I'm sure this can be best answered by Mr. Rittel, but many others may have experienced the same thing. I have tanned a doe cape and a squirrel skin. I followed all of the steps that came with the EZ-100 kit and tested pH regularly, but the squirrel skin is not white but rather a mixture of dull colors and is like a piece of cardboard. The deer is hard around the face but more flexible elsewhere. Should I have oiled it more? They were tanned for around 20 hours. The deer skin was not shaved down after pickling for I do not have a shaving machine. How does a wire-wheel work for shaving? If not, what is the best knife for this? As a beginner, I do not wish to invest in a machine.
I've spent much time searching the archives and it has not directly answered my questions.
Thanks for any help!
Daniel
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you answered your own question on the deer, shaving it would definitely help. If you put the squirrel in for 20 hours, you may have overdone it. Squirrels are probably more like 10 hours, although I haven't done them, I am basing this on instructions and what I have read from Mr. Rittel in Breakthrough and on here.
Sorry - but I think it wise to first ask you a few questions about these two pieces. Was the membrane fleshed away on the squirrel? How did you "break" these 2 skins soft after they dried? You'll probably get a more definitive answer if we know the answer to these 2 questions first. Thanks.
PS - One more question - what do you intend to do with these skins? Are they for wall hangers or to be mounted?
Daniel,
A Skife Knife will work fine for what you are needing. It will be a little time consuming but it works. Good luck.
HH
The deer is to be mounted and the squirrel is just for hanging on the wall.
I relaxed the skins in a brine solution just as the instructions said.
On the squirrel, I took all fat and meat off of it...not the membrane.
Looking forward to hearing your resonse...
Daniel