I am a beginner in taxidermy. I have tried to read as much as possible to learn more. I have read several different methods people use. They all seem to be the same except for one thing, some people pickle and some don't. I was looking at an article that had a "world famous" taxidermist mounting some racoons for a museum. All he did was skin them out, salt them and put them in fridge. The next day he fleshed them and re-salted. On the third day he washed them off, put some tanning oil on and mounted them. I guess my question is, is it really important to pickle a hide before tanning? Or is it safe to skip the pickle? If the pickle is skipped what will happen. Thanks wchare
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Who is this person?
Read under the tanning button.
Bruce Rittel is the answer man, he sells supplies to large tanneries and runs a tannery.
Since the tanneries use a pickle, you tell us if its needed?
Pickle is needed!
How come we see so called World Famous Taxidermist, that noone knows?
the "article" he is refering to is : http://www.sunflower.com/~cyanhyde/TaxidermyPage.html
JOhn C, the newcomer to taxidermy asked a valid question and you send him an answer like he should already know the answer to the question. Give us all a break and take wise ass know it all answers and keep them to yourself. Oh yeh, look at the search button first. I am as tired of that response from you and raven as you are with new comers to taxidermy asking stupid questions. You and the other know it alls make this web site almost boring and worthless to look at. But I must just to see who you can put down next.
And therein lies the crux. Pickling was once a separate method just like DP is today. I recall never pickling a hide and to some degree, with Rineharts Tanning Solution, I still seldom pickle. BUT, the safest bet in good tanning is to pickle. This allows all the hair to lock tight before fleshing as well as assisting the fleshing. THEN the tanning solutions are literally sucked into the opened pores of the skin. This one's bound to be fought along age lines rather than experience lines.
Did who cares pee in your wheaties?
But then you are right up there with the best cowards, leave your name or shut up.
John ....if i could piss in your wheaties i would.
I love screwing around with your gray mater, whats left of it. Hey join up with the other coward and comeon down I will treat you like a king! Rodney for sure.
And i'm not really afraid to post my name. Why don't you just stay clear of the beginners part of the site. I'm certainly not a seasoned veteran and do have questions from time to time. Problem is I will never ask anything on this forum. Because of folks like you. I appreciate good humor, and like to dish it out myself from time to time. The thing is, this isn't really the place for it. I find it hard to believe that someone went to the trouble to create this forum just so you had a place to beat down the "new guys".
Please prove me right by responding with one of those fancy dimestore novels you like to post about how right you are and how wrong everyone else is. They do make me laugh.
Pretty sad when someone is trying to do things right and learn to do the best they can so that they dont give the buisness or themselves a bad name, and all they get is put down. Like I said I am a beginner, not an expert. Thats why I came here for help. You only learn by asking questions. I figured asking the experts would be the first place to start. As far as JOhn C goes, sounds like he should be a professional wrestler with his "better than you" a$$ clown attitude. People like him are the ones that give the buisness a bad name. Can you imagine doing buisness with this jack hole.
With being upset with John C. I have always used a formic acid pickle on anything prior to fleshing. I've never lost a cape or had any problem with slipage. I'm sure there are those that don't pickle but i'd sure never try it.
You two just got sucker punched and you're not smart enough to get it. As John said, he was only asking WHO this expert was and he gave you the best source available to answer your questions. Your attitudes are classic "beginner" in wanting everyone to "play nice". "Tired of Know it alls" was right in line with idiot "who cares" whose been on here posting and causing Ken to delete entries for the past week. The "expert" you wanted to follow is OLD like us and has found ways that have gotten him this far. All John was trying to do was make YOU TWO a little smarter than we are. And if you think John's such a know nothing, Make sure you DON'T go to the World Show and if you do, DON'T go to his seminar. You might get educated.
If you'll look at my post, at no time did I question John C's talents as a taxidermist. I happen to know that he is quite acomplished in the field. That doesn't excuse his attitude. Look at a few of his other posts concerning new people.
I am far from a beginner. I happen to check in here to look at some of the questions and offer a hand. Not treat people poorly. And in "my opinion" there is way to much of that going on in here.
I have no intention of attending The World show. From what I have seen i'm not interested. I've never been much for belonging to groups and organizations. This will probably hurt me in the long run, and perhaps i'll change my mind someday.
By the way, do you think you score points by sticking up for John C? Did you notice his obvious reference to violence in the post he left "Mr. tired, you are also invited along with who cares"? Thats a fine thing to post in the begginers forum.
I've been watching this stuff go on for so long and just never said anything about it. Guess I shouldn't have posted anything. I'm only writing this because you did attack me openly without reason. I'm well aware of John C's tactics and how he operates, at no point was I "sucker punched". And my intellegence is well at least average. Fact is I started a fight with John C. Yes, I was provoking him. In other words it never had anything to do with you. So why did you post anything at all. It was none of your business. Stay out of it. Trust me John C is a big boy. But I do find it cute when his little groupies stick up for him. See, that was an obvious attempt to piss you off. And you just won't be able to stand it. Will you? If you don't reply and attack me again everyone will think your weak. And that's what this forum is all about, right? Proving how tough and manly we are. So lets all have a big fight. What a great lesson that would be for all the beginners.
I have no hard feelings George. I'm sure your a great person. And I really hope you caught on that i'm just using my sense of humor.
P.S. Let's move this sparing session to another part of the board.
JOHN C answered the question properly...as well as GEORGE did in defending him. When smart-ass kids learn respect for those who have 'been there'...decades before they became fishies in their parents' sperm..for the wisdom that is imparted to them and others here onthe Forums...the quicker you'll grow up to become real-taxidermists...instead of stupid know-it-all-children who don't know your ass from a hole in the ground.
As Bill Yox would say elequently..."Look in the #$%@# ARCHIVES"...hah. "It's in there...It's in there"...ETCC
Hello Adam. John did give you a answer on where to find out about pickle. The rest of this thread is old men talking tough. They are missing their youth. This forum is the old dogs new teeth. Old Men...ESA!