Got a coon's tail & want to use it decoratively.
Searched the archives here for preserving coon tails, so far it looks like I need to split the tail and remove as much flesh and fat as possible. OK, did that. Not sure what next steps will be to make it pliable and last and not have the hair fall out. What did the Indians use? salt? I have scraped the inside of the tail leather and nailed (stretched) it on a board & put table salt on it, it is in the sun now.Am I going in the right direction? Have seen some references to pickling and degreasers and mineral spirits,but they are a little confusing. In an earlier reply (I was in the wrong category-training) Sammy said "Use a lot of 20 Mule Team Laundry Booster to "cure" the skin---note this will not tan or make pliable." Not sure what the differences between cure and tan and pliable are. Could use guidance on this. What does pickling accomplish? I could mix up some white vinegar and salt and water to 'pickle'. Would appreciate knowing the why's for the various steps to preserve the suppleness and quality of the tail.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
Ed , I know your new here but your not suppose to post more than one of the same questions in a day . If you read your first post , you will see your answers . Rick
It really shouldnt be in the sun ,as heat can make the hair fall out.If you want to tan it ,you can either braintan,wich would be easy to do on a small scale,as you wont have to buy 5 lb of chemicals.You can also tan it with chemicals,which is what most people do on this forum,but if you chemicaly tan,you have a less a chance of finding what you need at everyday stores[your gonna have to order stuff]I would get a Lutan F tanning kit,or a basyn dl tanning kit.Both you can order from Van Dykes.Its worth it to get a kit like that if your a begginer because if you buy the individual chemicals,it wont have any directions.Even if the kit costs $40 you should get it.If you want to braintan,go to braintan.com and look at the articles and info section and click on brain tanning furs.During the time it takes to get your chemicals or supplies ,just keep the skin in a room teperature place or even the garage.Also,dont put borax on it if you want to tan it.I dont think it has any bad effects,but there is no reason for it.Use lots of salt.Good luck.Email me if you have any problems.
Ed L., just an idea, you may want to slow down and start over, if you need more tails for your mens group, you will need to road hunt and collect what you need, split and de-bone, scrape the fat off and salt them, take them to a taxidermist and ask him or her to tan them for you. A taxidermist can tan them all at once, oil and tumble them soft for you. Easy job for the taxidermist if you have done the work up front. Just an Idea.
I have a coyote tail that was not tanned and did not lose any hair. It actually came off a coyote that I trapped and the pelt was dried on stretcher and my dog chewed up the pelt, but not the tail. It has lasted 15 years without any hairloss. Hides from furbearers are never salted, they are just air dried on stretchers, then garment tanned. I used to put them on a stretcher and throw them outside on a windy sunny day and it dries them in a hurry. Depending on what you are doing with it, you don't have to have it tanned.