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I have spoke to several people about tanning. I have watched, over the last couple of years, about all of the youtube and other tanning tips etc. online. The problem is, some of the other people I have talked to on here and other places have some of the same problems I have had. The 2 things that an everyday Jack and Jill have, and that are the MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN TANNING... are not really covered, except for a few words.
Now if you are tanning to make wall hangings or dream catchers, and items that you don't care if the pelt is soft and pliable... this is no big deal... but if you want a finished soft pelt... it will be a toss up.
Okay the first step and it is litterallly the first step in preparing your hide, is the skinning and fleshing. There is so much more work in preparing a hide to turn it inot a finished pelt, than what there is to prepared the hide to be sold at the auction. Even with the lowly muskrat. Normally you knock the fat off leaving the saddle put it on the stretcher. A few minutes is required. Okay if you watch a video of someone at the tannery do it.... they have a shaving machine and are able to shave it down to where it needs to be... Now how do you go about shaving a rat hide down without a shaver and the know how... VERY carefully... one layer of membrane to many and the roots are exposed to the gurd hair and you have about destryed the hide.
I can tell you from experience it is easier to mess it up than it is to do it corectly. Practice, practice, practice... And I have messed up a few. You have to remove tissue that you didn't even know was there. What happens if you don't remove all of it? You have a very stiff and hard muskrat pelt... somewhat like you take to the auction... it is dried and stiff.
Okay... the second thing that is hardly ever covered or just glossed over is the BREAKING or softening. So in theory it is about the first step and the last step.Most of the videos show the tanner take a rolled-up lengthwise hide and runs it over a rope or wire several times, then shows you how soft it is... Remeber the BS flag that a couple post on here.... you need a really BIG BS flag for this. I have found a few ways of doing it, but they are all time consuming and hard on your hands. Another thing to remember is the fist step... fleshing is the first that will make a difference what happends in the last step. Most all of the other steps between the first step and the last step... is mild compared to the first and last. There is still work, but not as much.
The other thing to remember this is not something you are going to do in one or two days... the entire process will take you between 7 and 10 days... to do it right. I am not trying to dicourage anyone from trying or learning to tan... I just don't want anyone think you spend $8.95 or a bottle of the "Orange Stuff" and that is all there is too it. If you have that "Once in a Lifetime" fur that you want to keep for ever... My suggestion would be to get it done professionaly.
Here is the last ones I have done plus the red fox from a few weeks back...
Garry-
Last edited by Actor; 02/03/2105:34 PM.
“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: A little more about tanning...
[Re: Actor]
#7167777 02/03/2105:35 PM02/03/2105:35 PM
Very Good... One of the BEST I have seen online. Although, the the hide is done for Taxidemy ... it isn't finished as far as wearables are concered. For wearables you leave the pelt to dry after the tan... and then start breaking it into a soft dry pelt. This will normally take 1 or more days of breaking (Softening).
Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Well, that's not 100 percent true. I guess it would be better to say there are ways that are more efficient than other ways, rather than shortcuts. Of course, one thing that's hard to show is when you need to work a hide and when you can let it dry for a bit.
Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.
Re: A little more about tanning...
[Re: Actor]
#7172131 02/07/2112:42 AM02/07/2112:42 AM
Breaking a hide with no fur on it is one thing... breaking a pelts with fur/hair is another. I believe, that most on here are talking about hair/fur on. Some of those animals you can't be overly rough on or you will shred it. The next coon I do... I will show how I break them... at least to a point. It would be much easier if we all had one of the 10' drums the tanneries have, but I am sure that 99.99% of us don't have that luxury.
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: A little more about tanning...
[Re: Actor]
#7172311 02/07/2108:48 AM02/07/2108:48 AM
Breaking a hide with no fur on it is one thing... breaking a pelts with fur/hair is another. I believe, that most on here are talking about hair/fur on. Some of those animals you can't be overly rough on or you will shred it. The next coon I do... I will show how I break them... at least to a point. It would be much easier if we all had one of the 10' drums the tanneries have, but I am sure that 99.99% of us don't have that luxury.
Garry-
I’ve got 20 foxes to do here shortly. I’ll be watching to see if your method will improve what I’m currently doing.
-Goofy-
Re: A little more about tanning...
[Re: Actor]
#7172406 02/07/2110:24 AM02/07/2110:24 AM
Breaking a hide with no fur on it is one thing... breaking a pelts with fur/hair is another. I believe, that most on here are talking about hair/fur on. Some of those animals you can't be overly rough on or you will shred it. The next coon I do... I will show how I break them... at least to a point. It would be much easier if we all had one of the 10' drums the tanneries have, but I am sure that 99.99% of us don't have that luxury.
Garry-
Yep. But I also use a cable on furs...just have to be gentle on fox and thin hides.
Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.