse and neutralize with baking soda and water.

BTW, keep your pH under 2.0

What pH are you neutralizing in and how long? This has been my hardest struggle. I made a batch of hats once that as I started working them my hands began tingling.

I use about one tablespoon of baking soda per gallon of water. I rinse the skin first just to get out the excess pickle solution, wring it out then place in the neutralizing solution and keep it fairly well stirred for about 30 minutes. Then remove and rinse in clean water.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: Pike River] #7016292
10/13/20 10:48 AM
10/13/20 10:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 321
Indiana
M
MrsFord Offline
trapper
MrsFord  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 321
Indiana
Originally Posted by Pike River
Originally Posted by waggler
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning; sulfuric being one of the most corrosive. Some of the other common acids used are; oxalic, citric, strong vinegar. Lactic acid has been used and you can't forget the original tannic acid derived from tree bark.

I like oxalic acid, it's strong but manageable.

The way you test to see if the skin has been in the pickle solution (water, acid and salt) long enough is to put an indent into a thick part of the skin with your thumb nail. If the imprint bounces right back out it's not done; the nail imprint should remain in the skin. The rinse and neutralize with baking soda and water.

BTW, keep your pH under 2.0

What pH are you neutralizing in and how long? This has been my hardest struggle. I made a batch of hats once that as I started working them my hands began tingling.

7pH is what you want to neutralize. And as said about 30 mins


New trapper! Really excited to learn!
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: waggler] #7016309
10/13/20 11:05 AM
10/13/20 11:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,518
MB
J
Jurassic Park Offline
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Jurassic Park  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2016
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MB
Originally Posted by waggler
^^^^^^
There are many acids that can be, and are used for tanning



Yes, and there are many things that can be used as a hammer. Lol. grin


Cold as ice!
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016325
10/13/20 11:19 AM
10/13/20 11:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
There are many hammers that can be used as a hammer too.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016408
10/13/20 01:19 PM
10/13/20 01:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

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Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
One thing to remember, skins “tanned” with sulfuric (battery avid) will suck moisture out of the air and make your skins clammy.

Last edited by newhouse114; 10/13/20 01:20 PM.

Life Member NTA & FTA
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Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016411
10/13/20 01:21 PM
10/13/20 01:21 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 629
N. Texas
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countrygun Offline
trapper
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 629
N. Texas
technically a pickle not a tan.


Warrior in the garden
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016425
10/13/20 01:39 PM
10/13/20 01:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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B

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Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
The only difference between a pickle and a tan is the ph it is finished at.
Aluminum sulfate,salt and water makes sulfuric acid-if the skin remains at ph 1.5 to 2.0 it is a pickle.
You can use aluminum sulfate as a tan also-the ph needs to be raised to 4.0 to 4.5.by the addition of soda,then it is a tan and not a pickle.
Many commercial tans and some synthetic tans are "complexed" aluminum sulfate tans.There are compounds added to keep the tan fixed and not as succeptable to leaching out over time.A home tanner can do this by re tanning or combination tanning with vegetable or other things.
If a skin gets clammy in high humidity it means there are unwanted chemicals left in the leather.(not neutralized/stabilized).


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016430
10/13/20 01:48 PM
10/13/20 01:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,151
Alaska and Washington State
^^^^^^
I used to do a chrome tan. Chrome tans are the most resistant to leaching out after getting wet. After being wet it doesn't stiffen up. Chrome tan doesn't create a stretchy leather though, and if you don't get the leather "broke" before it dries out you can't re-wet it very well. But chrome tan is great for things that get wet; where I trap it is common for the weather to warm up and your fur hat will get wet.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016626
10/13/20 06:21 PM
10/13/20 06:21 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
90% of leather today is chrome tanned.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016736
10/13/20 08:33 PM
10/13/20 08:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,673
Illinois
foxkidd44 Offline OP
trapper
foxkidd44  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,673
Illinois
I had considerd using the old " alum" tan .....but trying to find it in bulk without paying out the wazoo was the sticking point.........


Stand by your principles, Stand by your guns, and victory complete and permanent is sure at last.
Abraham Lincoln
Re: battery acid tanning question [Re: foxkidd44] #7016749
10/13/20 08:45 PM
10/13/20 08:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
HobbieTrapper Offline
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Eastern Shore of Maryland
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