tanning hides

slimjim · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:17 am Post subject: tanning hides

I'm getting ready to go on an elk hunt. I want to be ready to have the hide tanned if I'm successful. I've heard there is a good tannery in Sebring FL but can't seem to find a link to it this morning. Does anyone have recommendations for a tannery?

Vince · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:47 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Do it yourself mate. It's a lot of work, and fleshing the hide is bloody hard work, but at the end the satisfaction of doing it yourself makes it worthwhile.

Check around your gun shops etc...you should be able to find a tanning kit or you can do it the old fashioned way using bark.

Dawgdad · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

I used a tannery here for a fox pelt. They quoted me a price - took three onths to do it - then whe i wnet to pick it up thwy said they quoted me the taxidermist rate and it would be 3x more than they said..... I paid it and vowed to continue to tan hides myself in the future.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

If your using a outfitter I would ask his recommendation. A lot of taxidermists tan there own so a local guy might be the ticket ( my taxidermist doe's his own ) or you could do your own as Vince said it's a fair amount of work but there's a lot of satisfaction in it. I use to tan mine in a salt/alum solution it's bin so long I don't remember the exact solution though.

gelandangan · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

I am lazy and because of that I lost a few hides.
Also the ones that I managed to finish, the fur came off soon, and hides with bald patches are as good as throw away.
SWMBO also complains about the stinks and mess when I am doing it.

I would recommend differently.
Unless you got time, and patience to do it, maybe its best to send it away.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

I'm with Gelan on this. I've tried it but found that I couldn't get the time to do it right and ended up throwing the hide away. Besides, how many elk hides do you expect to collect? I wouldn't want to learn on that. I looked online some and saw places that would do an elk skin, hair on, for about $260 and hair off for $160.

slimjim · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Found it. I'm definitely going to have a professional do this.

sebringcustomtanning.com/

slimjim · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

Besides, how many elk hides do you expect to collect?

SWMBO has ask me why I need even one.

Elvis · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

mate get a ledleters kit or some thing similar and do it yourself. its not rocket science I mean if I can do it ANYONE can. If the hair slipped gelan it probably wasnt cooled properly when it died. it is very important to get it off the animal and let it cool. my first stag lay on his back over night. I got that done by a pro and after a week he realised it was slipping so turned it into leather instead. I have done many hides since then and have found the kits work well the old alum n kero is Ok but moisture sensitive.
Rittals make a great kit
51 Summer street Taunton MA02780
email...rittel @ ici.net
website & online ordering http;//rittelsupplies.net
that makes a nice white/grey hide and is easy to do and as a bonus they are happy to help with queries/problems (dont even ask Embarassed

)

Vince · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

This is the kit I use...does a good job, although the actual leather has a hint of a blue colour to it when finished.

Leders Tanning Kit

The pics below are a Fallow doe skin I tanned about 3 or 4 years ago. I haven't had any hair slippage and the leather is quite thick in places...up to 2mm or 3mm.. Don't take any notice of the rusty marks on the hide...I had the hide laying on something in the garage that was obviously damp.

Elvis · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:17 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Hhh Hhhhmmm wheres the bullet hole???? or was the two for free in head shooting mode???

Vince · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:15 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Elvis wrote:

Hhh Hhhhmmm wheres the bullet hole???? or was the two for free in head shooting mode???

Shoulder shot mate...no exit wound.

gelandangan · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Great Job Vince..
Maybe one day I'll send my hides you for tanning Very Happy

slimjim · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:30 am Post subject: Re: tanning hides

Agreed, nice job, Vince. It will be interesting to see how mine turns out. First things first. Got to shoot the elk.

Elvis · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: tanning hides

ok I see the wee hole now, betsy pokes a much bigger hole in fallow!!!