Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Varminting and vertebrate pest control. Small game, hunting feral goats, foxes, dogs, cats, rabbits etc.

Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 22 Feb 2018, 5:58 pm

Daddybang wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:"So im going to buy a 20kg bag & container of finer table salt & leave them on each farm from now on.."

My understanding is the finer grades of salt are better. But the coarse will do the job if that's all you have.
.



I brought a big bag of coarse salt (cause I'm a tightarse :lol: ) and used a mortar and pestle to grind it up. A good job to do whilst havin a coldie! :lol: :drinks:


Think ill have to come on up there DB...id love a lifestyle where i had time to buy cheap salt & crush it in small amounts while drinking beer... :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 22 Feb 2018, 6:15 pm

Hey blade there's been a few of the fellas that have suggested the alum so I'll have to give it a go :thumbsup: I've just started a heap of messmate gum bark steeping to extract the tannin so that will be interesting to see if it works! :drinks:

Stix it's a hell of a lifestyle up this way. We like to call it "runnin on cape time" :lol: :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by bladeracer » 22 Feb 2018, 6:24 pm

bladeracer wrote:I did the same, except I used alum powder. I have no idea why so I guess I was working from somebody else's advice :-)
Never had any knocked back from the place I was selling them to though so it must've worked okay. I did keep a couple for a few years but they disappeared when I moved to WA.


Thinking about it now I think the buyers advised me how they wanted the skins treated. I can remember wandering around a number of places to find out how to make a return on the foxes I was shooting. I think the place I was selling to was in Murray Bridge, although I was dealing with a rep based in Strathalbyn most of the time.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 23 Feb 2018, 11:58 am

Hey sungazer and old bloke I sent the emails thru this morning hope they are of use fellas :D :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by sungazer » 23 Feb 2018, 1:29 pm

Thanks got it. I was just having a look in a book I have. All pretty old formulas as well most are paste based using Alum salt and or acids. The only one that is a pure liquid where you can just put the hide in says it will leave the hide much more firm, crisp and will need more breaking in.
Not sure what I will have a go at next. I do prefer the easy way I have certainly got a lot lazier than our fore fathers. :D
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 23 Feb 2018, 3:24 pm

Daddybang wrote:Hey sungazer and old bloke I sent the emails thru this morning hope they are of use fellas :D :drinks:


Hey Daddybang...i finally remembered to PM my email to you...any chance you can send that stuff through this way too...? :unknown: :)
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 23 Feb 2018, 4:42 pm

Just emailed ya stix :thumbsup: :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 23 Feb 2018, 5:32 pm

Hey Oldbloke...

I just noticed your recipe on this thread...
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9067&start=18

You have said the powdered parts are in "pounds", ive found 2 other similar recipes on the net that for similar volume of water say the powdered volumes in "cups"...

This is a HUGE difference,...have you used this/either of these recipes mate...?

Or anyone else for that matter...???
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 23 Feb 2018, 7:42 pm

Stix wrote:Hey Oldbloke...

I just noticed your recipe on this thread...
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9067&start=18

You have said the powdered parts are in "pounds", ive found 2 other similar recipes on the net that for similar volume of water say the powdered volumes in "cups"...

This is a HUGE difference,...have you used this/either of these recipes mate...?

Or anyone else for that matter...???



I just converted the pounds and gallons to kgs and litres. You quickly come up with some recipes /ratios. And bobs your uncle. I would post it but I'm not home for a few days and it's on my laptop.
As I said earlier, just did a small test on a fox tail.
Skinned it.
Salted for a few days (didn't flesh it)
In the alum/salt solution for about five dsys
Dried it out by hanging on the line
Oiled it with neatsfoot oil.

Seemed to come up OK & gave to my grand daughter who had been pestering me.

Next chance I get going to go a full skin.

I'll post the converted recipes late next week. Alum and salt is cheap and easy that's why I tried it.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 23 Feb 2018, 8:07 pm

Thanks OB...
But are you sure you dissolved 2kg's of alum in 3-4 litres of water...?

All other recipes i can find say 1-2.5 CUPS of alum in 3-4 ltrs of water...

???
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 24 Feb 2018, 8:31 am

Stix wrote:Thanks OB...
But are you sure you dissolved 2kg's of alum in 3-4 litres of water...?

All other recipes i can find say 1-2.5 CUPS of alum in 3-4 ltrs of water...

???


Nowhere near that! May be 200 grams of alum
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 24 Feb 2018, 8:53 am

So assuming you want to make 1 gallon. So just divide everything by 4 and convert.

Water. 1 gallon = about. 4 litres water
Salt. 2.5 lb div x 4 = .6lb = 270 grams of salt
Alum. 1 lb div x 4 =.25lb = 115 grams of alum

US and English gallons are not the same. UK is a bit over 4 litres & US under 4 litres . So 4 is near enough. If you want make salt 300g and alum 130g. I figure stronger better than weaker solution.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 24 Feb 2018, 10:39 am

Good one OB... :thumbsup:

I feel a bit of a d1ck...

I scribbled down about 4 or 5 different recipe's in a hurry, it got pretty messy when writing yours down so ive read MY OWN writing of YOUR posted recipie VERY wrong... :oops:

The recipe in Daddybangs book is quite different...a lot less alum by volume, & nearly double the salt while also adding sulphuric acid in equal volume to alum... (unless my quick maths is up the creek again)...

Id be interested in your conversion of the figures...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 24 Feb 2018, 10:43 am

As I said only tried it once. So no guarantee. But it seems popular. There must be dozens of recipes out there.

Just try one. Oh, leave it outside but under cover. Just the fox tail for 5 days made my man cave stink for about 5 weeks. :lol: keeps the Mrs out but. :thumbsup:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 02 Mar 2018, 4:52 pm

I was in the big green shed today. I noticed pool salt for $9.95 for 25kg. It was almost as fine as table salt. So perfect for skins.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 02 Mar 2018, 4:55 pm

I was in the big green shed today. I noticed pool salt for $9.95 for 25kg. It was almost as fine as table salt. So perfect for skins.

Good for your steak too. :lol:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 02 Mar 2018, 5:07 pm

Ah gees i missed that...mine was <$8 for 20kg of coarse salt...
Ill have a look next im there...thanks for the heads up OB. :thumbsup:

By the way...ive got 2 bunny skins in buckets with 2 different alum recipes...
They've been in since Sunday...you rekon thats long enough...?

Ill let you know how they shape up...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 02 Mar 2018, 5:24 pm

Stix wrote:
By the way...ive got 2 bunny skins in buckets with 2 different alum recipes...
They've been in since Sunday...you rekon thats long enough...?

Ill let you know how they shape up...


Just an arm chair expert but all Indicatiins would be it's plenty.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 02 Mar 2018, 5:43 pm

Oldbloke wrote:
Stix wrote:
By the way...ive got 2 bunny skins in buckets with 2 different alum recipes...
They've been in since Sunday...you rekon thats long enough...?

Ill let you know how they shape up...


Just an arm chair expert but all Indicatiins would be it's plenty.


+1 Should be plenty :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 02 Mar 2018, 5:48 pm

Righto then...
Well they're stsyin in for tonight but ill drag em out tomorrow...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 02 Mar 2018, 5:50 pm

Any tips on rinsing...drying...fleshing...breaking...?

Thought id do the high pressure fleshing--during the week ive tried peeling the inner skin off a little but have ripped them... (they were young bunnies so soft hides)...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 02 Mar 2018, 5:53 pm

Try a sanding block to flesh . We used a small battery powered orbital but that might be too much for bunnies :unknown: :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by sungazer » 02 Mar 2018, 6:35 pm

Stix I used to have the skins turned inside out and then put on coat hangers if you grab the coat hanger in the middle opposite the hook and pull away from the hook you get a good skin stretcher. I used to peel the membrane from the bunnies it was a red thin film that needs to come off.
I used the pressure washer on another roo the other day using the booster nozzel and it put a few holes in it so next time I will just use a normal spray probably one of the finer angle ones.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 02 Mar 2018, 8:08 pm

My ol'man used to have a heap of thick steel wire frames for the bunny skins...just thick wire bent to a 'U'...
Unfortunately id already gutted these bunnies & decided to keep the skins the next day, so they are already mini rugs...
I rekon he's disposed of all the frames...

Maybe ive taken too much of the membrane off...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 09 Mar 2018, 4:32 am

Stix, how did the cat skin turn out?
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 09 Mar 2018, 5:30 pm

Its stil frozen ob...
I did 2 bunny skins to experiment...
Didnt turn out too well really.

Had a painful time trying to flesh them, before during & after the soaking.

Tried 2 diff recipe's both of which seemed to stop hair slipping, but the skins have torn while fleshing breaking.
Maybe it hasnt worked...? I've got no past experience to go by...

But these suck mate...fur feels good, skin side is brittle in places & soft in others...

I need to try again with some freshies. ..
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by bladeracer » 10 Mar 2018, 10:12 am

Stix wrote:I need to try again with some freshies. ..


Fresh ones are warm and cuddly, but hang onto the back feet, they can get boisterous :-)
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 10 Mar 2018, 3:14 pm

This is the basic process in order;
1. Skin the animal
2. Then flesh the hide
3. Then salt the hide , do this several times
4. If you wish dry the hide
5. If you dried the hide then soak the hide in water to soften.
6. Then place the hide in the tanning solution wait several days stirring occasionally
7. Then dry the hide
8. Then break in and oil
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 11 Mar 2018, 10:48 am

bladeracer wrote:
Stix wrote:I need to try again with some freshies. ..


Fresh ones are warm and cuddly, but hang onto the back feet, they can get boisterous :-)


:lol:
Got it covered mate...im a ninja...!!
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 10 Jul 2018, 6:44 pm

Im wondering if any of you fur tanners have any tips on how to treat the head, particularly when it comes to the pinning out to dry/oiling stage...

I have a cats head, & a fox (heads on full furs) that have not turned out so well in that they are a little stiff & deformed.(I realise with these particular 2 skins ive stretched it a little too much for the drying process,& left it for too long before breaking).
But still I find the skin is thicker on the heads, & particularly hard to flesh out from the eyes forward, so i often end up with some of the glands still just inside the eyes & the nose/whiskers area.

Given the heads (particularly on cats) are rounded, how do you treat them in the pinning out/oiling stage...?

Im thinking of trying a scrunched up rag in the head of the next cat to see if that will be any better-but it will obviously not lay with the look of being flat if i do this, however the head may look more natural (?)...

What do you guys do for the heads left on skins. :unknown:
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