Krowtann 2000

[Todd K]

          Do you have to have a fleshing machine and shave the skin thin? I dont own one, thats why I'm asking.

[elkhunter1313]

Todd...if you cannot afford a fleshing machine I have found that a drill with a #3 wire wheel bit in it does quite a nice job...you are more in control of the presssure and cansee better on the hide how thin it needs to be. Don't get me wrong, fleshing machines are great but for us that cannot afford them, well you have to resort to alternate methods.
I also wash and spin my hides in my washing machine, although my wife does not get too happy about that one.

[Becky P]

It is not always necessary to shave a wt, at least not southern ones. Some will say it is, but I didn't shave any of mine for 10 years, just started shaving (I'm not very good) about three years ago. You get more stretch, more detail, and less shrinkage if you can get them shaved.

[Todd K]

    Thanks, I flesh my capes pretty thin using a fleshing beam and a sharp draw knife, I use a large scalpal for face work. Using this method which I learned long ago is how I'm able to get good results using DP. Thats kind of why I was wandering if the same method would work with the Krowtann.
Thanks
Todd

[elkhunter1313]

Todd it should ...just be sure to follow the directions to the letter...most imporatant when you get to the wash with liquid tide part...use only 1/2 a CAPful....i just pulled a 1/2 coyote mount out and am gonna dry it out some a sand down the rough spots before mounting...those things are hard to flesh out properly. By the way what kind of draw knife do you use...I plan to get a necker knife here pretty soon.

[NickyG]

One thing that I have been doing that I feel better about is adding a cup of BASCAL-S pickle flakes to my krowtann solution, along with the salt....I feel that the initial "worry" about a cape slipping is gone by adding this....Well, it boosts my confidence that it will tan just fine with no problems, anyway.....Don't know if it is necessary, but it seems to work well......
Best of Luck!!!

[Todd K]

  Elkhunter, I'm not real sure what name brand the knife is but I've had it about 12 years. Its the standard double handled kind and its pretty heavy duty. I keep it real sharp by using a file and after a while I have to use my bench grinder to re-shape the edge again. I have to be careful because it will slice a hole in a deer cape quite easily. When I flesh a  cape, I angle the blade and go from right to left as I push down. I can get a cape pretty thin with this method but not as thin as a commercially tanned cape.  On the facial area I use a scalpel and #22 blades as well as a larger blade(cant think what # right now) and I can get this area very thin. Thats how I flesh any thing that I tan myself or DP, still send out lots of capes though!
Later

[paulbunyan]

I have no problems with krowtann either. Excellent product. I use a pressure washer to flesh, then remove most of the water in a washer on spin cycle then in the tan.

[NickyG]

Good Stuff, man!!!!  I like the new Whitetail formula for deer...They shave nice on the fleshing beam after 2 days of being in solution, and on the fleshing machine...The only thing I really don't care for is the smell of the solution....Other than that, it is grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!!!   I have a nice muley buck in the tan right now as well!!!

Good Luck