Was wondering how may of you have used the tanning kits available from the trap supply dealers and what your experience(s) have been.
I have been thinking of doing a few smaller pelts such as a rat, male mink and the young poor colored coyote I caught. Today I caught a 30 lbs. male coon that is jet black, only the back of the tail shows any rings. They are not worth anything on the market but would look great tanned I feel. Let me know your experiences and thoughts.

Bryce

Not sure about the kits but boco has a thread that takes you through his process step by step. He gives a list of ingredients too.

I have used a product from Arlington Cape with great success. They send you all you need in a small box with directions. Think I've done 2-3 yotes, 6 fox, several coon, skunk and 2-3 mink.

Something special like that, rather than trying something new, i would pay the 50 bucks to ship it to a tannery.

Having said that I used the trappers hide tanning formula in the orange bottle a few years back. I was happy with how it came out. I didnt do near enough pulling and breaking down of the leather so it wasn't real soft. It made a very nice wall hanger. I let it finish drying on a solid coon board. I stretched it pretty good on the board. I think that helped in making it pliable. I only spent about 15 minutes pulling it by hand before I just let it finish drying on the board. It kept the shape of the stretcher a little instead of just looking like a rag.

I've used Rittle's tanning products for year sand have successfully tanned many skins.

Used orange bottle a bunch. The key to getting soft and pliable is the stretching and pulling by hand. I can’t emphasize this enough. And do it till it’s completely dry. A hide is made up of tiny fibers that want to contract and lock together more and more as it dries.

Stretching and pulling by hand can you explain that in more detail. I will check youtube as well. I thought about the tannery as well.

Bryce

rittels is very nice!

when you get everything ready for the orange bottle you rub it into the leather with your fingers. Then start pulling the skin in every direction doing a little at a time. just a few square inches at a time. Do the hole skin. Keep pulling and stretching as it dries. The more you "work" the hide the softer it will be

I wasn't happy with my results with the orange bottle stuff. Tried coon, beaver and rats. The breaking process was too labor intensive for me, and I ripped a couple rats trying to get the hang of it.

You can ship your dried coon to Sleepy Creek in Wellsburg IA for about $7 with SpeeDee and they will tan it for around $22 and ship it back for another $10.

If your set on doing it yourself, I'd practice on a few before you try the black one. Should be plenty of nearly worthless coon around to practice on.

Orange bottle works ok. To break the skin when partial dry you have to stretch ineach direction and you will see the dark color change to white. You are not done but it makes you feel good to see that change. every once in a while (hourly if you have time) go over it again and again coon will come out pretty decent. Fox and mink and weasels, thin shin and not oily come out the best......jk

I have given more thought and will probably ship to Moyles with another trapper which will lower shipping costs but it will take some time. I just don't like the idea of not having the tanned fur as soft as it could be. I am not afraid of the work but more so of the outcome.
In 40 years of trapping I have never shipped fur for tanning or tanned any for myself.

Bryce

well then you need to take an average one and have at it. can give it to a kid or something when your done.

You will never get a home tanned shin as soft as a tannery they use tools the average person doesnt have.