Orange Bottle Tanning Solution-Stretched, Dry Beav

I have a couple bottles of the tanning solution in the orange bottle but have never used it before. I also will soon have a couple smallish, fleshed and boarded beaver that I am considering trying it on. Not a huge loss if it does not go well.

The directions on the bottle include salting. If they are already dried and boarded will I need to do the salting?

If anyone has used the orange bottle stuff on fleshed, boarded beaver I would appreciate any experience or tips you might have.

Thanks!

Moosetrot

Boco has a thread in the fur handling archives where he goes through the pickling process and at the end you just apply that or any other tanning solution.

I have. You must thin the hide to be successful. Really should pickle too. almost mandatory really. The hardest part is getting them rehydrated if they are well dried. I usually go right to tanning if I'm going to do them myself.

I frost-scraped the first one and was able to thin it down very well. The second one is in the freezer so I may wait to tan it until I see how the first one turns out.

The frost-scraping went so well I am hoping (not really) that we get one more cold snap.

Moosetrot

I got some and am considering using it on a couple of my catches. I have kept all of my first catches, but have not tanned them yet. How many critters do you think a single bottle would cover out of a muskrat, weasel, mink, beaver, and coyote?

I did a small beaver one time. I followed the directions and it came out really well. You have to break down behind though once it starts getting dry. I used a 2 x 4 and would rub the hide back-and-forth on the smooth edges of the 2 x 4

If the beaver is good and dry,, take a palm sander to it to thin it down,,, then soak it in salt water until it’s workable,,,once it’s workable,, coat the flesh side with dawn dish soap and rub it in good,, let it set for at least half an hour,, beaver are extremely greasy.... after that rinse in cool water,,, do not use hot water.... after you have thoroughly rinsed it,,, snap the skin to remove as much excess water from the skin,,, then let it dry until the skin is damp,,, then proceed with the orange bottle