What is the ratio of taxidermists that tan themselves?
I wanted to get into tanning myself, but I talked to the "big) local taxidermist and he said that no one in the area tans themselves because "first you must spend $500.00 on supplies then you have to get the solutions right and the first couple skins will not work anyway.) I've heard of tanneries cutting skins and screwing up all sorts of ways but if you have a good tannery already should you bother tanning yourself?
For those of you that tan yourself: Why do you do it? Is if from bad experiences with tanneries, quicker turn around time or just to make sure it gets done right?
Tanning myself seems like it will be difficult but it's a lot cheaper than sending it off to the tannery. So, a good commercial tannery vs. tanning yourself. Which one. Please someone convince me either way.
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
I had a similar question(Tanning:Send off or do yourself?). I got some good feedback. Also, check to archives.
I can't finde your post, can you direct me?
Gregg T, I used to send it all out. Now I tan pretty much everything that I actually mount but still send out the "wallhanger" stuff. With things like deer capes I figure that I was paying for shaving and tanning. I had to skin, turn and split, salt, pack and ship and when it came back I still had to work the face over and often thin some more. If the tanner cut a hole-it's gonna happen some- I had to repair. Now if I cut a hole I still repair but since I have to do the repairs I'm very careful not to cut many. If I got just lots of gameheads each year I would go up on my prices to reduce the load before going back to sending them out. Tanning is just not that hard and it doesn't take a lot of investment to do it. As for losing skins it hasn't been a problem. I haven't had anything go bad in the tanning process and don't expect it unless the skin is spoiled before I start. I send out the trappers pelts simply because my tumbler cannot get the same soft finish the big tanners can. -Aaron H.
to tan anything myself. i think commercial tanneries are the best invention since sliced bread - if you can find a good one. ive got a good one and my skins always come back in good shape. if you have time on your hands, tan your own. if your swamped all the time, send em out. i personally dont like anything but a true, commercial dry tan. no cream "tans" for my customers. if you tan your own use the best real tan available and not the old brush on preservative.