I have been told both side on this, and was wondering if someone could finally set this straight for me. One person tells me it will, and another tells me it won't. Thanks, Eric
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Borax will not make hair slip. Borax is one of the main ingredients in dry preservative. Hair slip results from several factors, but the most common is improper care of the skin. Bacteria build up on the skin and break down the hair follicles and skin structure, causing the hair to fall out.
Borax will not cause a deer skin to slip. Bacteria causes slippage.
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if its going to be tanned and you used borax while skinning it'll change the ph lvl
I want to thank everyone that answered my question. From now on, I am going to believe it won't make the hair slip. I've been worried about it, but no more. Thanks Again, Eric
These nice folks all answered you, but, I cant until I ask...How are you wanting to use the borax? Thats the key to answering you. If you take a raw skin and borax it like you would use salt, instead of salting it, it may well slip. If you are talking about taking a stable, preserved skin and dusting it with borax for moth protection, it wont slip.
I just wanted to use it for "grip" when fleshing a cape. I've seen it done on videos, but on other ones they say don't use borax on any mammal for any reason. Thanks, Eric
I would not use borax if you plan to tan the skin. Borax works against the acid in the pickle and can cause problems. Salt will give you all the grip you need in fleshing if you intend to tan. Enjoy, Aaron H.
Sawdust flour is simply powdered sawdust. If you cant get it - then use regular sawdust. Since it's chemically inert it wont give you a lot of problems when the piece is tanned. Borax definitely will!
Even using Corn Meal is better than skinning and using Borax! Don't use Borax or when its being tanned it will drive the PH levels up. Whoever does your tanning will have a hard time trying to save it.