Tanning - suggested books

[lifeOfBarney]

Hi all

Anyone have any suggested literature on tanning methods? Lot of great YouTube videos out there. But a book sometimes helps.

[benjhind]

I'm just finishing up a deer using this method: https://www.fieldandstream.com/how-to-tan-a-deer-hide

The great thing about alum tanning is that it costs next to nothing and the materials are widely available (bulk barn for alum, Home Hardware stocks neats foot oil). My deer is looking great and the leather is soft and pliable. Fratri uses alum tanning on his coyote pelts and they look fantastic.

I tried brain tanning and failed miserably (think I got it too hot during the smoking process?). One thing I would suggest is to use a fleshing beam instead of just trying to go at things with a knife. All I have is a 6' chunk of 6" abs pipe. I put one end up against a wall and then prop it over a sawhorse. I made a makeshift fleshing knife by sharpening (not too sharp) the middle of a chunk of flat iron. I doubt my pipe would be much good on furbearers but it works great for deer.

[lifeOfBarney]

@benjhind that's really helpful!!
Bulk barn... if course!!!! Here I am looking at these tiny containers in the grocery store.

What about salting them? Where do you get bulk salt on the cheap?

[lifeOfBarney]

I'm just finishing up a deer using this method: https://www.fieldandstream.com/how-to-tan-a-deer-hide

The great thing about alum tanning is that it costs next to nothing and the materials are widely available (bulk barn for alum, Home Hardware stocks neats foot oil). My deer is looking great and the leather is soft and pliable. Fratri uses alum tanning on his coyote pelts and they look fantastic.

I tried brain tanning and failed miserably (think I got it too hot during the smoking process?). One thing I would suggest is to use a fleshing beam instead of just trying to go at things with a knife. All I have is a 6' chunk of 6" abs pipe. I put one end up against a wall and then prop it over a sawhorse. I made a makeshift fleshing knife by sharpening (not too sharp) the middle of a chunk of flat iron. I doubt my pipe would be much good on furbearers but it works great for deer.

In step 4 they call for ammonia... not ammonia alum.
I'm assuming they meant ammonia alum??

[benjhind]

For the 2 or 3 lbs that the instructions called for, I just grabbed my salt from Bulk Barn while I was there (pickling salt or Kosher I can't remember), but if you are salting hides prior to tanning and need volume, TSC or any feed supply will sell it by the bag at a far lower cost.

I'm not sure what purpose the ammonia serves, but I used regular cleaning ammonia (Home Hardware). Maybe it helps emulsify the oil and water? Or maybe it helps them soak in? No idea, I just followed the instructions. It is neat how the leather takes the oil in and doesn't feel greasy once it is worked in.

I just liked this method because it doesn't rely on a bottle of "mystery tanning fluid" that you buy once and use it up. Not sure why I don't like that idea, but I don't! I've got enough leftover ingredients now to last me quite some time, so it looks like I'll be doing it again.

For working the hide, I clamped a machete in a vice and worked it over the curved back (here is the machete https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/f...-0575118p.html). I saw somewhere where a guy used a disc (from a farm implement) which gave me the idea. I think Fratri said he uses a wire strung tight for coyotes.

I really don't know much about the process but I'm almost done my deer and the spots that are completely dry feel like supple leather now. There are some spots that are a bit crusty (mostly near the edges) and I'm not sure whether they didn't get rinsed well enough (crusty from salt), didn't get enough oil, or haven't been worked enough. Once it is complete I plan on trimming the edges to give it a nicer shape anyways.20190114_200032.jpg