Tanning

[Berserker]

Getting ready to pickle the deer hide. I did learn you are supposed to salt a hide, if you want to preserve the hour, with in a couple hours. Also not supposed to use table sale with iodine. Oh well, my hide, and I didn't take any ones money.

So while it may not go well, when you start skinning Fifi while the kids are still crying. Just wait until they come home and find that spotted rug on their bed.

When you don't have a wife or kids, you have time to drink in the barn with a dead deer.

[Berserker]

Got it in the pickle last night. Plastic garbage can. You can't use metal it reacts.

A plastic tote, maye have worked better. The hide floats. I have been trying to weigh it down, but hasn't work. A longer flat container might be easier to weigh it down.

3 days in the pickle, checking the ph to keep it between 1-2.

Doing this hair on. Though I screwed up. Do not use table salt the iodine is bad for hair retention. I switched over the cattle salt in a couple days, not sure the effect.

At 40 degrees you are supposed to have it salted in 2 hours, to prevent bacteria, which also cause the hair to fall out. Was about 2 days for me.

Before the pickle the hair was staying on good, and it was flexible. Wait and see.

[GSB_77_XL]

Also the direction that you scrape the hide when removing the fat and leftover bits of meat will affect hair retention. If you look at it closely the hair will lay in one direction. Just like petting a cat, you aren't supposed to go against the grain.


I always wanted to try tanning a hide with the brain of the animal like the Indians did.

[Berserker]

I bought a kit from Van Dykes, but IMO the instructions are bad with respect to ratios for mixing. They buy some of it from McKenzy, so I had to go to there site.

I didn't know about direction.

[Berserker]

Took the hide out of the pickle, 4 days. More fleshing. This is where the work really begins. Not an unpleasent job. Barn is a little under freezing. No smell. I could see how this could be hard on the hands.

[Berserker]

Did a little more fleshing after this pic, and I am about as far as I am going.

Finally came together today. I was trying to do it on a flat surface. Then I remembered piece of cedar pole I had in the yard. Also got a carving knife from the kitchen, and kept sharpening and cleaning it.

I did have alot more holes then I would have liked. What seems to work best is long strokes with the knife. Most of the cuts, were when I was going to fast and strokes.

Back in the pickle, then wash it , and tan.

[Ruthless]

So is it going to be your TV room rug?

[Berserker]

No. Its going to be on the bed, in your suite, next time you come.

[Berserker]

Pulled it out of its 2nd pickle tonight. Got slowed down, had to order ph strips, was not able to find them locally in 1-3 range. Plus it took me awhile to figure how to flesh it.

Not sure what this effect will have. If I pull some hair comes out, but not by the handful, by any stretch.

For fleshing, I took a piece of cedar poll, covered with contractor plastic bag. Held the hide tight, and worked it with a kitchen carving knife. Sharpening and wipe clean often.

I neutralized it tonight in baking soda, ph around 4-5. Hanging in garages.

Says you can tumble dry it. I have rebuilt a snowmobile engine on the kitchen counter, but putting that in the dryer is a bit much for even me.

Will get more salt, and start the tan tomorrow hopefully. Need to get wax thread and repair the cuts from fleshing.

[GSB_77_XL]

Originally Posted by Berserker

Says you can tumble dry it. I have rebuilt a snowmobile engine on the kitchen counter, but putting that in the dryer is a bit much for even me.

Take it to the laundromat.