How to tan step by step! Beginners, this is what you need!

[Mayruthie]

Thank you for the complete instructions on tanning.  I am about to tan my first hide.  I used to skin animals for my ex (a part time trapper) and stretch them.  One thing I didn't notice in your article is stretching.  I have none of the mentioned products as of this time.  Should I freeze the hide while I wait to receive all the ingredients from a supplier?  Or start the salting process.  My hide became available today and he is on ice until morning when I can skin him.  Thank you for all the help.  If anyone can answer my questions I would appreciate it.  I am a brand new member.  Thank you,
Mayruthie.

[Amy]

To "The Dog" - You need to flesh the meat off the hide after skinning, and before salting. "Shaving" - that is, actual thinning of the hide - occurs after you have pickled for several days. As for how long a skin can sit, you can keep a skin in a dried, salted state for quite a long time. Make sure all moisture is out of the hide. Sometimes I put a fan on mine for a few days. They will turn very dry and white. I keep them like this until I'm ready to tan. Usually I'll stack hides up for 2-3 months and then start tanning them all. I tanned a cape that had been salted for two years. It turned out just fine. Salting is a great way to store a hide without taking up freezer space. Just keep them in a environment with relatively low humidity or they can start to turn flexible again and I've never thought anything good could come of that. Salted hides are also susceptible to insects (I used to think dermestids wouldn't eat a salted hide - then I found out I was completely wrong). So you don't want to toss them up in your barn roof for storage. Keep them in a stable environment, like the shop.

maryruthie, as far as stretching, I've never stretched trapper-style hides so I can't give any insight on that. If you are tanning for a mount, no need to put them on a stretcher. You can go ahead and salt because, as I stated above, your hide will be fine in a salted state until your tanning supplies arrive.

[The Dog]

thanks Amy-  I unfortunately salted the hide last night.  I started to shave the flesh off the best I could, but the scraping just seemed to do nothing so I got my knife out.  I have read a little about using preasure washers and wire wheels on the grinder do you reccomend either of these methods?  Can I just let it dry and then use sand paper to get all the meat off?  I got the belly fairly well done but its the eyes and nose and mouth that I am having alot of trouble with.  Thanks. 

[way2blessed4this]

               OK new question!! REMEMBER IM NEW!!!!! Hubby used to  do taxidermy I paid him no mind let him stay BUSY alone  in his little shop. NOW I WISHED I HAD WATCHED AND LEARNED! Well  hes out of town on work for a while and I got bored and dug in his stuff.. hehe WELLL started out pretty simple it seemed.. So i ordered some deer hide off the internet that had been salted and stored.. (refuse to get into his critters in the freezer) Thinkin I should have though  ANyhow these hides are salted But dont appear to  be fleshed real well. They smell and neeed a bath before I can stomach messing with them! Smell like my saint barnard after few trips to the pond in a hot summer heat.. Wet odor.. I pulled them out they seem to be in really good shape I can get hair to pull out and ive tried!! And are beautiful! What is the safest way to give them a bath and what do i bathe them in.. I am going to tan them if this makes a difference not mounting SHould i try to  flesh them better before or after the bath? Some have a hefty amount on them it seems.. HELP ME!!
      O and i dont know how to post a question on here. Only see the reply to  a question..lol I am from Texas (the south) But not retarded! lol! It my seeem so! AND THANKS GEORGE FOR LETTING ME KNOW MY LITTLE SQUIRRELS WERE SAFE WERE WORRYINGGGGGGGGGGG BADDDD ABOUT THEM! MY STUFF CAME YESTERDAY!

[The Dog]

Amy- I have ordered all the chemicals you listed, fleshed the hide the best I could, and salted for about a 5 days.  I have it in front of a fan right now and only the head adn a little of the back are getting hard and white, is this just a factor of time or do you think I need to flesh more cause the grease is keeping the hide pliable?  Also when should I degrease the hide....I ordered kemsol degreaser form knochbloc. Thanks sorry to bug, just want to get it right my first time. 

[sarahdj]

I have a stalling customer issue.  The bear has been salting for about days, checked daily.  He is still damp & flexible.  Is it safe to shake him off and put him in the freezer until the issues with my customer are resolved or do I need to go ahead and get him pickled and tanned?  Thanks!

[sarahdj]

Never mind on the previous question- I'm going to go ahead and tan him- worst case scenario I will have a tanned bear hide (agony, agony haha).  But I was also curious as to whether or not the Rittel's chems were compatible with Knobloch's (degreaser, relaxer, Kemal-4,  & I want to use a bacteriacide to be on the safe side)?  Getting him in the rehydration bath tomorrow & I already have Knobloch items in stock, being that I'm 1 day shipping from rmi.  Can someone please let me know?  Sorry to pester......but I guess I am!

[Chad]

Amy ,
 Great job  and im sure it will help everyone.Thanks for taking the time to post your tanning method.

[Darrell]

I am with Amy on Rittles tanning supplies great stuff

[The Dog]

Amy- just got done tanning my coon, and put oil on.  Its sweating, this has been such a valuable tool in learning how to complete this process, thankyou so much for posting your method.  

[Darrell]

Beats the hell out of Krowtan JMO

[Joe Mc]

Amy; Rittels directions say 4 tablespoons= 1oz of tan and your saying 3 could you or someone clarify this. I'm doing my first tan. Thanks

[outwoods taxidermy]

good post, but my question is how do you keep that workshop so clean, you could eat your dinner off that floor......

[Yellow_Dart]

Thanks Amy! Very thorough post. I hope it helps a lot of people get started.

[critter killer]

Amy, I have bought several DVDs and none of them even came close to explaining this as good as you. I think I love you. LOL. This will really help. Thank you. You got any info on soft tanning?