Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

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

Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 12:49 pm

Got myself a nice cat skin on the weekend...apart from not being the nicest skinning job ive ever performed, it looks & feels a nice fur...

Ive never kept a skin/fur before, so what do i do to initially preserve it...?

Its been shot 36 hrs ago & has been in the fridge...

Do i cake it in salt & freeze it for now...?

I know someone recently di d a kid goat skin, & some others listed their tips too, but i cant find the thread...

Any tips to initially preserve it would be great...Cheers
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by sungazer » 20 Feb 2018, 1:14 pm

Put salt on the skin and I mean a lot and fold it in half put it on a board on a slant to drain. The next day clean off the previous salt and then put more salt on. You may be able to freeze without the salting have to get info off someone else for that. I try and get them in the tanning solution asap so I dont have to salt.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 20 Feb 2018, 1:21 pm

We did that kid by scraping when it was fresh.
Pinned it out flesh side up.
Scraped as much flesh off as we could(paint scraper worked)
Then applied a thick layer of salt (as sungazer said)
Left it pinned out in a shady spot for a week reapply salt everyday (just over the old)
Then scraped most of the salt off before dropping in the tanning solution.
Hope this helps ya stix. :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by marksman » 20 Feb 2018, 1:29 pm

salting the skin will dehydrate it so it kills the bacteria you will need to re-hydrate it before tanning or fold it skin on skin and freeze till you will tan it
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 20 Feb 2018, 1:36 pm

20180220_132328.jpg
Flesh side
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Furside
20180220_132340.jpg (969.11 KiB) Viewed 8731 times


We didn't rehydrate it at all before putting into the tanning solution. Goes to show there really is more than one way to skin a cat!!!(or goat) :lol: :drinks:


Should add we still need to trim the edges. :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 3:39 pm

Thanks guys...
I also rang a bloke who said its too late & the skin will be f#@ked...
But it wasnt very slimy...so he said it might be worth a crack.
This guy is a local tanner, & he suggested to salt AND freeze it...saying the salt kills one kind of bacteria & freezing kills another.

So i shot up to Bunnings n grabbed a bag of pool salt & covered it...
Also grabbed the good ol' Saxa to make sure all the nooks n crannies were covered.

Anyone know what to freeze it in...?
Cotton bag/cloth, pkastic bag, newspaper...???
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 3:42 pm

Moggie May so far... (she was a pretty young lass).

2018-02-20 16.01.39.jpg
Salted Moggie
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 3:59 pm

Now ive done that...

Im thinking of just tanning it now...

I know this is lazy in terms of doing my own research, but can any of you folk tell me what i need to get this thing cracking immediately...? (if i get it straight into the tanning solution)
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by bigrich » 20 Feb 2018, 4:04 pm

hey stix, your not making a daniel boone style fur hat ar ya :lol: sorry mate i couldn't help myself :lol:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 20 Feb 2018, 4:20 pm

Stix wrote:Now ive done that...

Im thinking of just tanning it now...

I know this is lazy in terms of doing my own research, but can any of you folk tell me what i need to get this thing cracking immediately...? (if i get it straight into the tanning solution)


Seeing as ya just salted her don't get caught up rushing the job. If ya have a book store or library near ya see if ya can get a copy of the book in the pic. This fella knows a bit about leather and hides!! :drinks:

20180220_161016.jpg
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 4:35 pm

bigrich wrote:hey stix, your not making a daniel boone style fur hat ar ya :lol: sorry mate i couldn't help myself :lol:


Haha...Nah mate...not me...but i know of someone on this site that wants too...

I wonder how he's going with it, & whether he lined up the cat skins ok...?


This was just a nice fur Bigrich...young & soft...thought it was too good to throw away...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 4:43 pm

Thanks Daddybang...

Looks like a great book, but i dont really have time for visiting book stores and the like...

I just figured ill give it a crack now...that way i cant make the excuse for leaving it sitting in my freezer for eeonz...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 20 Feb 2018, 4:46 pm

And Daddybang, i found your thread on tanning--cant believe it was all the way back in Nov...

Oldbloke put a recepie up using Alum...ive googled it locally but nothing comes up--do you or anyone know where to buy it...??

OB says pool supplies, but i cant see it on Bunnings web site...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by marksman » 20 Feb 2018, 4:50 pm

the bacteria on the skin will cause hair/fur slip if it gets on the hair/fur
salted and dried or folded up skin on skin and frozen will stop the bacteria
the re-hydration idea was from a tanning kit I had, in the instructions it said to soak the skin overnight if salted and dried out to re-hydrate
or if fresh just tan the bugger, really good little kit but I cant think of the name of it :unknown:
anyway It looks like a nice skin :thumbsup: I'm sure it will be fine :drinks:
the bacteria comes from the skin starting to rot
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 20 Feb 2018, 4:59 pm

Pm sent :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 20 Feb 2018, 5:01 pm

marksman wrote:the bacteria on the skin will cause hair/fur slip if it gets on the hair/fur
salted and dried or folded up skin on skin and frozen will stop the bacteria
the re-hydration idea was from a tanning kit I had, in the instructions it said to soak the skin overnight if salted and dried out to re-hydrate
or if fresh just tan the bugger, really good little kit but I cant think of the name of it :unknown:
anyway It looks like a nice skin :thumbsup: I'm sure it will be fine :drinks:
the bacteria comes from the skin starting to rot


Hope ya didn't think I was baggin ya advice there marksman it was invaluable when I did the goat. :thumbsup: :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by marksman » 20 Feb 2018, 5:08 pm

no way Daddybang, all's good cool as a cucumber :friends: :drinks: :thumbsup:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 20 Feb 2018, 8:40 pm

Yeah, there is a alum and salt tanning solution. YouTube is your friend because it's bed time for me.
The alum can be ought at bunnings in the swimming pool section. It's a foculant. Hope I spelt that right.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 20 Feb 2018, 8:45 pm

Here it is.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3639

I have only tried it once, just recently on a fox tail to try it. It seemed to work OK. Next skin goes in. :thumbsup:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 21 Feb 2018, 6:19 pm

Thanks OB...!!
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Oldbloke » 22 Feb 2018, 7:34 am

That's OK let us know how it goes.

Looks to me the fleshing is the hardest part.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by sungazer » 22 Feb 2018, 7:44 am

I am using the Gerni or equiv and getting good results on Roo skins also on dear could never have done that by hand. I dont know how they did it. I think there is some information that has not been handed down in that area. The old blokes kept it a trade secret and it has gone to the grave.

When I was a kid I was doing Rabbits and reading books on how to do it and finally found one that gave the instructions that prepared the membrane to a point where it could be peeled off rather than scraped. I have forgotten how to do it though.
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 22 Feb 2018, 7:52 am

We used a small orbital sander to flesh . probably not good for rabbit and thinner skins but works for the thicker ones!! :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 22 Feb 2018, 10:03 am

Daddybang wrote:Pm sent :drinks:


Hi Daddybang...if this was meant for me ive not received it mate...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 22 Feb 2018, 10:22 am

Not sure where that's gone. It's not in any of my folders! :lol: :lol:
Wasn't anything important just wanted to let ya know if ya wanted the first chapter of that book dealing with hide prep and tanning recipies I can scan and send it email or snail mail. No worries if ya don't want it :thumbsup: :drinks:
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by sungazer » 22 Feb 2018, 10:27 am

If you have the Alum salt recipe I would be interested. I have used one once or twice before and now after using the commercial product I am going to go back to trying that now I have some got better at some of the other steps
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 22 Feb 2018, 10:37 am

FFAAARKKK!!!
i just spent over 20 mins writing an update on this thread...pressed the wrong button on this stupid piece of sh#t samaung fone & its all gone...!!!
Im so angry--f@#k samsung...!!!!!

The c#@t of a fone updates itself & makes changes that makes the fone different & run much slower...
& im sick of google asking for permission to record data from my fone every time i post a pic...
These controlling A-holes...dam them...!!!!!

Gees man...
Sorry folks...i had to vent...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 22 Feb 2018, 10:42 am

Thanks daddybang...
Obviously i have issues with the technology too...!!!
Ive had many posts late last year not hit the airwaves for some reason, even after seeing the page saying "your message has been sucessfully sent"...so im sure its sometimes this site...

Re the book--yea it looks like a book id be keen to read, or even have on the shelf...

Scanned copy of those pages should be ok...
Ill pm you my email later...

Appreciate it mate...!
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Stix » 22 Feb 2018, 10:44 am

Sungazer, ive found a couple of versions, ill pm a link to you a bit later...
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Re: Tanning/Initial Tanning Prep...

Post by Daddybang » 22 Feb 2018, 10:44 am

Hahaha!! I understand fully stix all I have at home is a Samsung phone :lol: :drinks:
Sungazer the book has several different recipes using alum and chromium and also sulphuric acid.if ya pm me an email I can get it scanned first thing tomorrow morning and send it all thru :thumbsup: :drinks:
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