NDR-pelt handling and home tanning

C

CDuberstein

New member
Just acquired a couple pelts I would like to tan. I would like to tan them myself and have found recipes and methods including wood ash, brain, and salt/battery acid. Anybody have personal exprience doing this resulting in a preserved, soft pelt?

thanks
 
I've tried a bunch of different things over the last 30 yrs with varied success. The most dependable method I've found for small scale tanning is a commercial tan called "Trappers Hide Tanning Formula". I get it from the trappers supply store here in town. It comes in a bright orange bottle and smells worse than 12 yr old dog breath. Instructions are on the bottle. I'd recommend it on anything small like a coyote or deer and smaller.

Mike
 
I've used a product called "tan-it" sold by several mail order companies. It works well as a preservative but lacks the finished feel/quality of professional tanning. If the pelt is going to be handled or used I would have it done professionally. If it is just for display, it might be worth trying to do it yourself. From talking to others who do home tanning using traditional brain tanning and smoke, hair on tanning is best left to the pros and hair off is a better home project.

Good Luck and let us know what works (or doesn't) for you.

Gene
 
Well, I did a medium sized beaver pelt once using oxalic acid. At least I think it was oxalic acid - it's been close to 30 years. Anyway after I got done with the tanning portion I had the neatest frizbee in the neighborhood. Tried working it on a shaped 2x4 until my arms were ready to fall off and it never did get soft. Part of the problem was that the hide of a beaver is very thick along the back and neck area and I had no way of thinning it. I did have a couple tanned and made into hats after that first one and for the price they charged I wouldn't think of doing it myself again.

I'd hope there are easier ways to do it than the way I did.

Neat project to do one yourself just to say you did it.
 
Just acquired a couple pelts I would like to tan. I would like to tan them myself and have found recipes and methods including wood ash, brain, and salt/battery acid. Anybody have personal exprience doing this resulting in a preserved, soft pelt?

thanks
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If you want something to practice on I can get you a 12" long piece of hide that is 3" wide and tapers to a point, it has nice soft black fur on it.

T
 
Here's about the best kit to get underway. The one thing you have to be careful with is show well the hide was put up. There's a fine line on a perfect fleshing job and a lame one.

www.minntrapprod.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=221&products_id=3626
 
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