Hi-
I'm new here, and I've done some tanning, and mounted one squirrel of mine, before, but there's a lot I still don't know about taxidermy/tanning. I just got my first ever big game animal (javelina!- I'm in Arizona :) and I'm thinking about WASCO's Rittel's Leather Making Kit to tan the hide. Right now, it's (non-iodized) salted and dried and sitting in the garage waiting to be tanned.
However, I'm hoping to save and use some of the hair/bristles, and I'm wondering if de-liming the hide will damage the hairs? Should I cut the hair away before deliming, or can I pull out the whole, undamaged hair after deliming? Or is there some other tanning process I should use?
Thanks for any help.
JC
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If you are intent on saving those bristles - cut them off close to the skin before liming. Liming may weaken them. When you Lime the skin it will loosen the hair roots by pulping the epidermis - and the hair and epidermis will become pulpy enough to easily remove on your Beam.
Thanks! :)