I got into a discussion today about the in house tanning method that I use over sending my capes (Deer) to a tannery. An older taxidermist was in the shop and he thought that tanning in house was no such a great idea as for durability of the mount. He felt that the mounts may have some long term issues like drumming down the road and other shrinkage problems. I explained that the capes are all shaved thin on a quebec shaver and that I use liqua tan method and a good hide paste. I don't see that there should be any long term problems with the mounts as they are very solid to begin with. I guess what I'm wondering is if any of you elder taxidermists have used this method and for how long and have you had any problems such as the ones mentioned. Thanks for your words.
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Everybody has one. Your mounts will be fine and longlasting if your following procedure correctly. The issue of inhouse tanning vs sending it out usually has to do with saving time. Some say tanning inhouse is better, total control, save money. Others say send it out gives you more time to mount, not having to put time into tanning, saves money. I honestly dont know which is more profitable.
i believe the main problem is taxidermist manipulating procedures that a scientist/ chemist or what have you, came up with as a correct form of tanning. I used to home tan at a shop I used to work for, our tanning was horrible cracking noses shrinking, and the african stuff the skin was so stiff it was nothing to have 10+ fleshing holes. I do believe that A commercail Dry tan is better, it may be because of my past experiences whith it, or the fact it is like a piece of leather when done.
Thanks for your thoughts and input, I have done some small mammal tanning and have had great results with liqua tan. The things I have done came out very leathered feeling and looking. I like the fact that I shave my own stuff as aposed to having some one doing it for piece work in a tannery. I can take my time and do it the way I like it to be done. Thanks again.
Inhouse tanning will outlive your customers.The question is your volume.If you only mount a couple of deer per year,Iwould do inhouse.If you have many to do,It then becomes more cost effective to send them to a tannery,freeing up time that coud be used,making money at other aspect of your business.
I only plan on taking in about 20-30 deer heads a year. But the other day I finished my second mount. And here goes I'm going to blow my own horn. The person that was in the shop talking tanning was so impressed with my work hes going to have me do his own personal mounts instead of doing them himself. Sorry about that but Im proud as hell of the way this mount came out. I owe all of you guys and gals on here a great BIG THANKS for the info I have found searching the archives and on the forum. My next big mount is a russian boar for a customer. He will be done of coarse open mouth for a six year old boy it was his first kill. Thanks again to all of you. NUT
How about some pics so we can see,your name is not doug is it?
As far as MY opinion, if you arent pickling along with tanning, I wouldnt want that tan either. PH etc, is critical, as we have stated in here for years. I think the best thing siding with commercial tanning is consistency without screw-ups. The best bet voting for in-house tanning is the ability to do them one at a time if need-be, like handling a weak or touchy cape that would never hold up through a typical commercial process. I wouldnt knock either method when done CORRECTLY!
Hey Bill, I go through the hole proccess. Salt twice, leave till dry, then pickle then shave then place back in the pickle for one more day. I then shave one more time if needed then tan with liqua tan and invert to skin side in and leave them over night. The next day I can mount or freeze untill I can mount. I'm only doing about 20-30 heads a year as a part time job. I'm in NY state catskill region. I plan to take the mount mentioned before to the NY show. Heres what it is. Its a wall pedistal from McKenzie. I have the deer mounted to a fence post. I made a habitat base with moss and fake snow and some grass around the post. The barb wire is still intact but down in the ground like its broke off. I'm going to mount a grouse and place it in the bottom. I hope this is ok for the show or do I have to enter them both in different catagories? Well I will have some pictures of this in the future when I get the role used up the rest of the way. This is my second deer mount.
Yes two separate catagories. Whitetail in closed mouth deerheads, Grouse in birds. Each will be judged independently by the respective judges. Good luck!
Yes two separate catagories. Whitetail in closed mouth deerheads, Grouse in birds. Each will be judged independently by the respective judges. Good luck!
entering into shows will help your work tremendously. I used to do in house tanning with liqua-tan until I went full-time. Now I use commercial tanneries to save time and the flesher was hard on my back. Either way as long as done properly are good methods. LOL on your mount in NY.
I am looking forword to the show. And as an old blue stone cutter I know how the back can hurt LOL