I'm a beginner taxidermist, having mounted only 4 whitetails so far. The cape preservation method I've used so far consists of salting the hide twice for 24 hours each time, soaking in a salt brine solution overnight, rinsing, fleshing, then applying Liqua Tan. I hear a lot about pickling, but know little about its necessity and benefits. My next project is a whitetail for a guy at work that I don't think is as fresh as it should be. When he gave me the frozen head/cape, I thawed it and caped it off the skull. I caught several whiffs of foul odor. The coloration of the skin is good. Anyway, I froze the cape and just took it out yesterday and plan to salt it down today. I'm hoping that "pickling" can add more assurance that the hair won't slip when dealing with a less than perfect cape. Would someone please enlighten me to the benefits of pickling and the steps involved? Thank you.
Return to Tanning Category Menu
I am a beginner requiring to know more about tanning zebra skins.I have tried to tan zebra skins but the problem is how to remove hard shell.Secondly I want my skin soft as much as possible like a blanket.I am doing at the national museum of kenya.Please ha\elp me how to do it>
signed,
J.M.MUTUNGI- TAXIDERMIST.
Jeff - it isnt the Pickling that will help save your skin! It's salting it - AND THEN DRYING IT TO SET THE HAIR ROOTS! Don't be tempted to rush it into the Pickle. It's a common mistake most guys make when they get in a skin or cape a bit on the "turning" side. Instead, salt it, fold it and let it drain for 1-2 days, then shake off that first Salt and Salt it again, then fold it up. Let it sit folded for another 1-2 days and then shake it out and hang it to dry stiff! Notice I said - fold it, dont roll it! The skin has to drain while its salted - rolling traps the liquids.
Once the skin or cape has dried hard, the roots will have been set tight, and unless the skin was terribly and irreversibly treated, it should now more than likely come through the tanning process intact. Yes, you must rehydrate it (soften it) before you place it in the pickle - but if I read your post correctly - you want to save this piece!
As for what to do once you reach the Pickling stage - please E-Mail me at: Rittel@mindspring.com
I'd be glad to give you steps on how to handle it after that.
Bruce Rittel
Rittels Tanning Supplies
Thanks for the info Bruce. This process is new to me and I'm still a little unsure of a few things. At what step do I flesh/shave the skin? I usually remove the big stuff, turn the ears and split the lips, nostrils and eyes before the first salting. I do the detailed fleshing and thinning after the salt brine soaking and rinse. For this one, should I do the fleshing/thinning step before or after the drying? Also, how dry and hard should it get? After it's dried, do I need to do the rehydration and pickling right away or will the dried cape keep for a while? Should the cape be hair out or in when I hang it to dry?
I checked out your website. It appears you have everything I would need once I get to the pickling. Send me an e-mail with a list of the supplies I'll need, and I'll place an order with you. Again, thanks for the help.
Dry the skin until it's hard and takes on a white color from the crystalization of the Salt in it. As for when to flesh it (I didnt realize it wasnt fleshed) - in this case - do it "after" the first salting when the skin has drained. This will make it a bit easier - also split the lips, nose and turn the ears. Then rub Salt heavily into these areas.
As long as the hair side is fairly dry and not damp - you can hang the skin up to dry hair in, flesh side out. If it is wet - rub some sawdust into the hair and blow it out before you dry it - otherwise it may take a long time. Once its dried - you can leave it hang until you are ready to proceed. I've stored them for 6-12 months like this.
I recommend a Kit to do this job. We sell a EZ-2000 Tanning Kit that is enough to do 2 full WT Deerskins. If you like - go to our website at: http://Rittelsupplies.net and you can order it on-line from our Pricelist.