Hello,
I,m new at this.I was wanting to do a muskrat hide.Whats the best way to to shave hide i tryed wire wheel to thin.Dosen,t work good on a raw hide should i pickle it or salt it then wire wheel it.Yes i am going to tan it.Not sure what to do on a thin skin animal like this.Thanks
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That thin skined of an animal realy does not need to be thinned, just fleshed real good. Pickle, tan it and streatch it as it dries. After it is dry you can break down the leather further by rubbing the leather against a hard some what pionted spot like a counter courner or shevel blade.
Hope this helps
Later
Danny,
The above post is correct in that most muskrats do not need to be thinned in order to have a nice soft finished leather.
Leave the membrane on the muskrat when you first flesh it. Double salt and allow it too dry for a few days. Then I pickle it for 3 days. Take it out of the pickle and then with your wire wheel GENTLY remove any remaining flesh and that membrane. Put it back in the pickle for another day and then tan. Remove from the tan and oil. Put the fur side out and allow to set for 1-2 days. the turn leather side out until it is dry to the touch. Finally work the skin over a counter edge or edge of a board until the leather softens which doesn't take long.
Chris