need to know a simple answer to a question I hope?,, I searched the archives but really didnt find the answer I was looking for.. I pickle all my deer hides in the pressure tanner (auto) using tanning crystals from Van Dykes.. I then shave tyhe hides thin... rinse good and apply liqi-tan oil, roll up and freeze til ready to mount.. I have been having great sucess this way, but looking for more stretch.. someone suggested Lutan-F for better stretch..could one use the Lutan-F after pickling in the auto tanner..and if so can someone suggest to me a method and ratio for doing this..thanks rustic.
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I have been trying different tans and pickles in static and auto tanner. I just oiled 2 capes that I pickled with safety acid in the auto then static tanned with Lutan F for 48 hours. They came out nice with lots of stretch. I used the formula for Lutan F that is in the new WASCO catalog. I plan on tanning with Lutan F in the auto tanner next. BTW, I set the auto timer on 12 hours for the pickle. Probably will set it that long for the Lutan F tan. This is the first time I have used Lutan. I have been using Steve's crystals and oil or McKenzie tan. I haven't seemed to have the stretch from these that I did with Lutan. I'm going to try a Formic acid pickle next.
The method that works well for me is to rough flesh, turn lips and ears and wash in Dawn and rinse in Downy fabric softener. Then I tan for two hours with Arrowhead crystals, drain and run the cape across the flesher, then add 4 ounces of EZ 100 to the mix and tan for two more hours, drain and oil with Steve's oil. I have used this for several years on several hundred capes and am happy with the end results.
I can send you a Lutan mix chart by e-mail if you would want it. You're e-mail address is needed for that. I use Lutan in the autotanner. 3-4 hours at 45 lbs.