im getting a tumbler soon for my shop. i know that it helps drying time and shines the fur up real nice. what i want to know is if i to the proper steps to tan a fur, say a coyote, would my tumbler, tumble him soft or will i still have to work him. i am getting a tumbler that is about 4 foot high and 5 foot long. i really want a soft tan with the least amount of labor. i looked at ritlers web site(didn't remember how to spell it) and they gave me some good tanning steps. thanks
jon
Return to Tanning Category Menu
You will be pleased with the outcome.
Anything smaller than a 6 Foot high Drum simply wont have enough "drop" to expect a softening effect. Even a 5 footer wont do it - or an Octogan sided 6 Footer wont! Unless the Drum is 6" or larger - dont expect softening results.
Also - be aware that the best width is 4" or wider. Simply because anything narrower - if the skins are large - will make the skins fold in and roll instead of tumble in the Drum. Usually a 4' wide Drum will handle almost all NA furs - but if you do a lot of Buffalo - then you may even consider going 6" wide.
how much sould i expect to pay for a large 6 foot tumbler.
We sell a new Tannery Quality 6' high X 4' wide Tumbling Drum for $4800.00 Complete. It's ready to plug in and use! This one is built to run day after day - and it's waranteed for defects!
hey bruce. i can see you must have a huge part in the rittles business. i was on your web sit but couldnt find a picture of any drums. how could i get a picture of one. also, are you telling me that if i use the rittles method to tan a buffalo hide and had a 6 foot drum or higher, it would soft tan itself, no ARMSTANKIN.
i am interested in doing a buffalo but not too many. if i had a smaller tumbler like a 4 or 5 foot one, would it soft tan a hide without the ARMSTANKING. just wondering
thanks
jon
Jon: Why do you (and others) waste so much of your valuable mounting time AND MONEY on tanning equipment, shaving machines, and tanning chemicals? Just because you have "machines", does not make you a tanner, nor does it mean you can automatically produce a soft, supple, tanned skin. That's what the commercial tanneries do. I realize this must be a "New Concept" for all you tanner wanna-bees whom give so freely of all your "wealth of tanning experience", but there are a few reputable tanning companies, in which the owners have decades of experience, and have invested 100's of thousands of dollars in "REAL EQUIPMENT", and they are there to serve the taxidermy industry.
Not one of the "large shops" that are truly making a profit, does their own tanning.
Do you make your own foam forms?
Do you blow and paint your own glass eyes?
Do you saw out, route, and stain your panels?
Then why would you want to tan, when your profit is to be made in mounting animals?
You can get a coyote tanned correctly, for $30-$50 by a professional. You can easily double or triple this cost to your client plus ad on your skinng fee. Why then would you want to bother with: purchasing, shipping cost, and maintenance of equipment
purchasing, storing, legal disposal of chemicals
damaging and replacing skins due to lack of experience
tying up your time when you can make more $'s mounting
Take it from someone who knows. Contract out what you are weak on, to those who are strong in those areas. All major corps. do it and they increase the bottom line by doing so.
And trust me. Don't even attempt tackling a buffalo or you will loose your a_ _, and probably your client also.
TO ANSWER YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION
A tumbler is no magical machine for getting a skin soft.The tumbling process is only one of about 50 steps needed to correctly tan any hide from a mink to an elephant and we tan plenty of both.
I can't make $80.00 an hour tanning skins, but I can mounting, any body that has enough work commercially would be much better off sending it out to a professional, especially a tanner that is also a great Taxidermist and a person of Integrity.
Find a tanner that has been a taxidermist and knows what you need to make money mounting. Roger Smith at Modern Fur Dressing in Michigan.
The statement about big shops not tanning, very true even Animal Artistry in Reno tried it and stopped. Everything goes out. Make your money at what you know, Tanner has his job, just concentrate on ours.
professional to professional.
I can't make $80.00 an hour tanning skins, but I can mounting, any body that has enough work commercially would be much better off sending it out to a professional, especially a tanner that is also a great Taxidermist and a person of Integrity.
Find a tanner that has been a taxidermist and knows what you need to make money mounting. Roger Smith at Modern Fur Dressing in Michigan.
The statement about big shops not tanning, very true even Animal Artistry in Reno tried it and stopped. Everything goes out. Make your money at what you know, Tanner has his job, just concentrate on ours.
professional to professional.
I can't make $80.00 an hour tanning skins, but I can mounting, any body that has enough work commercially would be much better off sending it out to a professional, especially a tanner that is also a great Taxidermist and a person of Integrity.
Find a tanner that has been a taxidermist and knows what you need to make money mounting. Roger Smith at Modern Fur Dressing in Michigan.
The statement about big shops not tanning, very true even Animal Artistry in Reno tried it and stopped. Everything goes out. Make your money at what you know, Tanner has his job, just concentrate on ours.
professional to professional.