I am posting for a friend. He would like to get feedback on an automatic tanner. Is it worth the money? Does it work well. Any comments will help.
Its there, yes its worth it, but you have to use your head and be able to read the instructions.
For a small shop...even a big one, too.
I've been able to tan everything from squirrels to elk capes. Whitetail capes, lifesize mammals up to deer/antelope, and flat rugs...(much work...:(...) can be tanned in it. I have the small one now and would like to upgrade to the Magnum puppy but I'll have to use the one I have for now.
I've been able to save a rottin' nasty bobcat from slippage that I'm sure I would have lost with other methods I'm familiar with.
It's not without it's negatives, however.
After several runs the air assembly will begin to corrode and will eventually clog the relief valve/gauge assembly. Disassemble, clean and you are back in business. Better yet, clean it better after each run.
The casters and parts of the motor assembly tend toward corrosion. All that can be taken care of with a good cleaning followed by a light coat of WD-40.
One other little sneaky gremlin had me bumfuzzled for a bit...
I started losing capes earlier this summer when it REALLY got hot. I was using the same procedure, materials, etc., but I lost 3 stock capes and 1 customer cape all at once. Searching the archives FINALLY led me to check the pH of the tan and recommended concentrations. I purchased enough to last at least 6 months and after that time it had degraded enough to effect the ph significantly....it was 3.5 by strip. That was easy to fix and I did by adding enough oxalic acid to bring it down to the 1.5-2.0 range.
I lost the next cape, too.
I keep the tanner in an area that is not cooled...my big compressor, too. When I was brewing up a batch to tan I would add the water to a 95 degree tanner, then pressurize it with 95 degree air. The act of compression adds heat so the temp of the air entering the tanner is significantly higher than the 25 degree C recommended temps. Now that the tanner is in an airconditioned area, ph is regularly checked and thorough cleanings are done, the Auto-tanner is high on my "gotta keep this thingie" list!