I tanned a bever a few weeks ago using safe t acid and a brush on tan but when it dried it was hard i worked on breaking but it never got as soft as i whould have like. I've got four Coyote rugs to do and they want them soft and flexible. Any better way to get the softness they want. Any Help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks..
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If you want garment leather softness, you have to send the hides to places that specialize in doing just that. You won't be able to do that at home without many hours of backbreaking work and it still won't be as good as it looks when done by professionals.
Here we go again! I will not bash brush on tans but I just flat out do not like them verry much. I will list my instructions that I use for static tans (just sub the static tan for your brush on tan)
1. rough flesh the skin!
2. turn and split as needed
3. salt the skin (get it into every nook and cranny) and use a lot!
4. roll up and let drain at least 12 hrs
5. un-roll shake off old salt and re-salt it for at leas 12 more hrs.
6. relax the skin (and use a good relaxer not just some salt and water)
7. off to the pickle it goes for at least 3 days (72 hrs) don't forget to move the hide(s) around and maintain the ph of the pickle!
8. after 3 days in the pickle take the hide(s) out and shave them (shave untill the hide starts to change colors "blue tint")
9. return the hide(s) to the pickle for at least 12 more hrs.
10. degrease! if you can degrease in the pickle DO IT!
11. rince well!
12. neutralize. don't skip this step! (20 min. only!)
13. rinse well!
14. tan 12-24 hrs (Lutan-FN or EZ-Tan)
15. rinse well!
16. rinse well! again.
17. drain for 30-60 min.
18. oil (mix and use per instructions)
19. hang to dry (do not use heat to dry)
20. when allmost dry (turns white when you stretch it) start breaking (keep breaking over the course of a few days untill compleatly dry!)
Now as you can see there is a lot more to tanning that buying a "bottle-o-matic" and expecting great results! like I said I do not bash brush on tans (they do have a place in every taxidermy shop) hell I even have a bottle of Mckinzie tan! but if you want good wall hangers or rugs you need to put your back into it! hope this helps! Joe
You can also do what George said! Joe