I have seem some capes on the for sale section that stated that they were air dryed. What would be the next step on them salt them down then proceed as usual for tanning? Does it hurt the hide or will it cause the hair to slip by not salting them down after skinning? If they are ok like this how long cam you store them like this? Before it buy any air dryed skins I just wanted to make sure that the hair would not slip or any other problems with them.
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Well Len, an air dried hide is a hide that was and should be fleshed, ears, nose, mouth are also turned. The only thing is that person may or may not have salt on at the time of skinnig. What I'm saying is take an African hide. They are not salted but air dried. Also trapper hides are also air dried and sold this way. Will your hide slip? Doutfully. But you do need to take precautions as always. Like with all hides that are bought there is no guarantee that the hide will slip. There are many products that will help you in rehydrating the skin.
Rittel has a product called ultra soft that works on air dried skins.
Also Knoblock's also has a one called Enzol B and Relax R.
After the hide is relaxed you can place it in the pickle and go through the process of pickling and tanning.