Wanting to learn to tan hides

[Anderson_HOTD69]

I am wanting to learn how to tan my own hides. As we speak I have 2 squirrels and a rabbit salting. However, there seems to be so many different way to tan hides, I've watched about 100 YouTube videos on the processes and honestly, I kinda got overwhelmed. So I figured maybe there is someone out here, that does this and can walk me through the process with like a "recipe" that would be great.

 

I'm not out to start a taxidermy business, that's the last thing I want to do. I want to tan hides and either use them as decor for the house or make like gloves or cases, scabbards, holsters, stuff like that. Any help would be appreciated.

[PRDATR]

There are places online to buy what is needed, checkout taxidermist supplies.

[Anderson_HOTD69]

Thanks. Any suggestions of who makes the best stuff? That's my issue. I'm looking for serious help with this. There are too many options, I'm asking if there is someone that has done this, knows what to buy, and is willing to help.

[Big Browns]

Youtube....

[brademan76]

I just applied tanning solution to the a couple of deer hides last night using a kit I bought at Cabela's. Hoping to get them finished before the end of the week and will let you know how it worked.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/the-tannery-basic-home-tanning-kit/1613656.uts

[AzDiamondHeat]

I tan my own, but am far from an expert. What I have found is that there is really no "right" way to do it. My "method" combines several different methods that you can find online. I do not user a kit.

 

This is the basic "guide" I follow with a few variables. I use the salt and alum method. I also use Rittels safety acid. I have used citric acid with very good results, but it is more expensive and more labor intensive. I use the solution method and not the paste.

 

http://www.uaex.edu/environment-nature/wildlife/youth-education/TR%20Tanning%20deer%20hide%20AZ.pdf

[Anderson_HOTD69]

Thanks guys. I found a kit through McKenzie that seems reasonably priced that I'm going to try and see how it goes. Appreciate the info. I'd love to see pix of the finished product and I'll do the same when I get it and get it all finished up

[DesertBull]

Sun devils got their hides tanned

[Anderson_HOTD69]

I wouldn't know the first thing about that lol. I only watch 1 team and no one in AZ likes them lol

[stanley]

I'll be really curious to hear how it works out for you guys who are 'doing it yourself'!

 

My son killed a bull this past weekend, and I am having the hide tanned for him to keep as a momento/trophy. I looked into the do it yourself kits, but in the end I took it up to Jim at Southwest Wildlife Taxidermy in Scottsdale. (They are sponsors here, and they get great reviews. Visited there a bit today and Jim is a VERY nice guy!) Anyway, after talking to him about the 'art' of tanning, I'm glad I didn't try to do it myself. They of course don't do the actual tanning there. They ship it out to a tannery to have it done, but he has worked with the tannery for a long time and vouches for their great results. I might try a hide on my own sometime. Just didn't want to have my first one be my son's trophy! lol

 

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

S.

[MuggyMan]

I've tried tanning myself. Ruined my first 2 cow elk hides. I have my last cow elk hide in the garage - tanning done, but far from a professional job. I would still need to work at softening it up and making it more pliable it I were going to use it for making clothing or moccasins or something. A few things I learned:

First, I recommend anyones first attempt tanning be on something smaller than an elk. Man what a lot of work. A lot of surface area, and it's thick compared to deer or smaller animals. By far the most work was fleshing and scraping the hide. I used the paste method and won't try that again as I'm not sure how thoroughly the tanning solution penetrated the hide, and not sure how important that is. Regarding the OP, squirrel and rabbit skins are a good place to start. Nice and small, and if you screw them up, no great loss.

[brademan76]

I just applied tanning solution to the a couple of deer hides last night using a kit I bought at Cabela's. Hoping to get them finished before the end of the week and will let you know how it worked.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/the-tannery-basic-home-tanning-kit/1613656.uts

 

I'm happy to report that the tanning worked well for me. I've got a backskin and a full skin of axis deer that I would've probably paid $200 bucks to have done professionally. For all I'm using them for they'll work great. Not as pliable as others I have that were professionally done, but I believe if I worked them a little more and sanded them a bit thinner, they would be very comparable.

 

The process really isn't that bad, and honestly its hard to screw up. Glad I did it as now I will be more comfortable doing it again in the future.

 

Another note, I fleshed my hides with a power washer... worked great!

 

 

[CatfishKev]

 

I just applied tanning solution to the a couple of deer hides last night using a kit I bought at Cabela's. Hoping to get them finished before the end of the week and will let you know how it worked.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/the-tannery-basic-home-tanning-kit/1613656.uts

 

I'm happy to report that the tanning worked well for me. I've got a backskin and a full skin of axis deer that I would've probably paid $200 bucks to have done professionally. For all I'm using them for they'll work great. Not as pliable as others I have that were professionally done, but I believe if I worked them a little more and sanded them a bit thinner, they would be very comparable.

 

The process really isn't that bad, and honestly its hard to screw up. Glad I did it as now I will be more comfortable doing it again in the future.

 

Another note, I fleshed my hides with a power washer... worked great!

That's pretty cool and for only $50 not much to lose. I like the idea of fleshing with a pressure washer too. Never bothered saving hides, I think I will now though.

[Anderson_HOTD69]

Thanks for the update guys. Had to put off the tanning idea because I forgot I had a Dec coues tag coming up haha. I'll get to them eventually. Glad to see that worked so well, the axis is beautiful. Always loved those critters