I purchased a wet tanned hide and paid for it to be shipped second day air. It was sent ground and held up in shipping. The hide has been thawed for some time and has a stench. My question is how long can a wet tanned hide stay out of the freezer before problems occur. I am not sure if the hide is OK and just smelly or if I have just gotten screwed. Thanks for your help
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John, there's a new school on wet tans from what we started with about a decade or so ago. At that time, they were always sent second day, but the question became, WHY? They were, after all, tanned capes. They just hadn't been drummed. I've gotten several wet tanned hides in sent regular UPS ground and have had no problems whatsoever. Bruce Rittel or Keith Daniels usually watch this site and maybe they have better insight on the actual effects, but I didn't have any problems.
John I just purchased an Elk and a Bison cape that were very expensive and wet tanned.I had them shipped from BC Canada to South Texas. They shipped out on Tuesday June 25th. They arrived in Houston on Saturday June 29th. I went to pick them up on Monday July 1st and customs would not clear them. I had to get a broker involved and went back to pick them up on Wednesday July 3rd. I then inspected them and they appeared to be fine. When I returned to my shop with them two hours later I Proceeded to rehydrate them as they had dried out considerably almost to a dry tan state,I then placed them in bags and let them sweat overnight. I came in the next day and peared them down and made necessary repairs and put in the freezer until they are to be mounted. They are in excellent condition with plenty of stretch. I am sure it depends on the quality of tan but the guy I purchased them from stated that he dries the capes out considerably before he ships so as to ward off anything getting moldy or rotting. He assured me that they would be fine for a couple of weeks and there was nothing to worry about.As you may have guessed I was very worried as some people blow a lot of smoke especially if they know you are in another country. But as stated they indeed were fine and they had been in transit for 9 days before I was able to get them in the freezer. I hope this helps!
Should be fine but since it is tanned as george stated. BUT! I was new to handling wet tanned hides, and let mine sit out of the freezer for a few days, and it was bagged up. It started to get a small odor to it, and the skin started to get a mold growing on it. This was easily cleaned up by applying a bacteria; spray to the skin, and wiping dry. I have heard that if the skin is bagged for shipment while it is still very wet, while it is tanned is susseptible to fungus and mold, as long as it is still in the wet moist state. Try giving it a good bath in bacteriacide as long as the fur is still strong in its rots, and does not easily pull out. Cant guarantee it, but it worked for me.