I want to rehidrate a dry salted mule deer hide. After searching the archives I see recomendings of from a couple of handfuls of salt to a gal. of water to four lbs. to a gal. Should I conclude that as long as the water is salted it doesn't matter by how much?
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What you want is a "brine" solution to rehydrate those skins. To mix it - use 2 Lbs. of Salt/1 gallon of Water! Some old-timers mix 4 Lbs. of Salt/1 gallon of Water - but they then reuse it. Yes - you will see some excess Salt on the bottom of your container - but its okay! You want excess Salt in your brine solution. Also - keep your area where you have the brine at a comfortable temperature - usually 65-85 degrees Fahrenhiet. Colder - the Salt will really drop out of solution. A brine is a safe way to rehydrate skins. It takes longer than commercial relaxing agents - but you can safely leave skins and capes there safely up to 24 hours. Thats assuming they were handled okay before you got them. Have a Happy New Year!
Bruce Rittel
Rittels Tanning Supplies
water, bacteriaside and a relaxing agent is all I use. I flesh good before and during salting to get a good clean hide, deer that is, and dry hard. It takes a lot of water to submerge a rock hard hide, 6 to 10 gallons plus 2 pounds of salt per gallon, a lot of material to move around. After 4 to 6 hours its relaxed and in the pickle. I have never had a problem with slippage doing it this way, but drying hard is a must to set hair...Paul
I never dry the hides hard and I never get any slippage. I also know taxidermist that dont salt a hide the beam it turn everything and right into the formic acid pickle, they dont lose anything either, but the do have a 100% salt solution in the pickle.
I normally use a AUTO-TANNER for deer capes, but with the large game and African work I go straight to the pickle. and have not had any problems.
I would follow Bruces directions, why because he sells tanning supplies and is in touch with a large number of tanneries.