Submitted by BOB on 7/13/99. ( )
I am looking for pointers on this subject.Have tried dry pres.
But tanning solutions have had mixed results.Im sure you all
have your favorites right? should I be pickelling fish as I
do my deer capes or is there a different process for differnt
types of skins?Thanks for your help.
This response submitted by frank on 7/14/99. ( basswtrout@aol.com )
No need to pickle here. As far as tanning, your choice here again. I like to tan mine in zinc. Others tan it in other chemicals, and others don't tan at all. So who's right and whose wrong you make the choice. But with all fish after you skin and flesh it, wash it and degrease it. What you do after that is up to you. Good Luck
This response submitted by Bob P. in Nebr. on 7/14/99. ( )
I do a lot of fresh water fish (bass, walleye, northern, crappie, etc.) and as far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong using WASCO's fish skin tan. It's inexpensive and easy to use. I've used it exclusively for many years and can't even fabricate a complaint. As for cold water fish (trout, salmon, etc) or salt water, I have very little experience. I do some trout and stripers (oily varmints) and still use it, although degreasing is a must.
This response submitted by Duran on 7/14/99. ( kincaidj@tce.com )
I have been looking for the answer on here to this question. Thought it was asked before but haven't been able to find it when all the time I have on here is my half hour lunch.
Thanks for asking this BOB!
Am I reading you right Frank? No need to pickle even if using a fish skin tan? AND if not, would pickling do that much good?
Would really appreciate the definite answer to that question.
Thanks...Duran
This response submitted by Bob P. in Nebr. on 7/14/99. ( )
Like I stated in my initial response, I presently use WASCO's fish skin tan exclusively. Prior to using their "packaged" formula, I mixed up my own. It contained powered borax, glycerin, zinc sulphate and Lysol. I don't remember, off hand, the quantities of each but if you'd like, I can try and find my old notes. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time measuring and buying 4 different ingredients, when you can buy a dry premix and simply mix it with the appropriate amount of water and you're all set. Again: Oily fish need to be degreased prior to using fish skin tan. Ain't nothin' that will eliminate grease other than scraping and degreasing.
This response submitted by joe on 7/14/99. ( DShaski@aol.com )
bob the fish tan ive got off the net and it works for me real well is per 5 quarts of water 3oz borax,2 oz glycerine, 3oz zinc sulphate,1/4 oz basacryl nb-ku. let fish soak at least 24 hr, you can keep fish skin in this as long as 6 mo. with no damage. after removing skin soak in water for 15 min, then mount. before i use this tan i also degrease my fish in WASCO degreaser over night. hopes this helps.
This response submitted by Barry Johnson on 7/20/99. ( bjohnson@neark.com )
We've done fish for thirty years and keep coming back to a very simple formula. We do mainly warm water fish. We simply put two cups of twenty mule teem borax and two tablespoons of concentrated lysol to five gallons of water. Soak from one hour to two days and mount.Refrigerate if not mounted in two days. Degrease greasy fish such as stripers after skinning with dawn detergant, rince well and put into the borax solution. This solution also seems to retain the natural markings in the skin. I hope this helps. Barry
This response submitted by Roch Vinet on 11/5/99. ( melkaben@hotmail.com )
I always soak fish skins in a alum, salt and rain water for a month and a half. After that I mount the skin to a plank and I treat it with
mink oil and let it dry . When dry I soften the skin by rubbing it on a piece of wood then it's ready to be transformed in a tie, belt or anything else with excellent results. I usualy apply a water varnish for gloss.