I am working on 2 rather large and heavy angora goat hides . I have been having trouble with the fleshing and shaving part . ( I have a bad back and carpel tunnel , which makes my left arm go numb from she scraping required )I sanding after the salting is done ok? ON the first I salted and as it got dry I tryed sanding off a few rough spots so the pickle will penetrate better. And boy is sanding the dry hide easier than the scraping! I am using 120 grit open coat aluminum oxide paper By hand not on the sander ( but I was sort of thinking of using the sander) Has any one else tried this way?
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Sue, I dont see any reason why you couldnt use a sander ,but you just have to be careful not to go through the hides.I personally have used a sander on a couple whitetail capes that I tanned for wall hangings and it worked fine,that was of course on tanned hides ,youll just have to give it a try,but I dont see any reason why you would have any problems.
I just finished scraping and resalting the second one! (Isn't this what all Moms are doing at 1 am on a sunday night!) I wish you could sand at this stage!
Wish Bruce R would come up with a product to make the flesh melt away and leave the hide and hair intact! Next angora hide I do I am getting the Degreaser. I have SSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOO much to learn. spent most of the evening reading the archives.
Sue ( who is So glad to have a place to ask questions)
I have used a body grinder with 40 grit paper on tanned hair on hides to get that swayed look than you can finish it off by rubbing in some talc for the feel
a wire wheel on a grinder will do everything - inlcuding splitting the lips
Cool now I don't feel so lazy! I do not have any real tanning tools But I done carpentry and antique repairs, so I have all sorts of sanders!
But what is splitting the lips ? you really mean the lips of the critter ? This guy is hevey enough with no head or feet. I refuse to tan parts I can't use! It was only a goat but it is still heavy.
Sue
i think sanding is the best,after i salt my hide i rinse off the salt and i stretch it and let it dry and then sand away,personally less labor involved, nicer hide when finished