I am presently using citric acid, but am thinking of changing to formic. I am fleshing the(deer)hide, salting it, fleshing to get small spots after the salt penetrates,resalting those spots putting it in the citric acid pickle, mixed according to the McKenzie video ( fleshing and tanning basics) taking it out after 72 hours fleshing it down on a rawhide fleshing machine returning it to the pickle and they never come out looking like the capes my friend does. (he uses formic acid. Is it something I`m doing or does the Formic certain properties that the citric doesn`t, or both? any advise for this beginner,( I`ve only done a couple of deer) would be greatly appeciated. Thank you.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
I am looking for a method of tanning used in the past. My son is doing a
science fair project on tanning methods. We have a current commercial
tanning kit and am looking for a vintage method to do a comparison.
Thanks
I am looking for a method of tanning used in the past. My son is doing a
science fair project on tanning methods. We have a current commercial
tanning kit and am looking for a vintage method to do a comparison.
Thanks
Suggest you try the Foxfire folks, or Foxfire publications at your local book store. Tom Mails "History of the Plains Indian" has some old methods outlined there.
Some old methods used strong tea solutions, others leached materials from fire ash, but you have to be careful of the wood used. Public Library search would probably provide help.