Submitted by Donna on 2/8/1999. ( z2chevy@hotmail.com )
I have purchased a tanning kit for starters and the kit says to pickle for only 24 hours. I have read in this forum that you should pickle for at least 3 days. What should I do? I need to start my pickle process tonight, so any answers by tomorrow evening would be greatly appreciated!!
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This response submitted by Bob C on 2/8/1999. ( bobswildlife@webtv.net )
Donna, Which tan are you using ? I really think that 24 hrs is not enough time. Bob C
This response submitted by Bryan on 2/8/1999. ( Bryan@htb.net )
Hi Donna, I think Bob is right. 24 hours not long enough! I would put them in for 3 days and make sure you stir the hides twice a day even 3 times (if you can). I have a tumbler and using formic acid still takes me two days to pickle the hides. Hope this helped!
This response submitted by Donna on 2/8/1999. ( z2chevy@hotmail.com )
I am using Lutan-F. I didn't think that 24hrs. was enough time. It gets a little confusing for the beginner when the instructions in the packet tells you one thing, but the experts say different. I'll go with you guys any day! As usual, thanks.
This response submitted by Bruce Rittel on 2/8/1999. ( rittel@ici.net )
I firmly believe in leaving a skin pickle for 3 days before you remove it, drain 30 minutes, shave, degrease, wash, rinse, and throw it back into the pickle for another 24 hours before neutralizing and tanning. A pickle is a safe place for your cape or skin. Call it a "holding" solution if you will - but it safely holds the skin intact. Most of the pickling problems I hear from Taxidermists, are from the ones who are not patient enough to allow that cape or skin to pickle thoroughly for 3 days, and pull it out too soon. I've personally left skins (shaven and unshaven) in a pickle (Saftee Acid) for 2 months and longer, and altho I stir them, and check the ph periodically, they are in perfect shape. Tanning however, is a different matter. Some tans you can leave for several days - like Alum, Vegetable and Chrome. Others, like EZ-100 or Lutan F - you should pull after 16-18 hours, and never let them tan over 24 hours. If you go over the 24 hours - they tan, but you will lose all the stretch that you want for mounting. Hopefully this helps. What you refer to as pickling, sounds like you may really be talking about tanning. E-Mail me if I can be of further help.
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