I tanned a bobcat for a rug, I double oiled it to make it extra soft. After it had dried for three days I threw it in the tumbler to break the hide, and the fur is still oily and matted, any suggestion on how to remove it? Can I wash it to remove the oil a blow dry it for a fluffy soft look?
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I wash mine in Dawn.
It works very well.
To save Dawn, and get better penetration into the hairs, I will mix the dawn with a little hot water first.
Leave the Dawn on the hair for 5 minutes then double rinse.
You will have a "tumbler look result" with a great smell.
Works like a charm.
Matting is often caused from hidden slip spots or an alum tan. Do not use alum and you will not see the matting. Mats groom out, be patient on the really tangled spots.
Simply tumble it in sawdust with a solvent added to it - like Odorless mineral Spirits! If you dont have a tumbler - use a plastic garbage bag - add some sawdust - add some OMS and bounce them around for 5-10 minutes - then blow off! The fur should fluff out!
I have a tumbler and I did tumble it, but I didn't add the mineral spirits. That why the fur is so matted up
the sawdust stuck to the oily fur. Will the mineral spirits take all the out?
When you use a tumbler to clean it up - add Odorless mineral Spirits (OMS) until the sawdust is only slightly damp with it. For 100 Lbs. of sawdust in a Tannery Drum we used 1 1/2 quarts of it. Then we would mix it thoroughly, add the skins or capes and tumble them for 1/2 to 3/4 an hour. Then cage.
The OMS will remove only the surface oil thats in the fur or hair and any puddling that happened on the leather side. However - dont use it excessively!